Hello! As always, I’m so glad to have you here.
This month marks the 11th anniversary of my MS diagnosis. I always feel like it needs commemorating in some way. And yet, when March rolls around, I always find myself doing less (or nothing) to really talk about what that moment was like. (Last year I shared my timely experience doing ketamine at John’s Hopkins as a part of an experimental group looking at ketamine as a therapy for one of MS’s biggest symptom’s, exhaustion.)
For this year’s anniversary, I felt that it was important to share a few of the tools that really helped me get through this pivotal moment with more curiosity that sadness, more hope than despair.
I speak specifically about MS and autoimmune disease in my video, but really these tips could be adapted for many, many health issues—from IBS to rocky mental health.
If you know anyone battling a new health reality, please share this with them.
This is my public service announcement. It’s what I wish knew, but thankfully I was able to learn quickly thanks to the wonderful friends and friends-of-friends I had around me in those early days.
Below are the CliffsNotes, and you can find (much) more detail in the video.
…And without further ado, here are the five six best pieces of advice I can give someone facing a sudden, new chronic disease:
#5 You need a care team: Get people you trust to help you figure out what you need — I suggest assembling health practitioners who understand different disciplines from conventional medicine to functional medicine to complimentary therapies.
#4 There are answers but not on Google. Don’t Google! Don’t try to find the worst case scenario! Instead, look for the inspirations. For me it was Dr. Terry Wahls.
#3 Science sand research have come a long way and continue to develop. The treatments for multiple sclerosis are providing better and better outcomes for different stages of the disease. So, even if you’re afraid of getting on a big time pharmaceutical (as I was), please give it consideration. Talk to your neurologist. But also, don’t stop at conventional meds. Which brings me to…
#2 Experiment with diet (and exercise, but especially diet) to see how it affects your symptoms. An anti-inflammatory elimination diet like the Whole 30 gives you a good framework to start with. And also, the New Yorker in me had to experiment with a different lifestyle factor: rest!
#1 Life is uncertain. Release your fears when they pop up so you can live in the present moment. And even though we may not be able to change our diagnosis, we can still change our life for the better.
And a bonus!
Remember: your energy is valuable and will start to feel more precious. Avoid energy vampires. You might actually find that you enjoy life more.
If you’re curious to learn more, I hope you watch the video.
Until next time,
xM
PS: Comment! Like! Share! I love hearing what you think and what’s on your mind.
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