The FUMS 6-Pack | 3/19/25

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**If you’ve used any of the therapies listed above, please hit reply to this email and let me know what your experience has been.

Check out last week’s poll results at the bottom of the 6-Pack ⤵️

Hey there,

It’s that time again - time for my infusion! Every 5 ½ months I get an infusion of Briumvi and - so far - so good. 🤞🏻 It is a hassle to have to get everything set up each time - scheduling my bloodwork, asking my doctor to send the order to the infusion center of my choice, usually I’ll hear from the infusion center - often times a day or 2 before my infusion - that insurance is not covering it (last bill I saw through my insurance company was $117, 000 for 1 infusion), so then I have to contact my doctor for a pre-authorization. That all certainly cannot happen before the scheduled infusion so - I have to wait for the pre-auth to be approved, then reschedule the infusion. Seems like this could be streamlined but - what do I know? In fact, seems like our entire U.S. healthcare system could be streamlined, amiright?? 😡. *Reminder - YOUR BODY, YOUR CHOICE. The typical orders for infusions include pre-meds like Benadryl and Solumedrol. I am not a fan so - I take Tylenol and Zyrtec before I leave my house for the infusion, I refuse the pre-meds, and all is well in my world. Check with your doctor - everyone is different - but question everything. You don’t have to just accept the “typical” order. Do it your way!

Let's see what's up in the world of MS, shall we??

1. Happy Spring🌷 (well, almost). Do you find that your MS symptoms are different in different seasons? Me too! Is it the change in barometric pressure? Temperature? There are many (often conflicting) studies on the subject. Here’s an interesting article by one of our own - Trevis Gleason: The Effect of Seasonal Changes on Multiple Sclerosis

2. Currently Recruiting Clinical Trial: Ketamine for Multiple Sclerosis Fatigue (INKLING-MS). I have been VERY interested in psychedelics and MS for a number of years now - even doing a podcast interview with an expert on this subject. Johns Hopkins is at the forefront of this research.🤞🏻
   Reach out directly if you’re interested.

3. I have dedicated myself to increasing my daily hydration (I use the Waterllama app) and it’s made a difference in my spasticity. It can have an impact on a lot of diffferent MS symptoms. Learn more here: The Importance of Hydration in Multiple Sclerosis

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4. Antibodies that target proteins from the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) also can inadvertently attack proteins in the brain, which may help to explain the link between EBV and MS, a new study shows. Antibodies against EBV and genetic factors raise MS risk: Study

5.  Currently Recruiting Clinical Trial: Probiotic for Urinary Symptoms Among People Who Use Catheters (Remote) To qualify for this study you must be 18 years or older, use an indwelling catheter OR Intermittent catheter, be diagnosed with MS, and have a history of 2 or more episodes of urinary symptoms or infection in the past year.

6. Interesting look at the various types of DMTs: People with MS who receive anti-CD20 therapies such as Ocrevus and Briumvi are significantly less likely to discontinue their treatment compared with patients who are given other disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), a Swiss study has found. Patients on B-cell therapies less likely to stop treatment: Study

Fun Finds & Recommendations

Are you a mom with MS feeling alone and overwhelmed? Join this community of SuperMOMs just like YOU 🫵🏻 and share the burden together! Learn tips and tricks for life as a mom with MS. Here’s where to go to learn more: SuperMOMs 24/7 Club

Last week’s poll results:

Which types of products, services, or support resources are you most interested in learning more about?

That’s all folks. Let me know if you have any questions or if I can help you in any way. Otherwise, just keep saying FUMS!! 🧡

Cheers -- 

Kathy

Kathy Reagan Young
Founder
FUMS


 

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

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