Sorry for the ridiculous wait guys, life decided part 2 could wait! Part 2 of OMS-ish is going to cover steps 4-7 in the book.
Number 4, the Mind-Body connection, was something I really didn’t contemplate before last year.
I’d tried meditation before, but like most people, thought I couldn’t do it. Meditation isn’t a predetermined kind of thing, though. It’s something you learn to do. I swear I don’t think I actually meditated until late fall last year, even though I started in March 2017. I’ll probably say the same thing about my meditation skills today a year from now too.
Of course, it made me more peaceful. It also made me slow down and enjoy life more. Not to mention, it has huge effects on depression rates. I can’t remember the study, but I think the number was close to 75% of people with MS have had or will experience depression at least once in their lives. I call BS, though. Those numbers have to be closer to 100%. This disease has no cure, is completely random, and no one experiences it the same. None of our symptoms or disease progression is the same. So yeah, we get a little sad now and then. Meditation helps, people.
Number 5 talks about taking medication if it’s needed. To me, this is kind of self-explanatory. However, I’ve been proved wrong before, so here’s what I gained from it –
A lot of times, we get so much info from every which way these days that it’s hard to know what to believe in. I’ve talked about this before, but finding a Neurologist you trust and can build a care plan with is essential to your well being. I know a lot of people have had bad experiences with Drs, but I can’t stress enough how much of a relief it was to me. to Finding my Neuro and knowing I was in good hands? It was such a relief.
It also talks about DMD’s, and when and why to take them. We all know they’re mainly used to treat RRMS. There is such a hot debate on both sides, with good reasoning and results. I chose to go on one, simply for the fact that if I were to have a bad relapse or my disease progressed, I couldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t try. Like I’ve said before, I may be on them for a year, 5 years, 10 years. Only time will tell for me, and only you and your Dr can make the right decision for you.
I really cannot stress how important it is to find a provider you can trust.
The sixth part is about preventing family members from getting MS.
That’s a very loaded topic right there…because everyone knows whats best for their family, right? How can you look at someone and say, “You know, feeding your baby dairy isn’t giving them strong bones, it’s giving them indigestion and the opportunity for an auto-immune disease.”
Even better would be, “You know the ACS actually lists processed meats right there with Plutonium and Cigarettes as a known cancer causing agent? But yeah, that third hot dog tastes great I’m sure.”
Well, I have lol I’m actually very nice if you aren’t an ass to me or mine, and in the past couple of years have worked hard to ‘live and let live’…if you don’t hurt kids or animals I really don’t care what you do.
Seriously though, how do you approach this topic with your family members? My answer was – don’t. Unless you’re a saint and have the patience of Mother Teresa. I choose instead to be the change I want to see in the world. So, I don’t eat meat, I meditate, I workout, and I wait for people to notice. So far, a lot of people around me are slowly but surely changing.
Getting back to the chapter at hand; of course, if you have MS and want to talk with your family about their increased risk and some things they can do to lower that risk, go for it! If you want to just change yourself and let them ask, do it! I’m always up for answering questions if people are interested in MS or the OMS stuff.
The last step of the book talks about Changing Your Life, For Life.
Again, I find this self-explanatory, and overall good advice. It basically ends the book by telling you to not give up. Keep with the program, because it has proven results of improving quality of life, and slowed progression of disability. That simple.
It also asks the question; why not try changing your lifestyle? The alternative isn’t very appealing, and they’re very right. All you have to risk trying the program is a better mood, increased energy, lowered bad cholesterol and blood pressure.There’s also a better chance at living an MS version of a healthy life, or just a more generally long, healthy life if you don’t have MS… and no, the alternative isn’t very appealing.
What I’ve learned since starting the program is there are going to be some parts that are for you, and some that aren’t. I pick and choose from different protocols what works for me and my ms.
What works for you?
