Figuring out how best to live with this incurable disease and the challenges it throws in your path can be overwhelming if you try to do it alone. So why not turn to other people with MS who know exactly what you’re going through? You can find a lot of them on the internet, blogging, creating podcasts, and sometimes posting a video or two.
In our favorite MS blogs, you’ll find plenty of inspiration, brutal honesty, new experiences, frustrations, successes, highs, and lows.
Regardless of where they come from and what they do, all these bloggers provide advice, encouragement, and a no-frills look at what life is really like when you’re living with MS.
1. Tripping on Air
Ardra Shephard’s generous use of profanity and friendly, conversational writing style make Tripping on Air feel like a chat with a friend. Her hilarious posts discuss the daily struggles of MS — like how MS can mess with your mojo, having to admit to her husband (“The Banker”) that she wet the bed, or getting the flu during a fancy birthday dinner in New York City. She also talks about what it was like to “come out” to her friends about having MS. Candid and funny, Ardra’s blog — and podcast — is the perfect remedy for any of your down days.
2. Dinosaurs, Donkeys, and MS
Heather has made her story one of perseverance and positivity. She and her crochet donkey companion, Dizzy — named after one of her symptoms — chronicle daily life with MS via her blog posts and the occasional podcast, Dizzycast. Heather’s charming blog highlights her adventures with Dizzy (such as volunteering at a wildlife hospital or practicing donkey yoga) as well her tips for making life with MS easier and keeping your brain healthy. Don’t miss her helpful and reassuring articles on how to cope with an MS diagnosis and how to make MS injections less scary.
3. An Empowered Spirit
As the title suggests, Cathy Chester’s blog focuses on empowerment and encouragement for people living with a chronic illness, because, she says, “No matter what adversity you face, life is still delicious.” Diagnosed with MS in 1986, she aims to help readers feel “less lonely, isolated, and overwhelmed than she did when she was diagnosed,” assuring them that the road is “a lot less bumpy when we travel together.” An Empowered Spirit discusses Cathy’s own life and interests and provides medical news to equip you with resources for a positive and healthy life. She also addresses topics such as caring for your mental health when you have a chronic illness.
4. Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis & Me
Referring to her symptoms as her “MS-sponsored pajama party,” Willeke Van Eeckhoutte often takes a jovial approach in her blog, Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis & Me. Once, when retrieving the results of an MRI scan, she was asked to present a photo ID, to which she wittily responded, “Isn’t an MRI, like, a picture of my brain, photo ID?” But she’s not afraid to take a more serious tone when necessary, such as the stigmatization of living with a chronic condition and how it can affect your sense of self. Still, her posts consistently end on a happy note.
5. The Multiple Sclerosis Toolbox
Ed Tobias, a retired journalist, was diagnosed with MS in 1980. He’s lived with the disease for over 40 years, accumulating a wealth of information and firsthand knowledge in that time, which he shares on his Substack, The Multiple Sclerosis Toolbox. In a friendly tone that’s helpful and generous, Ed covers a range of subjects having to do with MS, including practical concerns, like whether you’re prepared for a natural disaster or emergency (“It’s a question that everyone whose mobility is impaired — or who’s just in need of regular medical assistance — should consider”), as well as news on novel treatments, assistive devices, and clinical trials. In more personal takes, he delves into everything from his experience with disease-modifying therapies and finding the right meds (a collaborative effort between patient and neurologist) to traveling with mobility issues. Much of the content is free, though paid subscribers have access to additional material.
6. My New Normals
Despite the challenges she has faced with MS, including learning to love the body that has let her down, Nicole Lemelle is an upbeat writer who hopes to educate, reassure, and inspire her readers in all things MS. Those who come to My New Normals appreciate her candor and positive attitude, especially when things aren’t going as planned. Like when, for instance, you get so desperate, you start believing in spam emails or you’re late for appointments because you’re running on “MS time.” Her posts touch on the very fibers of how MS can really change you, and she clearly strikes a chord with her readers; one of her most popular posts, titled “I Hate,” has garnered more than 200 comments. While her symptoms mean her blog isn’t updated as frequently as it once was, her website is still host to dozens and dozens of previous posts, and you can keep up with her on X and Instagram.
7. Yvonne deSousa.com
If you’re looking for a funny blog about MS, look no further than Yvonne deSousa.com. Yvonne’s posts are full of anecdotes about her daily trials with the illness, and she can find humor in any situation — from mistaking “slipper fuzzies” for ants to the fatigue of laundry day, and even her January 2019 cancer diagnosis (in a post entitled “About a Boob”) and subsequent experience with reconstructive surgery. She’s also a published author who’s written a book on the subject: MS Madness!
8. Think in Decimals
Edith Solenne Monk was diagnosed with MS at 16. “As much as I hate that being my opening line,” she says, “it’s become a big part of my life.” It’s also a big part of her blog, Think in Decimals, which she’s been writing since 2015. She’s an avid traveler and has written about trips to Canada, Transylvania, and the Alps, among others. (Her favorite part of New York City? The “lovely, accessible, concrete” pavement for wheelchair users.) She also does a lot of campaigning to draw awareness to the struggles faced by people living with a disability, whether it’s workplace discrimination or issues with the social care system. Eloquent and inspiring, Edith’s blog is a must.
9. Wheelie MS Advocate
In her writings on Wheelie MS Advocate, Rachel Tomlinson, who was diagnosed with primary progressive MS at age 51, broaches topics ranging from disability and accessibility to plus-size fashion and beauty. The United Kingdom–based blogger and podcaster posts on living with irritable bowel syndrome in addition to MS, dealing with impostor syndrome as someone with a chronic illness, and why it’s okay to not be okay.
10. Tripping Through Treacle
Jen is a 40-something single mom of teens who has secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis (she was first diagnosed with MS at age 15). On her blog, Tripping Through Treacle, she writes about how to keep striving toward your health goals, life with progressive MS, the positive aspects of MS, and parenting and lifestyle topics. You can also find her on Instagram.
The Takeaway
- Reading personal takes from those living with multiple sclerosis can offer support, encouragement, and real-life perspective to help you navigate living with the condition.
- Many of these bloggers provide not only individual insights but also practical advice about coping with symptoms, treatments, and stressors.
- If you’re living with MS, connecting with this vibrant community online can help reduce feelings of isolation and provide meaningful shared experiences.
- Always consult a healthcare professional when seeking specific advice about managing your MS, since individual needs can vary widely.
Additional reporting by Laura McArdle and Christina Vogt.
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