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| In the Arizona desert, October 2019 |
January marks twenty years I have been managing Multiple Sclerosis. The first fourteen years I was adjusting to this new me. I learned what to expect from the disease physically, mentally, emotionally and physiologically. It’s a very complex disease. I have the Primary Progressive type of MS.
My biggest issues have always been physical with spasticity, balance and irregular gait being most troublesome. The mental issues are not as obvious. Reflecting back, I had them. I had plenty of physiological issues too. All the symptoms are insidious in that they creep up from nowhere. For example, in the past three years, I noticed that my core has been slowly going to mush.
Toastmasters is part of my cognitive therapy. I’ve competed in the International Speech Contest several times. After much deliberation I decided to compete again. I have something to say about living with and managing a chronic illness. I can use this platform to communicate that you can manage MS and enjoy doing it. In the past five years, slowly but surely, I am improving. First I had to get out of my comfort zone. I tried new therapies and I continued to work hard.
MANAGING ME
Up until 2014, I was going backward. The breakthrough began when I started doing Bikram Hot Yoga. Daughter Liz was home and practicing yoga daily. I asked her if she thought I could do the hot yoga. She explained how it works and encouraged me to just try it. I worried about the heat, but it wasn’t a factor. Early morning yoga at Hot Yoga Asheville is a daily therapy now. Yoga opened my eyes to other ancient and healing therapies. Now I do many things. My criteria for continuing a therapy is that it be:
1. Enjoyable
1. Enjoyable
2. Measurable
3. Rewarding
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| Cupping treatment |
I started getting monthly treatments. Sometimes she detoxes my body with a foot soak. Sometimes I get treatment on the wegan bed which is like a total body back rolling. Then there are the needle treatments.
Sarah's monthly treatments keep my body in balance. She keeps all systems of elimination, nervous, digestion and circulation tuned up. . Movement and walking also get refreshed. Toward the end of the month, I can tell it's time to see Sarah.
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| Me at Micah's Studio |
Next I added Massage therapy. I had always considered massage a luxury to be enjoyed on special occasions like a cruise. I met my massage therapist, Micah Coutet at yoga. His work on me helped with balance and walking as well as with tightness and pain areas.
The more I learned and experienced, the more I could feel the differences. Over time, muscle fatigue and muscle pain have been minimized. Massage opens the neurological pathways and maintains balance of the body.
Massage has become a monthly treat. I believe this therapy boosts and enhances the other therapies I do regularly.
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| Several juices and ingredients |
Dietary changes came after reading Dr. Wahl’s Protocol about eating a diet loaded with fruits and vegetabled. I started consuming juices and bone broth daily. I get my juices and lots of insights from Katie Flannagan, and Green Heart Juice. Physiologically, I have never felt better. My energy level, digestion and elimination systems are finally on a regular, comfortable path.
When I need to stock up on juices, I simply freeze them in a quart jar. I keep my homemade bone broth in the freezer as well. Juice and bone broth make a great and easy lunch supplemented with salad or cheese and crackers.
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| Plank on stability ball |
I started strength training three years ago. I think this is a critical piece of the puzzle. My body alignment and joint movement was slowly improving with hot yoga. Strength training has provided the muscle support to improve my walking. Gold's Gym at Oakley Plaza is across the road from yoga. It's very convenient.
Two and a half full years of gym workouts four to five days a week using lessons planned for me by my trainers have given me results. In the beginning, I told Lacey that I wanted to strengthening my core and improve walking. Lacey started me with very light weights. I never got sore from doing the exercises. Now I work with Evan Camby. He has progressed me slowly but systematically in total body strength. The core strength improvement is apparent in my posture. I can feel posture slipping in the evening when I'm tired. Walking keeps getting better and better.
Two and a half full years of gym workouts four to five days a week using lessons planned for me by my trainers have given me results. In the beginning, I told Lacey that I wanted to strengthening my core and improve walking. Lacey started me with very light weights. I never got sore from doing the exercises. Now I work with Evan Camby. He has progressed me slowly but systematically in total body strength. The core strength improvement is apparent in my posture. I can feel posture slipping in the evening when I'm tired. Walking keeps getting better and better.
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| Piano lesson |
Other enjoyable, measurable and rewarding therapies for the mind have been Toastmasters, piano lessons, blogging and memoir writing, and French lessons using Duolingo, a free app. and Lumosity another free app. I also enjoy puzzles. I work several kinds of puzzles everyday. Exercising the brain helps keep my thinking and reaction time sharp.
Managing me is my job so I do a lot of different therapies. All of them are enjoyable, measurable, and rewarding. I can do these therapies from now on. The rewards are everywhere. They are in the inspiring people I meet and share my experiences with. They are in getting good reports from my general practitioner and neurologist. Perhaps the biggest reward is feeling good, and having energy to do fun things. I like to surprise myself by just doing something without thinking about it, like dancing. Competing in the Toastmaster International Speech Contests is a fun and rewarding challenge. Each time I tell my story, it gets better. This time is my first invitation to proceed to the regional contest. I love to share my story with others.
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