Multiple Sclerosis and Living Life
As a person with the disease! Knowing the effects first hand, Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease.
With MS, the body’s white blood cells attack tissues called myelin. Changes to your diet and life style can help slow down the effects of multiple sclerosis. Some days will be better than others, but a normal life can be lived with the disease. June 24, 2004 eight years ago I was diagnosed with “Multiple Sclerosis”. A quote from talk show host, author, actor, and philanthropist “Montel Williams”, when the neurologist said those words- “you have (MS)” it hit me like a ton of bricks. “I thought I was diagnosed with a death sentence”. As a person with the disease! Knowing the effects first hand, Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease.
With MS, the body’s white blood cells attack tissues called myelin. Changes to your diet and life style can help slow down the effects of multiple sclerosis. Some days will be better than others, but a normal life can be lived with the disease Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that can be potentially debilitating to a person. Multiple sclerosis is a disease in which one’s immune system begins to attack the body. The white blood cells will attack a tissue in the body called the ‘Myelin’, which is the protective sheath covering of all nerve’s in the human body.
By the Myelin being eating away this can and most likely will result in permanent damage to the nerve’s even deterioration, being that there is no reversible process for (MS). There are many different symptoms for a person with Multiple sclerosis; it all depends on the damage and what particular nerves are affected. There is no cure for (MS), and the only way to determine is one has Multiple Sclerosis, is to rule out other diseases. Meaning using the process of elimination to determines one’s status. A person with a severe case of the disease will encounter many problems.
Some of these problems are not having the ability to walk, talk, or any mobility at all. Even though there is no cure for the disease, there are strategies to treat an attack such as “anti-inflammatory medications”. Some of these medications are “Corticosteroids and Beta interferons”. Corticosteroids consist of different medications that decrease inflammation and help to reduce the symptoms and signs of inflammation. They also “suppress your immune system, which helps control the conditions in which your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues” (http://www. mayoclinic. om/health/steroids/HQ01431), in thus case Multiple Sclerosis. Corticosteroids can be taken in many different ways such as: One can take corticosteroids by:
- By mouth. Tablets, capsules or syrups help treat the inflammation and pain associated with certain chronic conditions, such as arthritis and lupus.
- By inhaler and intranasal spray. These forms help control inflammation associated with asthma and nasal allergies.
- Topically. Creams, ointments and roll-ons can help heal many skin conditions.
- By injection. This form is used to treat such signs and symptoms as the pain and inflammation of tendinitis.
While the six FDA-approved disease-modifying medications that treat multiple sclerosis are often successful in slowing the progression of (MS), like all drugs, they can also produce some side effects. The side effects of (MS) medications can range from mild (flulike symptoms or irritation at an injection site) to more serious (chest pain, an increased risk of heart toxicity, or even acute myelogenous leukemia, a kind of bone marrow cancer. So when taken any medication it should be consulted with your doctor on the best medication for any person to take while dealing with multiple sclerosis.
Discussing all side effects will help the doctor know how tolerable you are to the medication. Any bruising, redness, swelling, itching, etc should be reported immediately. All the interferon’s such as Rebif, Avonex, and Betaferon can cause flulike response after an injection. This is managed by gradually starting with smaller does, then working up to full dose. Physical therapy is also another way to treat (MS) attacks, and modify the course of the disease as well as using muscle relaxants. Physical therapies that can be conducted are too help deal with the issues brought on by Multiple Sclerosis such as:
- Fatigue
- Pain
- Balance problems
- Coordination problems
- Weakness
- Immobility
Physical therapy will help teach new movement techniques also. A healthy diet is something that should also be maintained when someone has Multiple Sclerosis. A person with a chronic illness should consume adequate calories including protein. This will help the body provide energy, heal any wounds and fight off any infections. A person with Multiple Sclerosis should maintain their weight, eat foods low in fat and cholesterol, and limit their sugar intake.
Salt is something that should be moderate in a (MS) patient’s diet, along with drinking 8-8ounce glasses of water per day to maintain a good urinary track. Anyone with an illness should get plenty of rest, thus keeping the energy up. Anyone with Multiple Sclerosis can have a very fulfilling life. (MS) doesn’t have to determine the amount of fun you have. Yes it can become hard with all the medications and daily stipulations but it’s worth it to maintain life. I know someone who has had the disease since the age 19 years old. They woke up and couldn’t see anything, just flashing lights and a splitting headache.
Rushed to the hospital and they couldn’t begin to explain the amount of testing that was done on them to gain a diagnosis. They had to make numerous changes in their life if they wanted t continue to be normal. These changes included not smoking (cigarettes), no alcohol, fatty foods, getting more rest, working less, being on many medications etc: an the list goes on. However, for the sake of their children and their family they were able to pull through. As they explained to me there are days that are great from them than there are days that is extremely hard. But it’s better than not being around at all as they said.
There are days when their depression will set in and giving up is the only thing they want to do, doing so would be the easy way out. Fighting it to the end is the decision they made; having a wonderful support system that keeping them motivated to live. Great children and a wonderful husband couldn’t ask for anything more. There’s nothing they can’t do everything is regular with some limitations. Multiple sclerosis is a potentially debilitating disease. However as long as you take your medications, exercise, and maintain a well balanced diet you can live a happy and normal life. It will also limit the amount of attacks a person will have.
It doesn’t have to over take your life. Staying positive and having a great support system are strategies to help a person keep the faith and make it through. As a person with the disease! Knowing the effects first hand, Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease. With MS, the body’s white blood cells attack tissues called myelin. Changes to your diet and life style can help slow down the effects of multiple sclerosis. Some days will be better than others, but a normal life can be lived with the disease.
References
- www. cnn. com
- www. mslifelines. com
- www. montelwilliams. com
- www. apolllolibrary. com
- www. everydayhealth. com
