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Uncomfortably Numb: a memoir about the life-altering diagnosis of multiple sclerosis
It begins with numbness on her left leg. Then it spreads. Even though an MRI finds a “mass” on her brainstem, it takes two more years for Meredith O’Brien to learn what is causing that numbness. Months after her 65-year-old mother dies from a fast-moving cancer, weeks after her father is hospitalized and she experiences an unexpected job change, she learns she has multiple sclerosis.Suddenly, Meredith, a married mother of three teens, has to figure out how to move forward into a life she no longer recognizes. Reimagining her life as a writer and an educator, as a mother and a spouse, she has to adjust to the restrictions MS imposes on her. It is a life, altered.
265 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 2020
186 people are currently reading
519 people want to read
About the author
Meredith O'Brien
10 books23 followersA former newspaper reporter and investigative journalist, Meredith O'Brien has written four books in a variety of genres.
A Boston area writer, she has two books slated for publication in 2025. Louie on the Rocks is a novel about the impact of Trump era political polarization on a family, and Uncomfortably Numb 2 is a guide for newly-diagnosed multiple sclerosis patients.
She's currently working on a work of creative nonfiction about the making of a Millennial Massachusetts minister.
In 2020, her medical memoir, "Uncomfortably Numb," chronicled the impact her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis has had on her life.
Her book -- "Mr. Clark's Big Band: A Year of Laughter, Tears and Jazz in a Middle School Band Room" -- won an Independent Book Publisher Award (Education category) and was a finalist for a Forewords INDIES Award (Education category). It follows a middle school jazz band from a small Massachusetts town that's led by a charismatic music director whose students are grieving the sudden loss of a band mate.
"Mortified: a novel about oversharing" follows a fictional mommy blogger who suffers the consequences after revealing too much personal information on the internet. It was a finalist for a Foreword Firsts Debut Novel contest.
Her first solo book was "A Suburban Mom: Notes from the Asylum," a collection of humor/parenting columns about raising her boy-girl twins and their younger brother.
A Boston area writer, she has two books slated for publication in 2025. Louie on the Rocks is a novel about the impact of Trump era political polarization on a family, and Uncomfortably Numb 2 is a guide for newly-diagnosed multiple sclerosis patients.
She's currently working on a work of creative nonfiction about the making of a Millennial Massachusetts minister.
In 2020, her medical memoir, "Uncomfortably Numb," chronicled the impact her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis has had on her life.
Her book -- "Mr. Clark's Big Band: A Year of Laughter, Tears and Jazz in a Middle School Band Room" -- won an Independent Book Publisher Award (Education category) and was a finalist for a Forewords INDIES Award (Education category). It follows a middle school jazz band from a small Massachusetts town that's led by a charismatic music director whose students are grieving the sudden loss of a band mate.
"Mortified: a novel about oversharing" follows a fictional mommy blogger who suffers the consequences after revealing too much personal information on the internet. It was a finalist for a Foreword Firsts Debut Novel contest.
Her first solo book was "A Suburban Mom: Notes from the Asylum," a collection of humor/parenting columns about raising her boy-girl twins and their younger brother.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 2, 2020
I was blessed to have Ms. O'Brien reach out to me and send me an ARC of this wonderful memoir. It was a memoir penned with such truth you won’t know if you should keep reading or pause to shed a tear, Meredith O’Brien showcases the individual effects of the debilitating reality for those facing multiple sclerosis. Not only does the author tackle the painful veracity of the disease, but provides reminders of how critical the healthcare system is to those in need. The truth of MS is as difficult to overcome as the disease is to diagnosis by health care professionals who sideline symptoms mimicked by other diagnoses. Highly recommended.
August 3, 2020
A highly focused memoir of multiple sclerosis with a journalist's attention to detail. It wraps into several other big themes: how long it can take to get a diagnosis for a chronic illness, how families keep medical secrets, what it physically feels like to be unwell, and how one's sense of self can evolve to adjust to a new normal.
August 8, 2021
This compelling, brutally honest account of living with Multiple Sclerosis will have you wanting to read, and read, and read - whether MS is part of your life or not. Meredith’s struggles as she seeks to adapt to her new normal will resonate with anyone who has ever had the rug pulled out from under their feet. As someone who has MS I could see many aspects of my own experience reflected in Meredith’s story, and it is always nice to know you are not alone. There are times this tale will pull at your heart strings but it is also full of hope and encouragement. Well worth the read!
December 29, 2025
While I know I cannot truly understand exactly what it is like to experience Multiple Sclerosis, I am incredibly grateful to Meredith for sharing her experience. There is much to be said about how difficult it is for women to receive accurate diagnoses in western medicine and how to forge ahead with hope even when so much of the future is uncertain. I learned a lot and truly appreciated her openness and honesty about how this disease altered her identity and lifestyle.
September 26, 2020
Powerful memoir about a woman with MS.
Full review at https://goodbookfairy.com/uncomfortab...
Full review at https://goodbookfairy.com/uncomfortab...
November 26, 2022
Excellent Read
Incredible story of resilience, courage and strength when faced with the loss of everyday life as one knows it and learns to accept a new path.
Incredible story of resilience, courage and strength when faced with the loss of everyday life as one knows it and learns to accept a new path.
July 3, 2023
I listened to this book on Audible. Meredith provides great insight into the feelings involved and the consequences of the unknown - a future MS thrusts upon people often in the prime of their lives (their 20's - 40's). If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with MS, or you're just interested in learning about what's involved in a life altering diagnosis of MS, this is a wonderful telling of her experience. She also goes into her struggles and grief involved in losing her Mother and seeing her Father struggle (in case that would change someone's desire to read this - ie. it's triggering).
March 27, 2020
Wow, this memoir--it's just... wow.
I've had my eye on Uncomfortably Numb for quite a while. Back when I was researching medical memoirs (sometime around October 2019), this one was recommended to me. And I was just so excited to read it.
Fast forward to March 2020, and what with the Covid-19 outbreak, I decided to set up #BookPartyChat on Twitter, to celebrate the releases of books where events had been cancelled. And when Meredith O'Brien, author of Uncomfortably Numb, got in touch, I was so happy. Talking to her for an hour about this memoir was a dream come true!
A couple of days before our interview, I started this memoir. And I just couldn't read it fast enough.
It tells Meredith's story as she develops alarming symptoms and is later diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
I'll admit, I didn't know much about MS before reading this memoir. Everything I did know was either on a super basic level or based on media portrayal, which isn't always that great (and is something I've written on before). Uncomfortably Numb taught me so much about what MS is--or at least what it is for Meredith. Of course, like many chronic illnesses, it's so individual and dependent on the person.
At times, this book was quite a tough read. It was harrowing in places. And I saw myself--as a chronic illness sufferer--in these pages so much. Especially when Meredith talks about how doctors didn't believe her, wrote her symptoms off as anxiety, and refused to take her seriously at times. Meredith also examines how females often aren't taken seriously by medical professionals--another thing I've encountered myself. Thus, while I do not have MS, this memoir has so many relatable moments.
It's also not just about MS. We get a glimpse into Meredith's wider life and other events going on during this time (after all, illness isn't an isolated incident--it affects everything). This book covers her mother's death, her teaching at university, her experiences as a grad student, and the publication of a book. We get to know her husband and children, her friends and colleagues. And everything just feels so real.
The writing craft itself in this book is really good too. Stylistically, Meredith's writing flows and just demands to be read. I've read quite a few medical memoirs, but I have to say, I think this is one of the best, and I'll be recommending it for years to come.
I've had my eye on Uncomfortably Numb for quite a while. Back when I was researching medical memoirs (sometime around October 2019), this one was recommended to me. And I was just so excited to read it.
Fast forward to March 2020, and what with the Covid-19 outbreak, I decided to set up #BookPartyChat on Twitter, to celebrate the releases of books where events had been cancelled. And when Meredith O'Brien, author of Uncomfortably Numb, got in touch, I was so happy. Talking to her for an hour about this memoir was a dream come true!
A couple of days before our interview, I started this memoir. And I just couldn't read it fast enough.
It tells Meredith's story as she develops alarming symptoms and is later diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
I'll admit, I didn't know much about MS before reading this memoir. Everything I did know was either on a super basic level or based on media portrayal, which isn't always that great (and is something I've written on before). Uncomfortably Numb taught me so much about what MS is--or at least what it is for Meredith. Of course, like many chronic illnesses, it's so individual and dependent on the person.
At times, this book was quite a tough read. It was harrowing in places. And I saw myself--as a chronic illness sufferer--in these pages so much. Especially when Meredith talks about how doctors didn't believe her, wrote her symptoms off as anxiety, and refused to take her seriously at times. Meredith also examines how females often aren't taken seriously by medical professionals--another thing I've encountered myself. Thus, while I do not have MS, this memoir has so many relatable moments.
It's also not just about MS. We get a glimpse into Meredith's wider life and other events going on during this time (after all, illness isn't an isolated incident--it affects everything). This book covers her mother's death, her teaching at university, her experiences as a grad student, and the publication of a book. We get to know her husband and children, her friends and colleagues. And everything just feels so real.
The writing craft itself in this book is really good too. Stylistically, Meredith's writing flows and just demands to be read. I've read quite a few medical memoirs, but I have to say, I think this is one of the best, and I'll be recommending it for years to come.
June 16, 2022
A subject close to home for me, so a lot of what the author said made a lot of sense and I really felt for her during her MS flares which are described in vivid detail, capturing the moment and feelings very well indeed. It's a well researched and well written book with a professional sheen; the author's background in journalism and MFA in Creative Nonfiction are in full show here. What I didn't like was all the extraneous extra detail about suburban family life, relationships, motherhood etc. which felt like padding to me and slowed down the story; in the end I felt the MS journey only took up about 40% of the actual text.
April 1, 2023
I would love to be friends with the author. She seems like a great person. BUT-there were long sections of the book that dealt with one new symptom after the next and it became wearying.
P.S. The proofreading was poor which was distracting. Sentences of the type: And yet I couldn't figure it out yet. Several other times that a word was missing or an extra word put in. Because the author is a journalist, this should have been attended to better.
P.S. The proofreading was poor which was distracting. Sentences of the type: And yet I couldn't figure it out yet. Several other times that a word was missing or an extra word put in. Because the author is a journalist, this should have been attended to better.
December 27, 2024
I feel like this could have been condensed into something more concise. Fair bit of ‘noise’ so to speak, that got in the way of the narrative for me.
March 27, 2020
Wow, this memoir--it's just... wow.
I've had my eye on Uncomfortably Numb for quite a while. Back when I was researching medical memoirs (sometime around October 2019), this one was recommended to me. And I was just so excited to read it.
Fast forward to March 2020, and what with the Covid-19 outbreak, I decided to set up #BookPartyChat on Twitter, to celebrate the releases of books where events had been cancelled. And when Meredith O'Brien, author of Uncomfortably Numb, got in touch, I was so happy. Talking to her for an hour about this memoir was a dream come true!
A couple of days before our interview, I started this memoir. And I just couldn't read it fast enough.
It tells Meredith's story as she develops alarming symptoms and is later diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
I'll admit, I didn't know much about MS before reading this memoir. Everything I did know was either on a super basic level or based on media portrayal, which isn't always that great (and is something I've written on before). Uncomfortably Numb taught me so much about what MS is--or at least what it is for Meredith. Of course, like many chronic illnesses, it's so individual and dependent on the person.
At times, this book was quite a tough read. It was harrowing in places. And I saw myself--as a chronic illness sufferer--in these pages so much. Especially when Meredith talks about how doctors didn't believe her, wrote her symptoms off as anxiety, and refused to take her seriously at times. Meredith also examines how females often aren't taken seriously by medical professionals--another thing I've encountered myself. Thus, while I do not have MS, this memoir has so many relatable moments.
It's also not just about MS. We get a glimpse into Meredith's wider life and other events going on during this time (after all, illness isn't an isolated incident--it affects everything). This book covers her mother's death, her teaching at university, her experiences as a grad student, and the publication of a book. We get to know her husband and children, her friends and colleagues. And everything just feels so real.
The writing craft itself in this book is really good too. Stylistically, Meredith's writing flows and just demands to be read. I've read quite a few medical memoirs, but I have to say, I think this is one of the best, and I'll be recommending it for years to come.
I've had my eye on Uncomfortably Numb for quite a while. Back when I was researching medical memoirs (sometime around October 2019), this one was recommended to me. And I was just so excited to read it.
Fast forward to March 2020, and what with the Covid-19 outbreak, I decided to set up #BookPartyChat on Twitter, to celebrate the releases of books where events had been cancelled. And when Meredith O'Brien, author of Uncomfortably Numb, got in touch, I was so happy. Talking to her for an hour about this memoir was a dream come true!
A couple of days before our interview, I started this memoir. And I just couldn't read it fast enough.
It tells Meredith's story as she develops alarming symptoms and is later diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
I'll admit, I didn't know much about MS before reading this memoir. Everything I did know was either on a super basic level or based on media portrayal, which isn't always that great (and is something I've written on before). Uncomfortably Numb taught me so much about what MS is--or at least what it is for Meredith. Of course, like many chronic illnesses, it's so individual and dependent on the person.
At times, this book was quite a tough read. It was harrowing in places. And I saw myself--as a chronic illness sufferer--in these pages so much. Especially when Meredith talks about how doctors didn't believe her, wrote her symptoms off as anxiety, and refused to take her seriously at times. Meredith also examines how females often aren't taken seriously by medical professionals--another thing I've encountered myself. Thus, while I do not have MS, this memoir has so many relatable moments.
It's also not just about MS. We get a glimpse into Meredith's wider life and other events going on during this time (after all, illness isn't an isolated incident--it affects everything). This book covers her mother's death, her teaching at university, her experiences as a grad student, and the publication of a book. We get to know her husband and children, her friends and colleagues. And everything just feels so real.
The writing craft itself in this book is really good too. Stylistically, Meredith's writing flows and just demands to be read. I've read quite a few medical memoirs, but I have to say, I think this is one of the best, and I'll be recommending it for years to come.
September 29, 2025
Uncomfortably Numb is a brave, unflinching, and ultimately inspiring memoir about facing a life-altering diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. From the very first page, the author draws you into her world with candor and clarity, inviting you to witness the disorienting moment when everything familiar suddenly shifts. What could have been a story solely about illness instead becomes a testament to resilience, honesty, and the power of reclaiming one’s identity in the face of uncertainty.
What makes this book exceptional is its balance: the writing is both raw and reflective, laced with sharp wit, vulnerability, and moments of surprising humor. The author doesn’t shy away from the grief and fear that come with MS, but she also resists allowing her diagnosis to define her entirely. Instead, she explores the broader complexities of navigating relationships, work, and selfhood while carrying an invisible illness.
For readers living with chronic conditions—or for anyone who has ever been blindsided by an unexpected turn in life—this memoir resonates deeply. It is as much about adaptation and courage as it is about MS. The author’s voice is fiercely relatable, making you feel less alone, whether you’re directly impacted by chronic illness or simply seeking a powerful human story.
Uncomfortably Numb is not just a memoir about disease—it is a story about persistence, vulnerability, and learning to live a full and meaningful life even when the ground shifts beneath your feet. A moving, memorable read that will stay with you long after you close the book.
What makes this book exceptional is its balance: the writing is both raw and reflective, laced with sharp wit, vulnerability, and moments of surprising humor. The author doesn’t shy away from the grief and fear that come with MS, but she also resists allowing her diagnosis to define her entirely. Instead, she explores the broader complexities of navigating relationships, work, and selfhood while carrying an invisible illness.
For readers living with chronic conditions—or for anyone who has ever been blindsided by an unexpected turn in life—this memoir resonates deeply. It is as much about adaptation and courage as it is about MS. The author’s voice is fiercely relatable, making you feel less alone, whether you’re directly impacted by chronic illness or simply seeking a powerful human story.
Uncomfortably Numb is not just a memoir about disease—it is a story about persistence, vulnerability, and learning to live a full and meaningful life even when the ground shifts beneath your feet. A moving, memorable read that will stay with you long after you close the book.
August 5, 2020
I am so grateful to Meredith O'Brien for reaching out to me and sending me her memoir. This book is an honest and compelling depiction of one of Meredith's most challenging times in her life. It takes you on her journey to discovering she has the life-alternating and incurable disease, Multiple Sclerosis. During this time, she also deals with the death of her mother, her father's hospitalization and numerous career changes that would stress anyone out.
I found this to be such an honest read about a disease and situation I knew nothing about. I am thankful for the chance to learn about MS and its causes. I thought the memoir was so perfectly penned that I really felt everything Meredith was going through. It was a very genuine read about how she dealt with receiving the diagnosis and her experience afterwards dealing with MS on a daily basis on top of her rather hectic life.
I especially felt for her as the story progressed and she slowly realizes she has to let go and let people help her, and that she can no longer do everything herself. As a self-proclaimed control freak, I know how hard it could be to ask for help or let others help you. I could feel Meredith's tug-a-war with giving up control throughout the book, which felt so real to me.
I highly recommend reading this memoir. For me it was a 4.5 star book!
I found this to be such an honest read about a disease and situation I knew nothing about. I am thankful for the chance to learn about MS and its causes. I thought the memoir was so perfectly penned that I really felt everything Meredith was going through. It was a very genuine read about how she dealt with receiving the diagnosis and her experience afterwards dealing with MS on a daily basis on top of her rather hectic life.
I especially felt for her as the story progressed and she slowly realizes she has to let go and let people help her, and that she can no longer do everything herself. As a self-proclaimed control freak, I know how hard it could be to ask for help or let others help you. I could feel Meredith's tug-a-war with giving up control throughout the book, which felt so real to me.
I highly recommend reading this memoir. For me it was a 4.5 star book!
April 29, 2020
I received my copy free through goodreads. I was surprised how little I actually knew about MS. The symptoms mimic so many other disorders, and too often doctors disregard what the patients tell them. This is particularly true for women.
Meredith O'Brien offers a good look at what an MS patient must endure just to function. She is a wife, a mother of 3 , a journalist, and a college professor. Despite the diagnosis of MS, she carries on with her life, even managing to finish and publish a book she has been working on for about 4-5 years.
Meredith O'Brien offers a good look at what an MS patient must endure just to function. She is a wife, a mother of 3 , a journalist, and a college professor. Despite the diagnosis of MS, she carries on with her life, even managing to finish and publish a book she has been working on for about 4-5 years.
October 6, 2022
As author Meredith O'Brien is introduced to her new reality of life with multiple sclerosis, she brings to life what this means to her as well as individuals who are forced to embrace her altered life plan. Uncomfortably Numb illustrates a newly diagnosed individual's reactions to the permanence of this unexpected addition to life. O'Brien walks the reader from awareness to acceptance of her new normal.
June 14, 2023
I learned so much about MS. Heartbreaking and educating. I was a bit surprised that at the beginning of the book she suffers partial numbness and seems to deal with it rather casually. Then after she has an appt with a neurologist who dismisses her symptoms, she returned to that same Dr again for another appt before finally seeking out a more qualified specialist. The medical details kept me fascinated much more than the personal family outings.
July 10, 2023
Fantastic read
Fantastic read! Author writes clearly and can carry the story line. Very well written. Worth the time to read. Excellent story of the life changing experience of multiple sclerosis. Balances the patient perspective with medical knowledge. Highly enjoyed. One of the few books I literally read every page of! Kudos to the author! Anyone who likes first hand medical story accounts will love this book!
Fantastic read! Author writes clearly and can carry the story line. Very well written. Worth the time to read. Excellent story of the life changing experience of multiple sclerosis. Balances the patient perspective with medical knowledge. Highly enjoyed. One of the few books I literally read every page of! Kudos to the author! Anyone who likes first hand medical story accounts will love this book!
July 23, 2023
Meredith shares her story with clarity and honesty, taking the reader through the various events that led up to and followed her diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. I share those similar events in my own life, and admire her eloquence and simplicity in choosing the words and tone that help the reader understand the seriousness of this sometimes invisible condition. I recommend this story to family and friends of newly diagnosed people with MS, as all can benefit from a stronger understanding,
January 31, 2022
A look at my future?
I chose this book because in a month, I will be evaluated for MS. I wanted a personal account, and O'Brien delivers. I already have several health conditions, so I could empathize with her, having to find a new normal.
If you or a loved one have MS, this is a must read.
I chose this book because in a month, I will be evaluated for MS. I wanted a personal account, and O'Brien delivers. I already have several health conditions, so I could empathize with her, having to find a new normal.
If you or a loved one have MS, this is a must read.
April 14, 2023
MS Revealed
Ms. O'Brien gives us an articulate, illuminating, and moving glimpse into receiving and living with a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis. I have a relative with MS, and I know some of her challenges over the years, but the struggle to accept and adapt goes beyond what I can see. I highly recommend this book.
Ms. O'Brien gives us an articulate, illuminating, and moving glimpse into receiving and living with a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis. I have a relative with MS, and I know some of her challenges over the years, but the struggle to accept and adapt goes beyond what I can see. I highly recommend this book.
October 3, 2024
Highly recommend my friend’s memoir about living with MS. As a family disease (my sister and sister-in-law both have it), it took me a bit longer to pick it up although I purchased it immediately in 2020 when it came out.
Out of all the books of Meredith’s, this one is the very best. This heartfelt memoir tackles family, career and life fulfillment as well as the onset of MS. This book gave me the gift of understanding more fully life and the disease.
Check out her work as well:
https://mereditheobrien.com/tag/uncom...
Out of all the books of Meredith’s, this one is the very best. This heartfelt memoir tackles family, career and life fulfillment as well as the onset of MS. This book gave me the gift of understanding more fully life and the disease.
Check out her work as well:
https://mereditheobrien.com/tag/uncom...
March 29, 2020
Uncomfortably Numb is a raw and honest memoir of author, Meredith O’Brien’s life with MS. Her vivid descriptions and vulnerability draw the reader deeply into her world. An account of mental triumph, this well-written story brings awareness to this immune-mediated disorder.
July 15, 2022
A sad but triumphant story
I do not read non fiction books very often but This book caught my eye and after two pages my full attention. It is an amazing story and so very well written I found myself part of the story from beginning to end.
I do not read non fiction books very often but This book caught my eye and after two pages my full attention. It is an amazing story and so very well written I found myself part of the story from beginning to end.
July 26, 2022
Great book
Well-written memoir- no surprise there, she's a writer. She's more conservative than me but no matter, she writes with universal appeal. Especially enjoyed reading about her rough-edged mother who worked selling wine. There was some added depth to this story. Happy to have read it!
Well-written memoir- no surprise there, she's a writer. She's more conservative than me but no matter, she writes with universal appeal. Especially enjoyed reading about her rough-edged mother who worked selling wine. There was some added depth to this story. Happy to have read it!
October 20, 2024
Tough subject matter to listen to if someone you love gets this diagnosis. Doctors disregarding her symptoms as anxiety rather than recognizing them as related to MS would have been sooo frustrating.
October 23, 2024
You Rock Meredith!
Loved this amazing story that I couldn’t stop reading.
I don’t know you, but feel so much sympathy for you and your family and so happy that your family and friends are with you.
Loved this amazing story that I couldn’t stop reading.
I don’t know you, but feel so much sympathy for you and your family and so happy that your family and friends are with you.
October 11, 2020
3.5 stars
August 1, 2021
Heartfelt, raw, real
This book is very personal to me as my mom has MS. I appreciated the honesty of the author. Well written as well.
This book is very personal to me as my mom has MS. I appreciated the honesty of the author. Well written as well.
October 19, 2021
I enjoyed reading Meredith O’Brien’s memoir. It took her a couple of years to find out that she had MS. She continue doing what she could and fought to try and do things with 3 teenagers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews