http://www.care2.com/greenliving/living-with-multiple-sclerosis-5-steps-toward-empowerment.html
Living with Multiple Sclerosis: 5 Steps Toward Empowerment
I’m not one of those people who will tell you that you can cure your multiple sclerosis (MS) with a positive attitude. But I will tell you that your attitude — that is, how you choose to deal with MS in your life — is crucial, not only emotionally, but physically.
It may seem so at first, but a life with MS is not necessarily a life out-of-control. As unpredictable and as debilitating as MS can be, there are some very basic things you can do to take control over this unwelcome intruder in your life.
1) Accept what is: After all the tests and the second opinion are in, accept the diagnosis and that MS is now part of your life. It is most certainly not the only part of your life… it is not even the most important part of your life… but it will not serve you well to deny its existence.
2) Do your homework: Educate yourself about what MS really is, not what you’ve heard it is, or what you think it is. Make sure you understand the available disease-modifying drugs so that you can intelligently decide whether or not they are right for you. It’s your decision and you have to own it.
3) Make accommodations: If symptoms are getting in the way of normal activity, do something about it. Whether it’s purchasing a cane or other mobility aid, installing a shower chair, or applying for a handicapped parking placard, you owe it to yourself to take advantage of everything at your disposal so that you can continue to function as independently as possible.
4) Protect your overall health: There are many things you can do to maintain strength and protect yourself from other preventable illness — regular exercise and a balanced diet go a long way toward that end, as do avoiding tobacco and other harmful products. Unfortunately, having MS doesn’t mean that you are not vulnerable to other diseases — this is no time to get lazy about your health.
5) Don’t let anybody push you around: MS is widely misunderstood, but tends to cause presumptuousness in acquaintances and strangers alike. Nobody understands your body, your mind, your life the way you do. Rather than let them get you down, use the opportunity to educate others. When you’ve got serious questions about this serious disease, address your concerns to appropriate medical professionals or other very trusted sources. Friendships with other MS patients create a strong support system.
These things, taken together and worked consistently, will empower you and enable you to be your own best advocate.
Note: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disorder affecting the central nervous system. The course of MS varies greatly from person to person, making it impossible to predict the progression in any one patient.
MS Information and Resources:
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Writer Ann Pietrangelo embraces the concept of personal responsibility for health and wellness. As a multiple sclerosis patient, she combines a healthy lifestyle and education with modern medicine, and seeks to provide information and support to others. She is a regular contributer to Care2.com’s Reform Health Policy blog in Causes.
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28 comments
add your comment »great news and I hope this link works, just cut and paste to the address line - http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20100127/ms_treatment_100127/20100127?hub=Health&s_name=
You can also join my group at "MS Liberation - End Multiple Sclerosis". We can do it!
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I have created a petition to Health Canada and I hope you will join me and sign and/or promote it with me so that we can end multiple sclerosis. We don't have to suffer! It's called, "CCSVI Liberation Treatment" or copy and paste this code to your website, Petition powered by ThePetitionSite.com
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thanks
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Carolyn N: There is ongoing research on CCSVI and it looks very promising. I'm hopeful, too, that we might find the answers there.
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CCSVI is it a cure for ms? I have read a lot on this new procedure and dearly hope that there will be research carried out on this non-drug based treatment to give us choice.
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Jesus himself took my deseases and infirmities. I will live: I will not die and I will tell the works of the Heavenly Father. God wants me to be in good health. The healing is God's will for it is part of his redemption plan. Health and healing are mine. Desease does not come from God. Desease and infirmity belong to the devil. So I don't accept nor desease or infirmity in my body. (from the book "Health Food" by Kenneth E. Hagin). Oh God if it's your will, please also lead this child to the Healing Room Ministry as you did for me. This is such a comfort on my healing path from MS desease as we all TRUST in YOUR LOVING POWER ! We have the power - FAITH sets off the POWER ! Thank you Heavenly Father the almighty - Glory to the Lord - in Jesus name I pray - Thank you Father - Thank you Jesus - Thank you Holy Spirit - AMEN and AMEN and AMEN
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I have ms and feel as if I'm being elctrocuted every second, every day of my life. There is nothing that can help me and my neurologist tells me that I will have to live with this for the rest of my life. To the people who say "let it go" and that and that I'm choosing to live with this disease are so wrong.
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Oh honestly, I don't think stem cells offer such great promise. They are problematic, in fact, because of the need to kill off the immune system with chemo before transfusing the stem cells. Then there may be rejection of the cells. Only 20% even survive these transplants.
What I think is promising is the approach that is already available and that is advocated by person such as Professor George Jelinek, M.D., a medical professor, and myself. Appropriate life style changes shortly after diagnosis of MS can help 95% life full lives with little if any disability. I still jog may years after diagnosis and am in my 60's.
I get very tired of folks who will not make the basic life style changes such as eating healthy food, getting enough vitamin D and quitting smoking. Of course, these things make MS worse.
I think people need to do a better job of following the research and acting accordingly.
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MS sufferers need lots of understanding and support from their families and friends and, sadly, often do not get it. I have rheumtoid arthritis and developed it before hubby developed MS. His mother was horrified and said that there was none if it in her family and that he must have got it from me! His family have never offered any support or understanding and cannot understand why he has little time for them.
Most of our friends disappeared into the distance. They had no understanding of what having MS can mean and couldn't be bothered with us. I suppose that they were worried that they might catch it!
This attitude set my hubby back in coming to terms with MS and in dealing with the illness. Whilst we both appreciate that most people do not know or understand MS, there is really no need to act as if it is a contagious disease.
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Thanks for the post!
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