Running Across America with MS, Betsy Mueller’s story | S8E16

After her MS diagnosis, Betsy Mueller ran across America. In this episode of Living Well with MS, Betsy shares how she went from fear and uncertainty after her diagnosis to completing a 3,000-mile run from Santa Monica to Central Park to raise awareness of MS. Betsy shares the early symptoms that led to her diagnosis, the emotional weight of living with invisible symptoms, and how fear and uncertainty affected her mental health. She also talks about the role of a plant-based diet, exercise, treatment decisions and community support in helping her move forward. From training in Flagstaff to managing heat sensitivity, fatigue, DMT deliveries and long days on the road, Betsy reflects on what it took to complete her run from Santa Monica to Central Park. She also discusses Active with MS, the nonprofit she founded to help people with MS take part in races and reconnect with movement in a way that works for them. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways and Betsy’s bio. 02:56 How plant-based eating supports Betsy’s health 05:51 Invisible symptoms, fatigue and the emotional weight of MS 10:46 Cognitive symptoms and the impact of poor sleep 12:03 Steroids, plasma exchange and finding effective relapse support 15:27 Moving from fear towards a more hopeful mindset 17:30 Why Betsy decided to run across America 20:49 The 3,000-mile route from California to New York 24:00 RV life, logistics and support on the road 26:12 How Betsy’s body adapted during the run 28:48 Managing heat sensitivity and DMTs while travelling 30:58 Powerful connections with people along the route 33:59 Active with MS and helping others join races 37:20 Betsy’s advice for people newly diagnosed with MS 39:15 Why MS community support can make such a difference Connect with Betsy on Instagram Learn more about Betsy’s work and run New to Overcoming MS? Learn why lifestyle matters in MS - begin your journey at our 'Get started' page Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub Visit the Overcoming MS website Follow us on social media: Facebook Instagram YouTube Pinterest Don’t miss out: Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS here. Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS. Support us: If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here. Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected]. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.