Hello friends --So - who WAY over ate last week???  Yep - me too!  It was wonderful though.  Both of my daughters (and their cats) were home and we did a lot of nothing - and we loved it!  One "job" we did accomplish, however, was decorating for Christmas!!!  Both fun and exhausting - this task is thankfully shared every year - and I benefit from it throughout the season.  I love how my house glows at night with the addition of the twinkly lights!!  Have you decorated? Do you decorate?  Too early?   Hit reply to this email and let me know.  Seriously - I'd love to hear from you!!Ok lady - enough with the holiday chat.  Let's get to the good stuff.1.  If you haven't heard it yet - be sure to make some time to listen to the FUMS Podcast episode featuring MS influencers (I hate that term - but I don't have another one) Ardra Shephard of @ms_trippingonair, Alene Brennan of @lesspharmmoretable, Kathy Chester of MS Disrupted, and Dan & Jennifer Digmann of A Couple Takes on MS (@digmand and @jmdiggman). It's a great episode full of fun, laughter, drinking  🥂 and suggestions on how to keep your shit together over the holidays!!  Here's a link:   National Lampoon’s Chronically Ill Christmas with The MS Pod Squad   BONUS - here's a link to all of the guest's favorite holiday recipes (pssst - one is a cocktail - of course 😉):  Favorite Holiday Recipes2.  Want a pretty comprehensive description of what MS is to send to people in your life that need to learn about it??  This is that: How Multiple Sclerosis Affects Your Body3.  Such a great conversation among peers about the role of cognition in the course of MS.  I don't know anyone with MS that hasn't dealt with cog fog at one time or another.  Or all the time.  Wait, what was I saying??  No, seriously - what was I talking about??  I can sort of remember.  It's on the tip of my tongue.  It starts with a c.  UGH.  OH YEAH!!  Here's the article - and a way to watch the conversation!!  Bonus - my doctor, Dr. Heidi Crayton is one of the docs on the panel!!  Prioritizing Cognition and Adapting to Novel Therapeutics in Multiple Sclerosis

4.  In the "at least we've got it better than them" department:  In Vietnam, Nguyen Ha Linh Calls on Government to Give Economic Support to People Living with MS5.  People with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who switch to Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) after discontinuing Gilenya (fingolimod) have fewer relapses than those who switch to Mavenclad (cladribine) or Tysabri (natalizumab), according to a new study.  Switching to Ocrevus Over Other MS Therapies Means Fewer Relapses6.  Does this surprise anyone???  Temperature variability and increasing exposure to airborne pollutants — both consequences of climate change — can worsen disease symptoms and risk relapses in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a recent review study.  Climate Change Risk to MS Patients: Worse Symptoms, More RelapsesWell -- that's all folks. Hope you learned something helpful from this little ole newsletter!!  If I can help you with anything, please drop me an email and let me know at [email protected] or meet me over in the FUMS Facebook community and let's chat!  Thanks.Warmly -- Kathy#FUMSP.S.  Have you started your holiday shopping???  Need some help??  Check out the 11th Annual FUMS Holiday Gift Guide 

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