Hello friends --How's the world treating you these days?  My oldest, Maggie Mae, is moving out this weekend.  She got a big girl job and a big girl apartment and everything.  I'm so proud of her but - UGH - where did my little girl go????  And my youngest, Reagan, is returning to college (James Madison University) the following weekend.  It's about to get very quiet around here again.   😔I'll dry my tears and share some MS'y stuff for you:1.   The latest FUMS Podcast episode published this week.  I interviewed Mariska Breland - and MS'er herself, she created multiple neuroscience and exercise workshops, including Pilates for MS (now expanded and taught as Pilates for Neurological Conditions). She is also the co-founder of the Neuro Studio, a Pilates studio focusing on people with neurological conditions, and has even invented her own fitness and rehabilitation equipment!  I started Pilates this last winter and couldn't believe how it helped me to connect to my own body - and how much it helped my spasticity!  Have listen for yourself:  Mariska Breland and Pilates-ish

2.  Employment absences more likely for those with chronic pain.  WHAT?!?!?  Say it isn't so!  Umm - yeah.  Makes sense, right??  Here's a study that proves it!  MS Patients Miss Work Nearly 2 Times as Often, US Study Find3.  Adding a specialized nurse practitioner (NP) to a neurologist-based standard care team was found to significantly lessen depression and anxiety in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to data from a six-month study in Canada.  So wait - having an additional health professional to help people with health issues actually helped them??  What a concept!!  Sorry - feeling particularly snarky today!!  Adding Nursing Care in MS May Ease Patient Depression, Anxiety4.  Where are my Tysabri folks??  Here's some excellent news for you - and a heads up to the rest of us:  Tysabri Beats Other DMTs in Helping With Symptoms, Work Productivity5.  Hello urinary frequency folks.  Leg Nerve Stimulation Feasible, May Help With Overactive Bladder in MS6.  After a relapse involving optic neuritis, or inflammation in the nerves connecting the eyes and brain, measurements of retinal thinning may predict the likelihood of full recovery from future relapses in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a study suggests.  Retinal Thinning After Optic Neuritis May Help Predict Relapse RecoveryWell - that's all folks.  Hope you found something interesting if not life-alteringly informational.  Wow - I really need to dial down the snark.  Seriously. I know what will help- 🍷.Cheers -- Kathy#FUMSP.S.  My dear friend Alene Brennan of Less Pharm More Table is hosting a *FREE* health challenge next week for those of you with Multiple Sclerosis, all about developing a mindset of "thriving". I highly recommend anything this woman does. She's phenomenal. Here are the details:

Developing a Thriving Mindset for MS

Moving past the fear so you have the clarity to create a thriving life with autoimmune disease. 

Dates: Monday, Aug. 15 - Friday, Aug 19 

Times: 12 Noon - 1 pm EST 

Location: Online 

Register Today for Free: https://lesspharmmoretable.com/challenge

(Replays will be available if you can't attend live.)

Join Alene Brennan, MS Thriver and Functional Nutrition Coach, as she shares the strategies and tools that she uses in her personal journey with MS and uses professionally in her coaching program for the autoimmune community.

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