Health Expert Vicki shares health management news and commentary at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/32873/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/32873/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/32873/index http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/32873/152563/obama Tue, 01 May 2012 11:34:00 -0400 Vicki The 2010 "Obamacare" Health Care law controversy has been argued in front of the Supreme Court, and now it is being protested in front of the building. Which side do you support?   Let's take a look.   People who agree with the bill and want to keep it intact say it will save us all money and reduce the deficit. Everyone wants to save money. It has been called a historic victory. They say it lowers health care costs and protects us... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/32873/152563/obama http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/32873/151467/montel Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:23:00 -0400 Vicki What happens when celebrities have MS? Just like most MSers, celebrities handle their MS diagnoses in many different ways. Let's look at two famous MS advocates who handle their activism as uniquely as they achieved their celebrity. First is Teri Garr, then Montel Williams. Teri Garr Teri Garr is an actress who started as a back-up dancer in many different programs and movies, including nine films for Elvis Presley. In 1974, she... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/32873/151467/montel http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/32873/151590/health Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:04:00 -0400 Vicki This week the Supreme Court is hearing arguments over Health Care legislation, also known as Obamacare. How does this affect those of us with MS, or does it? What do you think?   As I understand it, the question being considered focuses on the individual mandate and if it is constitutional. There are more detailed questions that will lead to the answer, but all of the arguments are about that mandate.   There are probably hundreds of... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/32873/151590/health http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/32873/150897/ms Mon, 05 Mar 2012 08:30:00 -0500 Vicki I have been very quiet for the last couple of months because of my Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN). Shortly after the new year, the medication I relied on for almost three years to reduce my pain suddenly stopped working. I could barely open my mouth to eat or drink for weeks, and I slept both day and night. Bummer. During this time, several Health Central friends inquired and sent me well wishes. I was touched by their concern, patience and support.... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/32873/150897/ms http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/32873/150704/social Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:26:00 -0500 Vicki Do you have a favorite social networking site? The concept of an online virtual community is not new, but still growing very fast. It offers valuable opportunities for sharing information on various specific interests.There is always Twitter (300M registered users) and Facebook (800M registered users). HealthCentral is on both of these sites. Another site HealthCentral is on is StlumbleUpon. In a post last month, Merely Me mentioned StumbleUpon.... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/32873/150704/social http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/32873/149684/week Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:58:00 -0500 Vicki What do you think about feedback? When do you use it?Whether giving or receiving, feedback involves participation and trust. Do you even want to know what others think? Why would you stick your neck out and tell someone how you feel? What if you take the time to participate and your feedback is misunderstood, or worse, misused?These questions lead to a couple more important issues: An effective feedback system is one of the best ways to... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/32873/149684/week http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/32873/148423/easy Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:29:00 -0500 Vicki Have you found some software or gadget that is useful in your daily routine?For example, I use voice recognition software because I lost the use of my right hand, and my left hand is not proficient with typing.  What products or gadgets do you find useful when you face new symptom challenges?I now use utensils with thick, rubber handles. Kitchen tongs serve as my grabber when I can't reach. The microwave has almost completely eliminated... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/32873/148423/easy http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/32873/146948/hope Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:14:00 -0500 Vicki What does hope mean to you?Many of us here on Health Central write about tough subjects. MS has taught us that life is not always easy, and it is certainly not predictable.Often, when I write about a difficult subject, whether it is my own story or essay, or in response to a question, I end with “There is always hope.” I believe that is true, however, I have found many different viewpoints. Here are two examples of quotations from a... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/32873/146948/hope http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/32873/145838/affect Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:09:00 -0400 Vicki Around half of people over 50 have osteoporosis. Regardless of age, however, there are millions who have early onset or great risk. If you have MS, you are probably one of them. If you have MS, whether you are a man or woman, and even if you are quite younger than 50 — it is likely that you also have Osteoporosis. How many MSers have it?If you have MS, whether you are a man or woman, you are at much greater risk of having osteoporosis than... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/32873/145838/affect http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/32873/145356/active Tue, 11 Oct 2011 07:54:00 -0400 Vicki Next year we elect or re-elect the US President. This year the conservative movement is countered by another grass-roots political movement that is liberal.   Would you protest by joining one of these groups or another like them? What topic would you like to see fuel a completely new protest movement? Are you politically active in a different way? How?Occupy Wall Street MovementThe Occupy Wall Street Movement was inspired by the so-called... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/32873/145356/active