Traci's Story

Traci McKeeman, 33, remembers the day her multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms began. “I was in college, and I remember driving and getting pain in my left eye every time I looked in my rearview mirror,” Traci says. “I was concerned, so I contacted a local eye doctor and made an appointment.”

By the time Traci saw the eye doctor, she noticed a change in her vision, and she was concerned she was losing her eyesight. “When the doctor examined me, he said my eyesight was fine but that I needed to see a neurologist, because there was swelling in my brain that was affecting my optic nerves,” she says.

That night, Traci had an MRI, and she had many other tests to determine the cause of her symptoms. She soon learned that she had MS.

Traci's Diagnosis of MS

“When I was first diagnosed with MS, it was a little overwhelming, because there is so much uncertainty associated with the disease,” Traci explains. “I started to read as much as I could to answer the millions of questions going through my head.”

Traci learned that MS involves the immune system attacking the body’s healthy tissue, rather than foreign invaders, such as bacteria or viruses. Specifically, MS attacks the myelin sheaths that coat nerves, which can cause an inflammatory reaction within the brain, optic nerves, or spinal cord. Learn more about how MS works.

The uncertainty Traci felt is common among patients who have been diagnosed with MS. They may have questions about their future after learning they have this disease. However, there is good news: In recent years, we have experienced a revolution in the care of patients with MS.

Medication Therapy for MS

Several medications have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat MS. These medications can reduce the rate of MS relapses and modify the disease’s course. “Even though the sense of uncertainty among newly diagnosed patients is real, physicians can now offer patients genuine hope in the form of new therapies,” says Marybeth Toran, MD, Director of the MS Clinic. “Medications are important in the care of MS patients, but equally important is promoting a healthy lifestyle by addressing emotional health, sleep issues, and implementing behavioral therapies and nontraditional medicine when indicated.”

MS Symptoms

MS is an unpredictable disease, and it can reach patient in different ways. However, common symptoms often include:

• Bladder dysfunction
• Decreased attention, concentration, or short-term memory
• Fatigue or dizziness
• Muscle weakness, spasms, or clumsiness
• Sensory loss, irritating sensations or electrical sensations
• Slurred speech or swallowing disorders
• Vision loss or double vision

“I’ve noticed that the fatigue, which is common for people with MS, is the biggest hurdle for me,” Traci says. “By the end of the day, I’m exhausted. I also cope with tingling and numbness, migraines, and eye pain.”

Traci's Care at the MS Clinic

Traci has used the resources at Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s MS Clinic to get the best treatments and the support she needs to cope with her symptoms. The MS Clinic brings together a team of medical professionals, including:
Neurologists [link to Neurology, page ID 7.20]
A nurse practitioner
A certified nurse

In addition, we work with many other specialty services, such as:

• Nutrition
• Ophthalmology
• Physical therapy and occupational therapy
• Speech-language pathology
• Urology

“Within a single visit, our patients typically see between two and four MS Clinic staff members,” says Michelle Freshman. “The team also dedicates time at the end of the Clinic to discuss patient issues together, benefiting from the input of multiple perspectives. After each visit, we send a letter to the patient and his or her primary doctor with our collective findings and recommendations. This approach has proven satisfying to our patients. We have many loyal followers and a steady stream of new referrals.”

The medical professionals at the MS Clinic have vast experience with this disease, and they can help patients and their families manage the effects of MS. “When it was time to start a treatment program, I sat down with Dr. Toran to discuss my options,” Traci explains. “I then met with Michelle, who helped me start my treatment. She continued to keep in close contact with me to make sure I wasn’t having problems managing the side effects.”

The MS Clinic's Collaborative Approach

Our MS Clinic requires medical professionals to work together to design the best care plan for each patient. This approach also helps ensure that all members of the team work with the same information, which reduces the chances of miscommunications or mixed messages. The result: personalized, comprehensive care that saves time and reduces travel burdens for patients, as they meet with many professionals during one visit.

“Not only have the staff been there to offer medical guidance, [but] they are also concerned about my day-to-day life and how the disease is affecting me,” Traci says. “They continue to ask about my support system and my exercise routine, which reassures me that they are genuinely concerned for their patients and are helping them attain the best quality of life possible.”

Because Newton-Wellesley Hospital is a member of the Mass General Brigham System, the staff of the MS Clinic can coordinate care for patients at other Partners-affiliated hospitals and enroll patients in studies or programs being conducted at these hospitals.

Appreciate the Little Things 

“I find that I appreciate the little things in life more,” Traci says. “I try to have a good time no matter what I do and not focus on the future problems that are inevitable, which some people with this disease do. My hope is that treatment options for MS will keep advancing and, obviously, there will one day be a cure.”