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Jamie-Lynn Sigler Says Parenting Through MS Takes a ‘Strong Village’
Jamie Lynn Sigler knows it takes a village to raise a family. And when you have relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS), like Sigler does, “it takes a really strong village.”
That perspective comes from experience. Sigler, who’s been in the spotlight since starring in a top-rated TV show in the early 2000s, knows firsthand what managing a chronic condition is like – especially when balancing it with parenthood. When she was diagnosed with RMS at age 20, she kept her diagnosis a secret for many years, navigating 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’s navigated parenting alongside a chronic health condition, Sigler recalls how important it’s been to realize a condition such as RMS “does not take away any of your value as a mother.” She explains, “Once I fully accepted and understood that, I was able to make the adjustments I needed, show up for my kids, figure out ways to stay present, play with them, whatever it may be, making me feel good about who I am as a mother.”
Sigler also speaks candidly about the importance of accepting her own limitations. “I’ve had some moments of harsh judgment on myself as a mother because of things I physically couldn’t do with my two active young boys,” she shares. “But through those moments I have learned some valuable lessons.”
One of those lessons has been to practice self-reflection – a key pillar to the three-step guide, Reframing MS, that Sigler partnered with Novartis to develop for anyone living with chronic conditions.
“The three-step guide is this process that I use when I come up against any challenge in my life,” Sigler explains. “Step one, reflection, is about feeling the emotions and your reactions to a moment or challenge. Reframing is about accepting whatever your situation may be, whatever this challenge may be. Reframing what this means for your life, how to pivot, how to adjust to move forward.”
The last step is about reaching out for help. “Especially as mothers, this is 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 need to reach out for help.”
One positive side effect of reaching out? It’s “really deepened a lot of my relationships and my friendships,” she says. “People like to be of service. My friends have taught me how to make pivots and adjustments so that I can fully show up as the wife, mother, and friend that I want to be.”
Sigler hopes to carry these lessons over to her children, making sure they grow up knowing there’s “no shame in asking for help, in being vulnerable.”
Speaking up for herself has also been essential for Sigler when navigating treatment options. “Finding my voice and advocating for myself has set me up for success 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 it can be hard and overwhelming. She 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 asking about study results to the different types of treatment options.
By speaking openly and honestly with her MS specialist, Sigler was able to find the right treatment plan for her, ultimately choosing KESIMPTA® (ofatumumab), indicated for the treatment of RMS in adults. Following the three weekly starter 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 her RMS presents its own challenges, every parent is navigating something. She shares, “We’re all doing the best we can, we’re all fighting the same good fight. We all want to be good parents. We all want to raise good kids.”
Curious 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.
- Have had an allergic reaction to ofatumumab or 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 can be life-threatening or cause death, can happen during treatment with KESIMPTA. If you have an active infection, your health care 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 your risk of getting infections. Tell your HCP right away if you have any infections or get any symptoms including painful and frequent urination, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, fever, chills, cough, or body aches.
- HBV reactivation. If you have ever had HBV infection, it may become active again during or after treatment with KESIMPTA (reactivation). If this happens, it may 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 treatment with KESIMPTA for HBV. Tell your HCP right away if you get worsening tiredness or yellowing of your skin or the white part of your eyes.
- Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML). PML may happen with KESIMPTA. PML is a rare, serious brain infection caused by a virus that may get worse over days or weeks. PML can result in death or severe disability. Tell your HCP right away if you have any new or worsening neurologic signs or symptoms. These may include weakness on one side of your body, loss of coordination in arms and legs, vision problems, changes in thinking and memory, which may lead to confusion and personality changes.
- Weakened immune system. KESIMPTA taken before or after other medicines that weaken the immune system could increase your risk of getting infections.
Before you take KESIMPTA, tell your HCP about all your medical conditions, including if you:
- Have or think you have an infection including HBV or PML.
- Have ever taken, currently take, or plan to take medicines that affect your immune system. These medicines could increase your risk of getting an infection.
- Have a history of liver problems.
- Have had a recent vaccination or are scheduled to receive any vaccinations.
- You should receive any required ‘live’ or ‘live-attenuated’ vaccines at least 4 weeks before you start 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 you start treatment with KESIMPTA.
- Talk to your HCP about vaccinations for your baby if you used KESIMPTA during your pregnancy.
- Are pregnant, think that you might be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if KESIMPTA will harm your unborn baby. Females who can become pregnant should use birth control (contraception) during treatment with KESIMPTA and for 6 months after your last treatment. Talk with your HCP about what birth control method is right for you during this time.
- Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if KESIMPTA passes into your breast milk. Talk to your HCP about the best way to feed your baby if you take KESIMPTA.
Tell your HCP about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
How should I use KESIMPTA?
See the detailed Instructions for Use that comes with KESIMPTA for information about how to prepare and inject a dose of KESIMPTA and how to properly throw away (dispose of) used KESIMPTA Sensoready® pens or prefilled 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.
- Do not inject into areas where the skin is tender, bruised, red, scaly or hard. Avoid areas with moles, scars, or stretch marks.
KESIMPTA may cause serious side effects including:
- Injection-related reactions. Injection-related reactions are a common side effect of KESIMPTA. Injecting KESIMPTA can cause injection-related reactions that can happen within 24 hours (1 day) following the first injections and with later injections. There are two kinds of reactions:
- At or near the injection site: redness of the skin, swelling, itching, and pain. Talk to your HCP if you have any of these signs and symptoms.
- That may happen when certain substances are released in your body: fever, headache, pain in the muscles, chills, tiredness, rash, hives, trouble breathing, swelling of the face, eyelids, lips, mouth, tongue and throat, and feeling faint, or chest tightness. Contact your HCP right away if you experience any of these signs and symptoms, especially if they become worse or you have new severe signs of reactions after subsequent injections. It could be a sign of an allergic reaction, which can be serious.
- Low immunoglobulins. KESIMPTA may cause a decrease in some types of antibodies. Your HCP will do blood tests to check your blood immunoglobulin levels.
- Liver damage. KESIMPTA may cause liver damage. Your HCP will do blood tests to check your liver before you start KESIMPTA and while you take KESIMPTA if needed. Tell your HCP right away if you have any symptoms of liver damage such as:
- yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
- unusual darkening of the 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.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see full Prescribing Information including Medication Guide.
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