Sexuality and intimacy have a significant impact on the quality of life for nearly everyone, including those with a chronic disease such as multiple sclerosis (MS). In MS, sexual dysfunction may be one of the more invisible symptoms of the disease. It is important to recognize and understand the factors that contribute to sexual dysfunction in order to adequately address it.

When we consider the impact that the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis has on an individual, one only needs to ask, “When were you diagnosed?” Most people remember the date, the time, the doctor, and what was happening in their life at that moment. The experience was life-changing not only for the individual, but also for his or her family, friends, and the future.

Individuals with MS are at higher risk for emotional disorders, which can significantly disrupt family, work, and social life. These mood disorders are highly treatable through a combination of psychiatric and psychological therapy and medication treatment.

Very likely, the FDA will soon decide on the status of the first alternative “biologic” drugs to challenge the branded disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) presently in use by individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Several of the current DMTs approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are “biologics,” which means that the active ingredient for each of these drugs is derived from living cells.

This past winter has been particularly unpredictable and challenging, with record-breaking snowfalls and cold temperatures. These past few months have also proven unpredictable and challenging for our MS population, as individuals experience record-breaking changes in the healthcare system with the introduction of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Q: I started having MS-like symptoms in 1997 at the age of 36; I’m now 52. I had an MRI of my brain in 2009 (funded by MSAA). Unfortunately, my local doctor did not include the dye for the enhanced MRI. The MRI did show some lesions according to the radiologist’s report, but the neurologist didn’t think the MRI of my brain indicated MS. I also had a lumbar puncture, which according to the neurologist, did not have any evidence of the markers for MS in the spinal fluid.

MSAA is proud to announce the launch of its new Swim for MS online Aquatic Center as part of our national campaign promoting water-based exercise for people with multiple sclerosis, developed through a collaborative partnership with Genzyme, a Sanofi company. Accessed at SwimForMS.org, the comprehensive web center showcases MSAA’s national program initiative supporting the awareness, understanding, and availability of swimming and aquatic exercise as a positive wellness opportunity for the MS community.

As the debate continues around ratings, ratios, and watchdogs, nonprofits around the country are focused on how to emphatically and accurately communicate their value. If the purpose of charities is to right social wrongs, alleviate distress, or improve lives, how do we know when we are doing our job? What do overhead and stars have to do with the effect an organization is having on the fulfillment of its mission? If ratings do not suitably portray the efficiency of an organization’s operations – then how do we know our dollars are being well spent? What is our impact?

During December 2013, MSAA held a nationwide call for entries for the Swim for MS – Why I Swim campaign through a collaborative sponsorship with Genzyme. Individuals with MS who swim or participate in water-based exercise as part of their wellness plan were asked to share their personal story about how these water activities made a positive impact on their lives.