Jamie Lynn Sigler knows it takes a village to raise a family. And when you have relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS), as Sigler does, “it takes a really strong village.”
This perspective comes from experience. Sigler, who has been in the spotlight since starring on a hit TV show in the early 2000s, knows firsthand what it’s like to manage a chronic condition — especially when you balance it with parenthood. When she was diagnosed with RMS at the age of 20, she kept her diagnosis a secret for many years, monitoring her condition privately. It wasn’t until 15 years later, when she became a mom, that Sigler decided to share her diagnosis publicly. (Learn more about Sigler’s story and her journey with MS here.)
When asked how she navigated parenting alongside a chronic health condition, Sigler recalls how important it was to realize that a condition like RMS “doesn’t take away any of your value as a mother.” She explains, “Once I fully accepted it and understood it, I was able to make the adjustments I needed to, show up for my kids, find ways to be present, play with them, whatever it is that makes me feel good about who I am as a mother.”
Sigler also speaks candidly about the importance of accepting her own limitations. “I had some moments of hard judgment about myself as a mother because of things I naturally couldn’t do with my two active young boys,” she shares. “But through those moments I’ve learned some valuable lessons.”
One of these lessons was practicing self-reflection – a key pillar in the three-step guide, Reframing MSthat Sigler has partnered with Novartis to develop for anyone living with chronic conditions.
“The three-step guide is this process that I use when I face any challenge in my life,” explains Sigler. “Step one, reflectionit’s about feeling your emotions and reactions to a moment or challenge. Reframing it’s about acceptance whatever your situation is, whatever that challenge is. Reframing what that means for your life, how to pivot, how to adapt to move forward.”
The last step is approx reaching out for help. “Especially as mothers, that’s really hard for us to do,” Sigler acknowledges. “We want to be everything, do everything, but we can’t. We have to take care of ourselves, and sometimes to be able to do that, we have to reach out for help.”
A positive side effect of the approach? “It’s really deepened a lot of my relationships and friendships,” she says. “People love to serve. My friends have taught me how to make turns and adjustments so I can fully emerge as the wife, mother, and friend I want to be.”
Sigler hopes to pass those lessons on to her children, making sure they grow up knowing that “there’s no shame in asking for help, being vulnerable.”
Speaking up for herself was also essential for Sigler when navigating treatment options. “Finding my voice and advocating for myself has helped me succeed in more ways than I can say. One of them, in a very important way, is finding the treatment that was right for me,” she shares.
Choosing a treatment option is a personal choice and can be difficult and overwhelming. It co-created a decision guide with Novartis to provide people with detailed questions to ask an MS specialist to reach an informed treatment decision. This resource offers a checklist of questions, ranging from questions about study results to different types of treatment options.
By talking openly and honestly with her MS specialist, Sigler was able to find the right treatment plan for her, ultimately choosing KESIMPTA® (oftumumab)indicated for the treatment of RMS in adults. After the three weekly starting doses, KESIMPTA can be taken at home or on the go, just once a month.
At the end of the day, Sigler acknowledges that while RMS presents its own challenges, every parent navigates something. She shares, “We’re all doing our best, we’re all fighting the same good fight. We all want to be good parents. We all want to raise good kids.”
Want to see more? Watch the video above to see how Sigler navigates parenthood with RMS.
Indication
What is KESIMPTA (ofatumumab) injection?
KESIMPTA is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), including clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease.
It is not known if KESIMPTA is safe or effective in children.
Important safety information
DO NOT take KESIMPTA if:
- You have an active hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
- They had an allergic reaction to ofatumumab or a life-threatening injection-related reaction to KESIMPTA.
What is the most important information I should know about KESIMPTA?
KESIMPTA can cause serious side effects such as:
- Infections. Serious infections, which may be life-threatening or cause death, may occur during treatment with KESIMPTA. If you have an active infection, your healthcare provider (HCP) should delay your treatment with KESIMPTA until your infection is gone. KESIMPTA taken before or after other medicines that weaken the immune system may increase the risk of infections. Tell your HCP right away if you have infections or have symptoms such as painful and frequent urination, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, fever, chills, cough, or body aches.
- HBV reactivation. If you have ever had an HBV infection, it may become active again during or after treatment with KESIMPTA (reactivation). If this happens, it can cause serious liver problems, including liver failure or death. Before starting KESIMPTA, your HCP will do a blood test to check for HBV. They will also continue to monitor you during and after KESIMPTA treatment for HBV. Tell your HCP right away if tiredness or yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes gets worse.
- Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML). PML can occur with KESIMPTA. PML is a rare, serious brain infection caused by a virus that can get worse over days or weeks. PML can lead to death or severe disability. Tell your HCP right away if you have new or worsening neurological signs or symptoms. These can include weakness on one side of your body, loss of coordination in your arms and legs, vision problems, changes in thinking and memory, which can lead to confusion and personality changes.
- weakened immune system. KESIMPTA taken before or after other drugs that weaken the immune system could increase the risk of infections.
Before taking KESIMPTA, tell your HCP about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- You have or think you have an infection including HBV or PML.
- Have you ever taken, are taking or plan to take medicines that affect your immune system. These drugs could increase the risk of infection.
- You have a history of liver problems.
- You have had a recent vaccination or are about to receive any vaccinations.
- You should receive the required ‘live’ or ‘live attenuated’ vaccines at least 4 weeks before starting treatment with KESIMPTA. You should not receive “live” or “live attenuated” vaccines while you are being treated with KESIMPTA and until your HCP tells you that your immune system is no longer weakened.
- Whenever possible, you should receive any ‘non-live’ vaccines at least 2 weeks before starting treatment with KESIMPTA.
- Talk to your HC about vaccinations for your baby if you used KESIMPTA during your pregnancy.
- You are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to become pregnant. It is not known whether KESIMPTA will harm your unborn baby. Women who can become pregnant should use birth control (contraception) during treatment with KESIMPTA and for 6 months after your last treatment. Talk to your HCP about which birth control method is right for you during this time.
- You are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. It is not known if KESIMPTA passes into your breast milk. Talk to your HC about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking KESIMPTA.
Tell your HC about all the medicines you are takingincluding prescription and non-prescription drugs, vitamins and herbal supplements.
How should I use KESIMPTA?
See the detailed Instructions for Use that come with KESIMPTA for information on how to prepare and inject a dose of KESIMPTA and how to properly dispose of (dispose of) used KESIMPTA Sensoready® pens or pre-filled syringes.
- Use KESIMPTA exactly as your HCP tells you to use it.
- Your HCP will show you how to prepare and inject KESIMPTA the right way before you use it for the first time.
- Non inject into areas where the skin is tender, bruised, red, scaly, or hard. Avoid areas with moles, scars or stretch marks.
KESIMPTA can cause serious side effects such as:
- Injection-related reactions. Injection-related reactions are a common side effect of KESIMPTA. Injection of KESIMPTA can cause injection-related reactions that may occur within 24 hours (1 day) after the first injections and with subsequent injections. There are two types of reactions:
- At or near the injection site: skin redness, swelling, itching and pain. Talk to your HCP if you have any of these signs and symptoms.
- This can happen when certain substances are released into your body: fever, headache, muscle pain, chills, tiredness, rash, hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, eyelids, lips, mouth, tongue, and throat, and feeling faint or tightness in the chest. Contact your HCP right away if you experience any of these signs and symptoms, especially if they get worse or if you have new serious signs of reactions after subsequent injections. It could be a sign of an allergic reaction, which can be serious.
- Low immunoglobulins. KESIMPTA can cause a decrease in certain types of antibodies. Your HCP will do blood tests to check the levels of immunoglobulin in your blood.
- Liver damage. KESIMPTA can cause liver damage. Your HCP will do blood tests to check your liver before you start KESIMPTA and while you are taking KESIMPTA if necessary. Tell your HCP right away if you have symptoms of liver damage such as:
- yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
- unusually dark urine
The most common side effects of KESIMPTA include::
- Upper respiratory tract infection, with symptoms such as sore throat and runny nose and headache.
- Headache.
We encourage you to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
See the full Prescribing Information including Medication Guide.
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