b'Medicine & ResearchA s k t h e M S Nu rs eA s k t h e M S Nu rs eCherie Binns is a MS-certied nurse living with MS. She is the patient healthcare liaison for MS Focus and a member of the MS Lived Experience Advisory panel for the Foundation. Her quarterly column addresses the issues of living with MS.Dear MS Nurse,least at this stage of life). Do I need to be on a My MS is making me very weak and tired.DMT when I feel okay?Erica K. It seems all I want to do is sleep. How do I getBinns: Over time we have seen signicant through this?Stephanie J.damage in the central nervous system in those Binns: We have several years of clinical trialswho are off medications and report no relapse. supporting regular exercise and activity toSteroids, especially for a woman, are not a good address these issues. Much of the fatigue andidea. Repeated use can affect our metabolism, sleepiness is prominent with MS responds wellleading to weight gain or type 2 diabetes; affect to increased activity and exercise. I know it seemsbone health, leading to broken or lost teeth, or counterintuitive to exercise when all you wantfractures in hands, feet, and vertebra. These to do is sleep or even stay in bed or the recliner,effects can show up even years after the last but if you consciously decide to move for vedose. The older you are, the more pronounced to 10 minutes several times daily, you shouldthat effect can be. There are more than two seeimprovementwithintherstmonthofdozen effective disease-modifying therapies doing this. Fatigue and sleepiness should beavailable (with varying degrees of effectiveness). reduced. Also, because more than half of usLet your neurologist guide you to one you can living with MS have some degree of a sleeptolerate and will offer you some protection. disorder, it might be appropriate to have yourDear MS Nurse, primarycarephysicianorderanat-homeDo people with MS get weird reactions from sleep study.vaccines? I just got my pneumonia vaccine, and Dear MS Nurse,I feel dizzy, aky, and out of sorts.Gilllian L. I was diagnosed in November 2022 andBinns: Many vaccines, when they prompt an have not had a are-up since. I was on Aubagioimmune response to protect you from the illness forabouta yearandahalf. Whileontheyou are being vaccinated for, cause a low-grade medication, I had several side effects. I havefever, which can make you feel dizzy, light-been off the medication since April 2024. Hadheaded, and "off." This is good. This means MRIs in December with no disease progression.you are responding to build immunity. I prefer to stay off medication and opt forDear MS Nurse, steroids if I start feeling symptomatic, but myNewlydiagnosedMShere.Ihavenot neurologist is pushing for me to go on witheven started treatment yet. Who do I call for medication. I have never been one to takea cold? Primary or MS? Normally I dont take meds, so I\'m struggling with this decision. Ianything, but I am miserable. I have a stuffy, feel like I\'m on the milder end of things (atrunny nose, all green, chest congestion, and msfocusmagazine.org 46'