If you are adventurous with food, as I am, you'll love the creative aspects. I sometimes put salsa or dressing on the cut edges of the potato before adding my toppings.

I was diagnosed Oct 99, 7-1/2 years ago. I've talked to you a couple of times over the years and have believed, right from the first moment of diagnosis, in all the same things that you do. I'd thankfully been working with a holistic practitioner even before diagnosis. I believe that's why I'd not been diagnosed sooner, I was not "ready" with my "team".

And when the first neuro showed me a graph of my future decline, and did I want to take the graph with me, I held up the palm of my hand to him and said, "NO!"

Driving home I realized a couple of things. First - that it's never good to make major life decisions from a place of fear. And Second - that we all have "our own path of least resistance", this is how I *heard* it. And my path of least resistance was to go the most natural route; vitamins, nutrition, etc. Not just for the intake of substances, but for the growth and change process that it would grant me. That for sure is not everyone's easy way.

Well, like I said, it's been 7-1/2 years and I'm doing better than ever. What I say is that I don't know if it's "faith" or "denial", but that it doesn't matter.  I know that I'm fine and will continue to be. I need to take care of myself, keep a relatively low stress level, and seek joy...I recently got a dog!!

For a long time I did not believe in my own strength and abilities... 9 months ago I got a job at a retail store.  I'm on my feet for hours and lifting boxes. At the risk of exaggerating,  I work about 15-20 hours a week, 4-7hr shifts, and my ankle is bothering me where I broke my foot years ago... but still, it's more than I believed I was capable of.

/S/ Gina Salemi-Magar

I've always wanted to share my story, but wanted to wait until I felt good for a long enough period of time, so that I wouldn't feel like a phony or charlatan... does that make sense? And then it got to the point where I don't think about MS very often anymore!  I'm honored that you will include me in your newsletter. Thank you and many blessings. /S/ Gina

Hi Gina, Yes...I understand. Years ago when I first started my website and newsletter, I sometimes would wonder how I'd feel if my MS suddenly got worse! I know the feeling. But it has now been many years since I have even given that a thought. Thanks again for sharing your positive story.

Gina's e-mail address is G_salemi@yahoo.com if you'd like to correspond with her. The last note I had from her included:

Congratulations Gina. She and her husband are now enjoying that lovely European vacation. Gina is such a great example of making the most of the hand she was dealt. If Gina can do it, and I can do it, YOU CAN DO IT TOO!

I GET LOTS OF MAIL

  Hi Betty,

I've only recently stumbled across your newsletter, and I must say what a positive relief! I've been diagnosed with MS for 5 years now, and although I was 51 years old at the time, I was CRUSHED!!

I have been sitting here this evening determined to completely clean out the 100s of pieces of e-mail in my "inbox." I couldn't believe it when I cam across the following note from you dated back in February, and search as I may I cannot find where I responded. Please, please forgive me. If you are a regular reader of my newsletter, then you know that I have been dealing with terrible grief following the death of my son. In any case, I apologize that your e-mail was overlooked.

My initial symptom for diagnosis was the optic neuritis in my right eye. It went from bad to worse (along with a splitting migraine) and I was admitted into hospital. At first they thought I suffered from a stroke. Then MRIs proved them wrong.

Optic Neuritis is frequently the first sign of MS. Sounds like your case is typical.

Anyway, to make a long story short, I was referred to a very good neurologist. He is wonderful. The first thing he did was tell me I couldn't ride my horses anymore until my sight returned (which was about a year later). This was VERY depressing for me. So I ended walking or leading them around our arena or outside for a whole year. I never really asked him, but after a year I got back on my horses and have never looked back.

I have a newsletter subscriber in Europe who is quite a horsewoman, and she has had the same experience. I have even read a research report on the Internet regarding what superior exercise horse riding can be. I would say Keep up your riding! I am always in favor of whatever is working! And I always tell everyone, "It is your body and your life, and you should be in charge, not some doctor, whoever that doctor may be."

The reason I am writing this is because, no matter what type of pain (headaches etc), or feelings (depression, etc.), when I get on that horse and ride, I feel great. I was told that the adrenalin is what does it. I have to say that between my family, my faith and my horses, I do not have any outward symptoms of the MS (my sight has never fully recovered, but I can see grey).

I think that equine therapy is one of the greatest benefits for people (who don't have horses or are afraid to ride). It allows the muscles to work, stretch, warm up etc. Many insurances now cover equine therapy programs. There is nothing to be afraid of, since the horses are certified, as well as the instructors.

I have also read that adrenalin (as well as caffeine) are good for MS. Perhaps you are on to something there.

So you may want to let your patronage know that "certified programs" are very safe and I do know that HAP (?) cover it (so I'm assuming others will). Mitt Romney's wife has MS and she follows the same regime. She has voluntarily taken herself off of all medication and strictly rides her own horses.

I have a niece who was a professional equestrienne show rider. I'll ask her about certification programs. I have never heard of such a thing. I have also read that Mrs. Romney has MS. Wouldn't it be great to have a "real" person -- not a fictious president a la West Wing! -- in the White House who has MS?

Thanks so much for your note, and for sharing.

  Hi Betty:

Regarding how to validate whether supplement companies are actually selling what they say they are; or, which companies give the best bang for the buck, there is an internet based subscription service named Consumer Lab, 'consumerlab.com. Their subscribers have access to the Consumer Lab articles and databases which test the accuracy of the components of dietary supplements.

I don't know how accurate they are, but they might be an information source which can allow one to gauge which supplement providers are actually providing what they say they are. Regards. /s/ Stevie

Thanks Stevie. I looked at the Consumer Lab website, but I don't think I'm willing to pay for their reports. I would have to know who is behind the reports before I would be willing to do that. Dr. Steven Barrett of Quackwatch fame comes to mind...a classic example of finding what we are looking for.

Thanks again for sharing.

  Dear Betty,

Thank you for your monthly newsletter. I look forward to it each month.

Several years ago I purchased your "I Can Cookbook," I read through the cookbook at the time and began the Best Bet Diet. Since my past history was spent in the restaurant industry, 18 years, and the last several of which I was a chef at upscale restaurants. So after my initial read your cookbook I laid it aside and started to create my own recipes. Also at about the same time I visited Ashton Embry's web page many times. The same goes for his web page after I had discerned all the information that I felt I needed and quit visiting his web page, and went about my business. Recently I reread your cookbook and about the same time I visited Ashton Embry's web page and noticed that he had made some additions. He now has a very extensive list of foods to avoid. Two of the foods listed caught my attention, lentils and spelt. Now for my confusion, in your cookbook you state that these are permitted foods whereas Ashton Embry list them in the do not eat category.

You may have addressed this in your newsletters and I missed it. But I would like your input on this subject matter. Are these two food items that I should not be eating, I don't feel as though I have wasted my time, I have been in remission for three plus years. It may be just the natural course of my syndrome, the Best Bet Diet or something that I may have done to contribute to my wellness. it would be nice to know, maybe someday I'll have the answer to that. In the meantime what can I ate or better yet what should I not eat?

Respectfully yours, /s/ Ivan P

Eventually in the third version of the I Can Cookbook, I even included how to stock your cupboards, and an initial shopping list. I'm going to attach the latest version for you in case you do not have it. I believe both your questions are answered in the book.

Lentils are a seed, not a legume. It amounts to this -- All legumes are seeds, but all seeds are not legumes. When I started this program I was working with an excellent PhD nutritionist who taught me that lentils are not legumes. Then when the results of my ELISA tests came back, I had a very high reaction to every legume (dried peas and beans), and "0" reaction to lentils. The nutritionist said, "Yeh! See, I told you." I can't say that lentils are a big part of my diet, but I do eat them from time to time, usually in a soup in the winter. I personally wouldn't hesitate to use them in any bean recipe. Incidentally, the reason for eliminating legumes is the kind of hard-to-digest protein the mature bean contains. Anybody is certainly welcome to disagree with me, but I'll stack my results up against any person with MS that I have ever come into contact with.

I never think of what I can't eat. I just create healthy, good-tasting meals emphasizing white meat poultry, fish and eggs for protein, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. I use sesame rice crackers and a little Food-4-Life sprouted flourless breads. I also bake wonderful cornbread and cornmeal muffins which are great with lentil soup. In my own baking I use some quinoa flour combined with rice flour. For cornbread I use a mixture of 1/2 cornmeal, 1/4 quinoa flour, and 1/4 brown rice flour (see the I Can Cookbook). I don't find any of this difficult. I do try to eliminate processed sugar all possible (perhaps the most important restriction of all), and I completely eliminate fats except extra virgin olive oil and canola oil for higher heat cooking.

  Dear Betty,

Hi! Thanks a Lot !!! for your prompt replies and support you give us through your emails. I feel a whole lot better when I communicate with you.

I would like to have your advice regarding exercise machines which would help us. Do treadmills help people with MS? What about walkers and elliptical cycle machines? I have problems with my knees. I think I have osteoarthritis and certain foods trigger off pains. So will stationary cycles help?

I would be really happy to know from you. Thanks once again. /s/ Sabiha

Exercise devices are so diverse. It mostly depends on your capabilities. I find that some are so boring that I simply won't stay with a program for more than a few days. Treadmills do not seem to work well for people with MS because most of them have a weak leg which tires easily.

Thank you very much Pamela. It is a great feeling to absolutely know that you are doing what you are supposed to be doing...and I do know that. My goal is very simple -- to help people know that they can be winners in life, and that they can create health for themselves, whatever they happen to be diagnosed with!

  Hi Betty:

I'm not sure if you've ever discussed this in your newsletter, but I'm quite certain I'm not the only one who has challenges in these 2 areas: all I want is a good night's sleep and a regular elimination system!

Re: sleep--I seem to wake up sometimes every 2-3 hours to urinate. I've tried not drinking anything late in the day but that doesn't seem to make a difference. Sometimes I'll only wake up once, and that's a dream come true! I'm almost ready to resort to sleeping pills, but I don't want to do that. I got a "natural" remedy from a local health food store (has valerian), but that doesn't seem to work.

Now on to the other, more delicate, subject: sometimes I'm pretty regular, but other (most) times it's a struggle. I don't know how much of this is related to MS. I get regular exercise and try to drink plenty of water, good diet, fiber supplements, etc. Is it too much to ask to wake up in the morning, have a nice bowel movement, and move on with my day?

Have you heard about the colon cleansing programs and if they work for us (meaning MS folk)? Any supplements you recommend? I find that I spend a lot of time thinking about these 2 things and would appreciate any input you have on these issues. I tried to make this lighthearted, but it's serious!

Thanks for your time; I really appreciate all that you do for the MS community!  /S/ Kathleen

First it is important to remember that elimination problems, which seem to plague those of us who live with what doctors call MS, are neurological in origin. That simply means that the normal "signals" between the brain and the sphincter muscles which control both the bladder and bowel do not work efficiently.

First the bladder question. Probably 95 percent of people who have MS live with this problem. I am one of those. Bladder incontinence is one of the "unseen" symptoms of MS. And of course managing it during sleeping hours is a continuing challenge. I have discovered that I am a very light sleeper, which means that it only takes a hint of urge to wake me. And many times it takes 30-60 minutes to get back to sleep.

Other strategies include:

Bladder incontinence was my very first MS symptom, and I have shared in the past a technique taught to me by a urologist right after I was diagnosed. He told me that in the same way my bladder gives me an urge to "go" before it is full, it also does not efficiently signal when it is empty. He said that I needed to fool my bladder into emptying completely by pretending that I had "finished" urinating, but then sitting back down and emptying the bladder again. (You must stand up and pretend you have finished, or it does not work. I found that in every case there was a considerable amount of urine remaining and that I indeed could always "go" again.

Constipation is apparently a constant problem for some with MS (as well as people who do not have MS). I have little personal experience with this problem, but I'll share what I have learned from others.  Remember that anything you do to eliminate constipation will always be temporary, like the so-called colon cleansing procedures.

Everyone must work to find what works for them. The two primary forms of fiber are the gel-like fiber one finds in oatmeal (especially good for the circulatory system), and fiber which our digestive systems do not digest, which will help the waste products move along through the colon.

Two other things that work are drinking a small amount of prune juice on an empty stomach in the morning. Be careful because this is a natural laxative and it really works. The second is using a simple glycerin suppository.

Whatever technique you develop that works for you, try to develop a routine where you "go" at the same time every day. I hope some of this helps you. If you have specific questions about any of this, let me know and I'll try to respond. I know that one or both these challenges are shared by many in the MS community.

Featured Books, Exercise DVDs, and Relaxation CD

The exercise videos I have used for several years and recommend are Yoga for MS and Gentle Fitness.  An effective exercise program must be designed to work the muscles that we do not ordinarily use.  Please don't delude yourself that you don't need exercise...that is a form of denial.  And please believe me, no matter what our physical condition at this moment, we can improve it with exercise. 

I DO NOT BELIEVE ANYONE CAN PREVENT THE PROGRESSION OF DISABILITY FROM MS WITHOUT APPROPRIATE STRETCHING EXERCISE OF THE AFFECTED MUSCLES!  I walk a great deal in the process of my job, but I still must do the leg and trunk muscle stretches and strengtheners or I notice a difference in my spasticity level as well as the strength of my weak leg.  WE ALL MUST DO STRETCHING EXERCISES!  I KNOW OF NO SUBSTITUTE.

I am still looking for a source for a good Qi Gong exercise video.  I have looked at several, but have not find exactly what I am looking for.  If you have written to tell me you are interested in such a video, please watch for an announcement when they will be available.

SURPRISE:  Exercise is one of the very easiest ways to reduce MS-related fatigue, while the side effects are all positive.  Such a deal!!!

THE HEALER WITHIN book by Roger Jahnke, Doctor of Oriental Medicine, I no longer carry in stock.  You may, however, order it from Amazon.com.  Just click on the Amazon link above to order.  The Healer Within is based on QiGong, the healing form of Tai Chi, and I highly recommend its simple movements.  The best thing about this book is that all the movements may be done standing, seated or lying down. 

      I CAN COOKBOOK - Third Edition - by Betty Iams - $17.50 ea.
           (an e-book available in Word format)
           If you need help with the BBD, this book is for you.

      PLEASE NOTE:  FROM MS TO WELLNESS is in the process of revision and is not available at this time.

Both Gentle Fitness and Yoga for MS are now only available in DVD format, as follows:

      GENTLE FITNESS by Catherine MacRae (DVD)

      YOGA FOR MS AND RELATED DISORDERS  (DVD)
             by Shoosh Crotzer

Both DVDs are available at $28.50 each, plus $4.00 shipping and handling.  The PAL format of the Yoga for MS video is available by special order.  To place an order call 800-651-3155 (in the U.S. or Canada), or 530-753-5595 if you have questions, or you may send me an e-mail with "Order" as the subject, to biams@sbcglobal.net.

PLEASE NOTE:  For those of you who cannot get up and down for the floor exercise portion of Yoga for MS, Shoosh recommends her YOGA FOR ARTHRITIS video.  One of the featured students on the video is in a wheelchair.  The price for that video is the same as the Yoga for MS, and it is available in DVD format.

Shoosh Crotzer’s relaxation CD from Mobility Limited, REST EASY, is available for $15.00, plus $4.00 shipping and handling.  If you are having difficulty dealing with life's stresses, you will love this CD.  Any of the three relaxations featured will create a greatly relaxed state from which you may easily slip into meditation, if you have been struggling with that discipline.

Please note that increases in the cost of shipping and packaging have necessitated an increase in the S&H for the first time since I began offering these videos about eight years ago. 

I hope all of you have found something of value in this month's issue of Journey to Wellness.  I know that life presents all of us with challenges as we move through this classroom called "life."  It is my hope that you will reach down inside yourself and find whatever you need to meet those challenges.

Here's a repeat of one of my favorite quotes of the month:

      QUOTE OF THE MONTH:

                         Some people                                                       
                    walk in the rain...others just get wet.
                                                                       - Roger Miller

        Here's to walking in the rain!

Big {{{{hugs}}}} to all of you.

Betty