Living with ALS means unraveling my concept of time
Last week I felt sad. I had to unravel a knitting project that had consumed a good part of my summer. “What’s the big deal?” you might ask. Well, the big deal is that living with ALS has…
Living Well With ALS
— Dagmar Munn
When Dagmar Munn was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 59 in 2010, she tapped into her nearly 30 years of professional health and wellness experience. She not only follows her own advice but also inspires and teaches others to do the same. In addition to her columnist role, she is one of the moderators for the ALS News Today Forums and writes a personal blog called “ALS and Wellness.” She lives with her husband in Green Valley, Arizona, enjoying finding humor in life’s situations and spending free time pursuing creative projects in fiber arts.
Featured Post
These bathroom safety modifications were a great decision
An old adage says, “Do something today that your future self will thank you for.” Well, I’m in that future now, so today, I’m sending my past self a basket full of thanks. Why? Because every time I walk…
Read more
ALS affects my hand strength, but it’s no match for my determination
There was a time when I could twist off the lid of a new jar of peanut butter with ease; I always enjoyed hearing that distinctive pop when the lids finally gave way. Pickles, spaghetti sauce, whatever: Those jars…
When things go right: My week living with ALS
Last week was good; nothing bad happened to me. Not that I was expecting bad things to happen, but as someone who lives with ALS, I feel pretty darn successful whenever I can look back and note that…
How I got unstuck from negative thinking due to ALS
Living with ALS can be an emotional roller coaster. However, I’ve found that when I round the bend and find humor in a situation, I’m sure to have a smooth ride ahead. Let me share my latest experience…
I’m still showing up for each day, even though I have ALS
A number of years ago, during my first year of learning to live with ALS, I promised myself that I’d show up every single day. At that time, my notion of showing up meant my goal was…
How my dentist handles my speech, breathing, and swallowing issues
Last week, I sat in the dentist’s chair filled with gratitude. I know. It’s bonkers. But I couldn’t help myself. I’m grateful knowing that if I have to live with ALS, it’s happening at a time when advances…
My ALS prognosis affects how I wrestle with making decisions
Decisions, decisions. When did making health decisions become so challenging for me? Well, it began after I was diagnosed with ALS. Scheduling annual health screens and medical treatments became complex decisions. Even purchasing a new pair of…
Can automated technology — including AI — help with ALS?
For a while now, I’ve been keeping tabs on the new technologies of virtual assistants, voice activation, and artificial intelligence (AI), especially its potential benefits for the ALS community. Some of it I’ve tried, with iffy results. Others,…
How I’ve benefited from finding flow with my ALS
I’ll admit I often worry if I’m being productive with my time and spending it wisely. That’s always been important to me, but it intensified the day I was told I had ALS. That’s when I heard the…
Sharing my changing tips for dining out with ALS, and my slips as well
Six years ago, I was a new patient columnist for ALS News Today and wrote a column about how planning ahead helps me dine out with ease. But since that time, my ALS has evolved —…
Finding motivation when I hit the ‘why bother’ moment
Sometimes living with my ALS isn’t a matter of finding the right balance of effort and ease. At times, I have zero mental motivation to make the effort in the first place! And from the comments I…
Coaching my inner critic to help me live well with ALS
The other day, right in the middle of doing my daily chair exercises, I had to stop and turn down the volume of my mind’s inner critic. Because I was feeling a little sluggish and off balance, the voice…
