What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?

I am sure anyone who has Multiple Sclerosis goes through (orhas previously experienced) bouts of depression, frustration, anger,anxiety, stiffness, and etc of the variety of symptoms due to the having this diagnosis.  What is Multiple Sclerosis?

It is not contagious. The average age of diagnosis is 20 - 50. Women are more likely to have it 2/3 women to men.  400,000 people in the US and 2.5 million worldwide are diagnosed and possibly more.  Men experience it to a different level of severeity because the hormone estrogen (only found in women) helps.  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a life-long, lifealtering, unpredictable, cause unknown, auto-immune disease that affects thecentral nervous system (CNS).  Auto- aword that is Latin for “self”.  MS is adisease wherein the immune system begins to attack itself for reasons that areunknown. The CNS is made up of the brain, spine, and optic nerves.  The brain and spine control everything insidethe human body from the memory (cognition), speech, vision, movement, walking,muscles, strength, coordination, equilibrium (balance), feeling (stiffness,numbness, and/or tingling), urinary and bowels , etc.  Anything that you can think of in regards tothe human body and its functions, MS effects. 

There are four different types ofMS which all exhibit the same symptoms but differ in severity, duration, andpermanency.  Each will be listed in orderfrom least severe to most severe: (1) the most common type is Relapsing Remitting MS (RRMS), (2)Primary Progressive MS, (3) Secondary Progressive MS, and (4) Progressive RelapsingMS.   Multiple Sclerosis is as different as fingerprints so you may know someone who experiencing certain symptoms from their MS and someone else who is not experiencing the same symptoms.  It is not that one person is lying or putting on thick for sympathy.

 

For many years, people had no idea that I have MS until I verbally told them because it was not visually noticed.  MS does not make us helpless or stupid.  Yes, we may need extra help in certain areas and it does have an effect on the memory, but we are not stupid and still have feelings, emotions, and a heart.  Being diagnosed with MS or any other illness/disease definitely lets us decipher who is a friend and who is not.,who loves you and who does not, who is judgemental and who is not, who is willing to be there for you through thick and thin and who is not.

Whichever MS type you may have, know someone who has,may not have MS, or any auto-immune illness /disease or not; it is always important to bepatient, compassionate, and understanding with yourself, others, and to take your time & do it right.  Remember "Patience is a virtue"take your time & do it right.

The best saying that fits for us, great bill of health or not, "You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have." -Unknown.  You might feel like your world is over but it is not. It's just beginning.


References
National MS Society, . "Who gets MS." www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis.

National MS Society, . "Four Disease Courses of MS." National MS Society, . "Who gets MS." www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis. National MS society. 

Rebif Interferon, . Rebif Kit Overview. Rebif, Print. <www. MSLifeLines.com>.

Relaxation: massage, music, and more. Oh my!

What relaxes your tension, anxiety, frustration, and etc. things that often plague you? 

You might wonder how can you deal with those symptoms? 

Deep tissue massage, yoga, ginger, cinnamon, and music therapy work wonders for me and the symptoms of my diagnosis.Symptoms such as, numbness, vertigo, balance, and walking limitations are greatly improved.

Ginger: improves circulation which helps equilibrium issues such as vertigo. Because of this natural herb, my walking has improved significantly. Rarely have to use the wall for support when walking.  If the wall is used, it is out of habit from using it for so long. Ginger can help you as well.  Whether you take it in the pill supplement form, raw forms, beverage forms (ginger beer *not an alcoholic beverage unless that is what you prefer by adding Rum*)

Cinnamon: serves many purposes but two purposes *for me*.  It also improves blood flow (circulation) and lowers high blood sugars for diabetics. Cinnamon can be found in the pill form, raw, probably and most likely in your kitchen cabinet.  Either way it is taken, it has the same effects.

Deep Tissue Massages and Acupuncture: help relieve pain, improve circulation & dizziness. Massages not only serve to aid with pain from an illness or disease.  Massages relieve stress and are relaxing.

Music Therapy:  You do not have to be a music lover, such as myself, to receive the relaxation properties music has.  Just find the genre of music that is relaxing to you and affords you with happy relaxing thoughts.

Yoga: stretches your muscles, helps with stiffness, is often preformed to relaxing music, can be done at home, in the gym, even at work.

Acupuncture and acupressure also assist with the symptoms listed above. Acupuncture minimizes dizziness, pain, and other symptoms.

Acupressure helps pain, walking, & etc. there is even a "do it yourself" guide for acupressure for Multiple Sclerosis.

Yoga for MS DVDs and books can be purchased on www.Amazon.com, and websites similar to Amazon, and bookstores.  "Office Yoga Simple Stretches for Busy People" by Darrin Zeer can be purchased at Barnes and Noble www.BN.com or on Amazon

This blog is not  saying,  "Ditch your prescribed medications."  It is just offering additional help. Natural help.  How did people in history survive without the conventional medication we have today?  The natural way.  How do I deal with alot of my symptoms? Uses of some of the conventional way coupled with the natural way.  What works for you is up to you to find out.  I provided you with a few resources. It is up to you.  Are you willing to try? I am living proof.

"It is difficult but it is not impossible. It slows me down but it does not stop me.  The only thing that stops you  is what is in between your two ears." -- Britni  N. Dunn

Herbs: More than garnishment and flavoring

***I am not a doctor but just informing you of what nature can do for you and what it has done/is doing for me"**

*GINGER- Blood circulation to the brain which improves: equilibrium & walking

*GINKGO- Improves memory. restorative effects on the nervous system, etc.

*CINNAMON- Lowers blood sugars for diabetics, stops vomiting, etc.

*CAYENNE- improves circulation, etc.

*PARSLEY- Cleanses blood, Freshens breath, improves digestion, relieves itching from conditions such as, bug bites and etc.

*LEMONS- Lightens scars and dark spots, improves circulation

*ECHINACEA- Boosts the immune system, used to help treat infectious conditions.

***That is just a few of the many medicinal properties that lie within common cooking herbs and seasonings. There are many more herbs that serve more than one purpose***

Resources

"Back to Eden: The Classic Guide to Herbal Medicine, Natural Foods, and Home Remedies Since 1939" - Jethro Kloss

Alternative Cures: More than 1,000 of the Most Effective Natural Home Remedies" - Bill Gottlieb

I refuse to let it stop me: Turn that frown upside down...

I refuse to let it stop me: Turn that frown upside down...: I'm sure anyone who has Multiple Sclerosis goes through (or has previously experienced) bouts of depression, frustration, and anger due to...

I think I can, I know I can, I will... Keep going until...

Even though I walk slowly, sometimes with a limp, and not too far for too long, I CAN and will walk until I can no longer (I will take as many breaks as needed).

I have weakness when I stand for long periods of time, I CAN stand and will do so until I can no longer.

Tremors occur all day, everyday with intensities ranging from 1-10 which make it difficult to pick up/grab things, turn pages, but it is difficult not impossible. I CAN and will pick up/grab things until I can no longer.

Fine motor skills are far less than perfect, but I CAN do what requires fine motor skills until I can no longer.

Memory is not too great during exacerbation, high points of stress that may even cause an exacerbation, some people have a bad memory in general,  I CAN play memory games to strengthen the memory.After all, the brain/memory is a muscle and needs to be strengthened just as any other muscle in the body does.  Hvae fun and excercise at the same time.

Coordination is off and cannot dance anymore amongst other things, I CAN  and will do the two step until I can no longer do so.

Those are just a few of the symptoms. True, I am stubborn but I will ask for help when it is needed. My aunt Robin came to take care of me in San Francisco during my college years when I had my worst exacerbation. Robin said to me...

"Brit, you're going to have to put your pride to the side and let us help. Switch your medication if the new medication has the possibility of greater positive outcomes than that specific side effect you're focusing on because that side effect might not even happen and your current medication isn't working."

 

Ask. That is exactly what I have done and continue to do when needed.

"A closed mouth doesn't get fed."

 

What I say is not to bring you or your day down and evoke a pity party, it is to spark your determination and achievement when completing positive life & everyday tasks, how to approach obstacles and hurdles to know you CAN do it just do not give up on what it is. If I CAN do it with all that I go through daily with my diagnosis... so CAN YOU, whether you have a specific diagnosis or not.

Challenges welcomed and appreciated because I am a fighter (so are you) and will not be defeated. Why? Because I refuse to let MS stop me. Besides, there are disability adaptions, customizable ones too. Looks are not everything but I CAN  and will customize them to make it fit my personality and "speak to me." 

 

I still smile, crack jokes/laugh at jokes, go out and enjoy the beauty in a days or evenings worth and will do so until...

"Its not about the one who fights the most or hits the most, its about the one who throws the most hits."- Dr. Steve Perry

The intensified unbalancing act... Ain't I a woman?

Many women believe that they are less of a woman if they cannot wear high heels. If that is the case, does that make me less of a woman because I can no longer wear high heels due to multiple sclerosis.

That is one of the issues that constantly arises with women and MS. No I cannot wear high heels. 3 in -6in is what I used to wear. Balance issues are what I am faced with on a daily basis because of my diagnosis.

To wear something that compromises and heightens the unbalanced intensity level is not an optimal idea. Guaranteed I am going down. Whether it be forward, backward, left or right... I'm going down. The fall from the unbalancing act is one that can be and should be avoided. Falling is always a possibility with MS (woman or man) for reasons the patient cannot control due to our equilibrium being off, weakness, and dizziness all induced by the diagnosis. Wearing the heels brings on additional problems, injuries (serious and not so serious). Possible wounds, scars, loss of consciousness, broken bones... I definitely pass.

Yes, I miss wearing my high heels :-(. But not that much after considering the dangerous possibilities:-). Those possibilities definitely outweigh missing the high heels. With confidence, I most definitely pass.

Its amazing how something that was once used as punishment for women has become fashion and the same subject it was used to punish can feel less of a woman if she cannot wear them.

Although, I will wear my heels if I remain seated and pose for pictures. :-)

There it is again... Determination & alternative finding.


So am I less of a woman? Absolutely not. Do shoemakers do us wrong in the flat department? In my opinion, some do (but not all). I just rock the heck out of some boots.... With a flat sole of course.:-)

See & Say... then Do

Set-  Positive reasonable goal(s),

See-  Write the goal on a piece of paper in big bold letters, Place that piece of paper somewhere where you will see it EVERYDAY,

Say it-  to yourself at least twice or more times daily (in the morning to get your day started and before you go to bed),

Strive toward that goal until the goal completed.

 Do it all over again....

 

 

Set, See, Say, Do.....