NMO, Social Media, and my Mental HealthIt was pre-pandemic when I decided to start sharing my NMO story on social media. I started sharing my story online because I was getting tired of people asking what...reactions4comments
How I Create: Through the Lens of a Visually Impaired ArtistI began painting in late 2017, shortly after experiencing a catastrophic episode of vision loss due to bilateral optic neuritis. Since then, my vision and physical capabilities have diminished quite...reactions1comment
Finding This NMO Community Was Like an Early Gift From Santa to My DaughterThere was a shift in my behavior in August 2021. From being sad, weepy, and depressed, I found this community of people with Neuromyelitis Optica and was glued to neuromyelitis-optica.net. First...reactionscomments
Nearly 2 Years Diagnosed with NMOFirst, I had problems with my right arm. I thought I had injured my shoulder worse from a little accident two months before. Then it became problems with my sensitivity...reactions1comment
Anemic NMOFor months I was experiencing an increase in my NMO symptoms. While I communicated this to my neurologist, I had no new lesions to back up a new acute treatment...reactions3comments
1 Whole Year On Rituximab: ReflectingIt has been a whole year since I’ve been on rituximab as my NMO preventative treatment. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have this treatment available to me for...reactions1comment
The Voice Saying, "It’s Not Real"Being diagnosed with NMO, I’m sure we've all felt and heard from our peers that what was happening to us wasn’t real. For lack of a better phrase, everyone thinks...reactions2comments
My Rare Disease Nonprofit - How I Started the Couch Pennies FoundationI watched the YouTube makeup artist Tallia through her entire journey from the minute she posted her first video to the very last. I watched her whole story unfold right...reactions1comment
How my Suffering from NMO Impacted my DaughterI had just gotten out of the hospital. I informed my daughter that 2nd dose of the Corona vaccine had triggered the NMO. Now, my immune system, which was supposed...reactions5comments
Goodbye and Hello AgainAfter being diagnosed with NMO, change has been very scary to me. It took more of my vision with every attack. With each bit of vision loss, I started to...reactions3comments
Bipolar 2, Exposure Therapy and NMOSomething never felt quite right when I was diagnosed with NMO at 19. This was before I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder. Part of the NMO diagnosis process meant...reactionscomments
A Few Weeks Before My Next InfusionWith all honesty, the day I was told I would receive the rituximab infusion every six months, I thought it would fix all my problems caused by NMOSD. My neurologist...reactions8comments
My Art TheoryPrior to being diagnosed with NMO, I didn’t have many artistic hobbies. Meaning when I tried to do anything in art class - like paint, draw, pottery, or anything else...reactions2comments
NMO In The Eyes of A 9-Year-Old: Before My DiagnosisMy daughter was 2.5 years old when we left Australia. She, her daddy, and I returned to our hometown in India in 2016. Post that, she was and is the...reactionscomments
Going to School With NMO: Taking Closed-Book, Memory Based ExamsIt has been almost three years since I’ve had any real exams in school. For the past two years, due to Covid and my NMO diagnosis, I did not have...reactionscomments
My Wheelchair Is My FreedomNot everyone diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica, or NMO, will need to use a wheelchair. However, some people do become full-time wheelchair users, and some people, like me, might use a...reactionscomments
Postpartum Before NMOPostpartum is a roller coaster of emotions for most mothers after giving birth. Some can manage on their own. Others need a bit more help to get through. I certainly...reactionscomments
Understanding Non-apparent Disabilities in the WorkplaceAbout 1 in 4 American adults live with a disability. Many people living with a disability are able to work and do. For those with an "invisible" illness, or one...reactionscomments
Ways I Reduce StressAs time has passed, I have picked on certain things that trigger my body into an NMO flare. My biggest trigger at the moment is stress. It’s unfortunate that I...reactions2comments
The Dream: Couch Pennies, My NMO NonprofitAt the age of 13, I was a young and healthy teenager. At the time, YouTube was still very new. Like many kids my age did at that time, we...reactions1comment
