Suggestions for the Newly Diagnosed

Disclaimer:    No claims are made or implied for any part of my program.  It is always important to consult with your physician before adopting any program for yourself.

I receive such large volumes of e-mails asking me, "What would you do if you were me," usually from the newly diagnosed, that I decided to place this information at Betty's House.

DIET REVISION  Get started on a healthy diet revision program, at the least eliminating white flour, animal fat and processed sugar.  Emphasize fresh or freshly cooked fruits and vegetables, white meat skinless poultry, and seafood.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS  Get yourself started on a good program of nutritional supplements.  Be especially aware that these supplements fall into two categories -

Link to Complete Diet and Nutrition Report

I want to add a word of caution about nutritional supplements.  PLEASE DON'T LET ANYONE MISLEAD YOU THAT THEY HAVE SOME "AMAZING" NUTRITIONAL PRODUCT THAT BRINGS DRAMATIC RESULTS FOR MS!   How I wish that were true!  But unfortunately there is no such thing.  These are just either misinformed or overzealous sales people who mean well.  If there was such a product I would be singing its praises to the heavens!  Nutritional products are simply "tools" to assist your body in its natural self-healing process.  PLEASE DO NOT BE MISLEAD!  

STRESS REDUCTION  You absolutely must get stress out of your life, whatever you must do, or by whatever means; you have no choice but to reduce your stress.  Sometimes that means drastic changes in one's life, but it is absolutely imperative.  My personal stress reduction program includes a half-hour meditation period each day.  Please remember that reducing stress doesn't mean giving up involvement, and giving up challenges.  We need to be happily challenged, involved in life, both mentally and physically.  Just remember that stress plays a major role in the development of MS.  Meditation Report

AVOID GETTING OVER TIRED  For some this may mean a job change, reassignment, reduced working hours, or perhaps a leave of absence. 

DRINK LOTS OF WATER  Drink six to eight glasses of purified water each day.  Place a note pad beside your drinking water supply, and place a check mark every time you drink a glass of water.  Most people are amazed at how little water they actually drink.  Since most people with MS have problems with incontinence, most do not drink nearly enough water and they are chronically dehydrated.  However, after a few days of increasing your water intake, as your body re-hydrates you will find that the frequent urination lessens in most cases.

BREATHING EXERCISES  Do several minutes of deep breathing exercises soon after waking up in the morning, and before retiring in the evening.  Deep diaphragm breaths are very, energizing and rejuvenating.  My e-book, Four Steps to Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis, contains an extensive guide to breathing exercises.

SPEND TIME OUTSIDE EVERY DAY  Spend a minimum of 30 minutes outside every day in indirect sunlight/daylight if the weather and temperature allows. Even on a cloudy day your skin converts sunlight/daylight into Hormonal Vitamin D, which supports and normalizes the immune system.

DAILY EXERCISE  Get at least 30 minutes each day of gentle exercise, avoiding overheating your body.  If you are sweating, your body is overheated and that weakens the person with MS.  (In the early stages of MS this may not be a problem.)  Walking, swimming, bike riding, CardioGlide, Yoga, Tai Chi/Qi Gong,  etc.; all are recommended.  It is not so important what exercise you choose, but that you choose something and be consistent with it.  If one has limited mobility, the best exercises are swimming (or pool exercises) and gentle stretching.  Your muscles are designed to be used, and when they are not used they "talk" to us in the form of increased weakness, discomfort, pain, and spasticity.  Gentle stretching is the best natural way to alleviate muscle discomfort.  I highly recommend Yoga for MS by Shoosh Crotzer, Tai Chi for Seniors by Mark Johnson, and Gentle Fitness by Catherine MacRae.  I have used all of these programs for years, and at least 5 days each week I workout with two of these routines. 

A recent addition to this website is a report on Qi Gong, the powerful self-healing form of Tai Chi from ancient Chinese medicine.  Check out all the recommended exercise programs here.

A recent edition to this

Everything I have learned during the last four years and still today practice in my own natural self-help journey is included in a comprehensive e-book called Four Steps to Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis.  If you or someone you know is living with MS, check out the summary and information here.

A NOTE FOR SPOUSES AND FAMILY:  Being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis is always traumatic for the person who must now learn to accommodate this "uninvited guest."  But it is many times equally traumatic for the spouse and/or close family members. 

It is important to remember that no one other than the person with MS really knows what it is like to come to terms with the diagnosis as well as the changes it inevitably brings into one's life.   All they need from family and friends is positive support and love. 

I like to say that love, hugs, smiles and laughter (big belly laughs are best!) are the very best medicine.  They are free, they have no negative side effects, and spouses and family can administer them in huge portions with no instruction!

Many times you, the spouse or family member, hold the key to maintaining a positive, healing environment.   Nothing I can tell you is more important than that the newly diagnosed person needs to be surrounded by a positive attitude ALL the time.  A positive attitude produces healing biochemicals (good guys!) in the body, while and a negative attitude produces biochemicals that block the body's efforts to heal itself (bad guys!).

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Your body is very intelligent!  Learn to listen to your body.   We tend to pay no attention to what it is trying to tell us unless we are being hit over the head with a headache, or we have a pain or soreness somewhere in our body.   All these things are ways our body is "talking" to us.  Develop the skill of analyzing what your body is saying.  If you are uncomfortable or in pain, try to determine why instead of just looking for a pain reliever to mask the pain. 

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BE SURE TO READ MY MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, JOURNEY TO WELLNESS,
WHICH IS PUBLISHED TO THIS WEBSITE EACH MONTH. 
It features healthy diet tips and recipes, answers to questions from subscribers,
general health and exercise tips, and much, much more.