Hello friends --How are YOU doing?? The weirdness in the world continues - but it looks like some states are starting to open up. I'm both excited and scared. I've been planting some flowers and others are reblooming from last year. It's really pretty here in southern Virginia. I love Spring. This quarantine has given me time to actually notice as the leaves opened up this year and as each flower woke up.  Taking time to notice is a good thing. I guess I'm finally being "mindful"!!Ok Mother Nature - let's get on with it, shall we??1. Perfect timing: it's about to get hot and I interviewed the founders of ThermApparel. They make these wonderful - GOOD FITTING - LIGHTWEIGHT - cooling vests. They started it specifically to help people with MS!!  Hear their story AND get a discount for being a member of the FUMS community, right here: Cooling Solution2.  Have you ever heard of Reiki?? It's a noninvasive, complementary technique, that helps some people with MS relax and feel better. Energy Therapy to Help MS3. Ardra at Tripping on Air is THE best #MS writer out there. Period. She gets it - and she calls it like she sees it. And she's hilarious. And we all need more of her and her writing. Read this:  How To Hack Your Sex-Life When MS Messes With Your Mojo

4.  Have you tried a specific diet to help alleviate any symptoms? How about Cog Fog?? A new study suggests that following a Mediterranean diet may help reduce the risk of cognitive impairment and slow the rate of cognitive decline at a population level. Mediterranean diet reduces risk of cognitive impairment5.  Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who are obese experience a faster degeneration in their optic nerve tissue than those of normal weight, a study found. Obesity Linked to Faster Optic Nerve Atrophy in MS Patients6.  THIS IS HUGE: Starting treatment with Ocrevus early can lower almost by half the need for a walking aid in people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) over six years, new analyses of Phase 3 trial data that compared immediate initiation with a two-year delay show. Read more here: Ocrevus For The Rest of UsThat's all folks. I hope you get value from this newsletter. If FUMS and its mission speaks to you and you'd like to support it, now you can! Visit the FUMS Patreon Page to see the rewards you could get from a monthly contribution to help FUMS continue to provide information, inspiration, and motivation for living your best life with MS! Want to chat?? Meet me over in the FUMS Facebook community!  Thanks.Warmly -- Kathy#FUMS

Sometimes it helps the stress, just to say "F-U-M-S"