Embrace Your Destiny: Track Your Progress

The aging process plus the diagnosis of Primary Progressive MS is a recipe for change in the wrong direction. According to data I have read, I should be on a slow, steady decline. I refuse to accept that fate. The only way I know to determine if I’m going forward or backward on this journey is to document specific tasks and track them from year to year. Since I do feel and walk better than I did twenty years ago, I think I am going forward. 

Looking back over this past year, I can say these things about my body and how it works better than last year at this time:

• My posture is better especially when I am tired.
• I can get up off the floor with more control and agility.
• I do many yoga postures better.
• I get dressed quicker because I step into my pants with greater ease.
• My walking is more fluid with less limp when I get fatigued.
• Getting in and out of the car is easier and doesn't hurt as much.
• Standing in the kitchen while cooking doesn't make my legs feel fatigued.

Plank for 1 minute

You may wonder, what has contributed to these changes. Good question. From all I have read about MS and other neurological diseases, the mind and body work most effectively when the process is coordinated, consistent, intentional, focused on the right things and done mindfully. Two years ago I noticed that my yoga practice was improving but the strength I needed to get into and hold postures was lacking. That’s when I decided to go back to the gym and get a trainer. I believe the work with my new trainer, Evan Camby has taken my walking and overall strength to a better place. Together, the yoga and strength training have facilitated the specific improvements I listed.

My husband, Donnie says he has noticed a big improvement in my mental acuity. He say I process information faster, which is reflected in smoother, more fluid speech. Mental sharpness has been of concern to me from the beginning. This year I have noticed focus and concentration are improved. I was President of Four Seasons Toastmasters which gave me weekly practice in leading, initiating change, making impromptu speeches, coordinating and giving programs.  I believe I work as hard on this part of my journey as the physical and I believe I see results. Here are the activities I do regularly to work on my mental sharpness:

• Piano lessons and practice everyday.
• Puzzles work everyday; word puzzles, picture puzzles, math puzzles.
• Study and practice French everyday using the Duolingo free app on my phone.
• Attend Toastmasters every week to practice speaking and leadership.
• Plan and execute parties and other events.
• Memoir writing weekly.
• Accept speaking engagements. 

Physiologically, I feel great 90% of the time. Headaches are not a problem now. I may have one once a month and Ibuprofen takes care of it. My energy level is nice so that I can do most everything I plan everyday. I give credit to diet and exercise for these improvements It seems like the more I do, the more I feel like doing.

It’s been a while since I talked about diet. I still drink a 16 ounce juice once a day, courtesy of my juice lady Katie Flannagan and Green Heart Juice. I also make bone broth and consume a half cup of that everyday. The rest of my diet includes lots of vegetables, salads, canned tuna and salmon, beans of all kinds fixed all different ways, smoothie for breakfast, and nuts. I’m monitoring the effect of gluten, cheese and sugar on joint inflammation. Recently I have observed that certain postures in yoga are not fully available the morning after eating gluten and cheese. I am following principles from The Wahl Diet and others that incorporate whole foods and plant based foods.

I look at this journey with MS as a challenge to maintain an  an active lifestyle. This work is my job. I still have lots of things to improve. My goal is to stay healthy, mentally sharp, involved with life and learning and to keep improving. Yes, it takes time, planning and some dedication. That is okay with me. I’ll do whatever it takes as long as I see changes going in a positive direction instead of backward.

Embrace the Journey: Write Your Stories

Me and sister  Penni on fun trip 

Just when I thought I had explored all therapies I might need for managing MS, I found another one. This one is memoir writing.  When I started blogging, I thought the blog would be like doing a memoir. I had no idea there is an entire genre of literature on memoirs! I joined a memoir writing class, got started writing, and love it! I go deeper into my psyche and find stuff I think might be useful to others doing this MS journey.