Stu's Views and MS Related News

Patient Power-Medical Care in the 21st Century
Vol. 9, No. 497 - By Islanders, For Islanders
- Fort Myers Beach, Florida - August 20th, 2010

In 2010, when someone receives bad news from their doctor, their first stop is often their home computer. This trend is a double edged sword according to many physicians. Their patients are both more knowledgeable about their diagnosis and treatment options, and more likely to run across erroneous information presented as fact. One thing is certain, the days of patients saying, “Whatever you think best, Doctor” are fading away as more people take responsibility for their health care and demand more of their physicians.

The Internet has certainly changed the isolation that many people felt in the past. Someone diagnosed with the rarest of conditions, can, within minutes on the Internet, connect with someone else with the same condition. And sometimes, knowing that you’re not alone is medicine in itself.

That kind of reaching out and connecting helped Ann Cherry, 56, to find information and resources which led her to an alternative treatment for her Multiple Sclerosis (MS) three years ago.

» Read More

Stuart Schlossman of "MS Views and News" /"Stu's Views & MS News" notoriety, was recently asked to pose a few questions to Wendy Booker, mountain climber and competitive runner. Wendy has accomplishments and future goals. Read here.

Here are some of the questions Stuart asked of Wendy, and her responses


Questions:
1) What propels you to do what you do in Life?
My life today is nothing like it was before my diagnosis in 1998 with MS. I was going along in life, raising kids, working, being a soccer Mom when I learned I had this disease. MS certainly changed my life, but instead of looking at it as a barrier, MS has propelled me forward to a very different life than I anticipated or expected. Immediately after my diagnosis I decided I wanted to see just how hard and how far I could push back at the disease. The joy of learning what I am able to do despite MS has been continually rewarding and filled with what I now call my “three S’s”… self discovery, serendipity and stubbornness.


2) Where do you see yourself (your MS) in another 20 years?
Continue, to see this answer and other Questions and Answers

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www.msmusings.com
The Bio of: Car Reynolds - Creator of MS MuSings

I was diagnosed with MS in March, 1997. It had taken five years to get to this diagnosis, and I was told I was lucky because doc had thought it was cancer of the spine all along.

I have been married for over 35 years to Roger, and we have two children, Emilie who is married with three of her own, and son, Michael.

I had gone back to college when my children were in Jr. High and hadn't been teaching too long when the symptoms showed themselves. I managed to get in nine years teaching and left this profession with such a heart filled with emptiness. I had been doing some presentations around the state and saw myself in this role along with the teaching itself.

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Information provided by Colleen, in Upstate NY. My thanks to Colleen for her contribution.

When We Say We Can't do Something
Because We don't Feel Well, - - Put yourself
in Our Shoes By Using The Examples of our Symptoms Below...

- Painful Heavy Legs: Apply Tightly 20 LB ankle weights and 15 LB thigh weights then take a 1 mile walk, clean the house, go shopping and then sit down - how ya' feeling now?

- Painful Feet: Put equal or unequal amounts of small pebbles in each shoe then take a walk, if we are mad at you we would prefer needles to pebbles.

- Loss of Feeling in Hands and/or Arms: Put on extra thick gloves and a heavy coat then try and pick up a pencil, if successful stab yourself in the arm.

» Read More

Written By: Stuart Schlossman
March 4, 2009

Definition: Painful paroxysmal symptoms (PPS) were defined as transient painful symptoms in any area of the body, with abrupt onset, brief duration, from a few seconds to a few minutes, with repetitive and stereotyped features.

PAIN is My problem this week. Brought on probably by my "over-doing" of things this past weekend. On Saturday, I attempted to play what is known as a game of Golf in Mid 80 Temperature. What my game looked like and became, was trying to keep the ball from landing 10-20 feet in front of me or keeping it out of the water hazards along each fairway. An utter disaster at the heat caused almost imminent fatigue, not allowing my arms to correctly swing at that little ball.

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How does MS spasticity differ from muscle pain from an injury? Muscle pain from an injury is caused by tearing or trauma or bleeding within the muscle and responds well to rest, ice, and eventually heat as well as over the counter pain relievers and , in some cases, muscle relaxants. Spasticity from MS tends to worsen with application of cold, generally worsens with rest and improves with stretching and activity, and may need central nervous system altering medications to stop the impulse for tightening of the muscle from making it to its target (butt, leg, arm, etc).



Spasticity from a central nervous system source has two possible manifestations: tonic movement and clonic movement. Tonic movements are tight, rigid, slow, and can be painful.

Read complete story by: By Cherie C. Binns, RN BS MSCN 3/1/09
called: Oh, My achin’….! Could this be Spasticity?

Provided by: Canadian Press
Written by: Shannon Montgomery, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Jan. 15, 2009

CALGARY - It started when Levi Barron's right hand curled into a claw shortly after his 13th birthday.

Always laid-back, he told his mom that he'd just learn to write with the other hand and not to worry.

But the debilitating stiffness crept to his other hand, and soon the athletic hockey player was having trouble walking and even fell a few times.

It took four doctors and a stint in hospital, paralyzed from the waist down and so dizzy he couldn't open his eyes without vomiting, for Levi to finally get a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

» Read More

The Human Pin-cushion -- By Merely Me
November 10, 2008


I wrote the following piece as part of an on-going MS diary of what this experience has been like following my diagnosis. For the most part, MRI's are totally unproblematic. But for me and my small veins, I quite often get chosen to become, what I call, the human pin-cushion.

I had my fourth MRI recently. And it is best if I get used to them. The very first one I had was ten years ago and I was claustrophobic and fearful. I have totally gotten over that part. What has been problematic recently has not been the time in the machine but the injection of dye for contrast.

To continue reading click here

-

Obtained by Stuart, editor of Stu's Views and MS Related News
from MultipleSclerosisCentral.com

by Merely Me
Tuesday, October 14, 2008


I have talked a lot about what NOT to say when someone you know has Multiple Sclerosis. So let me take the opportunity to discuss things in the positive. What is actually helpful to say or do when the person you care about has a chronic disease like MS?

» Read More

An MS Patient's Story

I don't know about you but my idea of a fun vacation sure has changed since my diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis. The last true vacation my family and I have had was...well...a disaster. We went to Walt Disney World. In April. During Easter Spring break. Okay don't even say it. Big mistake? Looking back on this, I have no idea what we were thinking.

Click HERE to read full story.
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