Watcher: Mystery, Murder, Mayhem and a Lady with MS

Finally!  

A FUN read featuring a lady living with MS but not focusing on her MS. Watcher, by Jason Stokes, is a tried and true murder mystery and it just happens that the leading lady has MS.  And those with it will relate as she struggles obstacles with adrenaline us MS warriors know about.  The kind that you dig up from the bottom of your well when your well is empty. The kind that comes from survival, from necessity.  

The story flows freely and frantic enough to keep the adrenaline going and the intrigue in motion. Thoroughly enjoyable and well done, I thought the author had MS because Jason Stokes nails it on what it’s like living with MS, or at least for me.  So many times I thought, “I know that feeling,” only to be swept up by the story and taken off to some ledge to hang on til I turned the page.  Not sure I’ve read that quickly in a long time! 

Any way, I had to share with you all. Need a distraction?  Try Watcher by Jason Stokes.   This Girl with MS sure enjoyed it!     

Click here to purchase

*My opinions and this is not my affiliate link - proceeds go to author* 

Taken directly from Gestalt Publishing:     


What she saw may cost her life.

Teri is a watcher. A silent witness to the lives of others. Robbed of her strength and mobility by a devastating disease, when she witnesses a crime so vicious it forces her to choose between her own safety and a woman she's never met, she'll have to untangle a web of corruption, clear her name and catch a killer before she's the next to disappear.

 

     Watcher was written as a love letter to the MS community and everyone struggling with chronic debilitating disease. A message on every page that though disability can steal your strength, rob you of your physical assets and change how the world chooses to perceive you, you are still strong. You accomplish more before getting out of bed than most people manage all day and that deserves to be celebrated.

    Teri is flawed but she is human, like the rest of us and she is empowered with the indomitable gift of an unbreakable spirit.

FUMS Podcast: Natural Treatments and MS

Wahoo!  A start of something wonderful and new.  

My first joint FUMS Podcast with host Kathy Reagan Young.  This one is about holistic and natural treatments for MS symptoms.  




Celebrating The FUMS Podcast Show's 20th episode, we're talking to Caroline Craven, The Girl With MS, about natural and holistic treatments for #MS. 

FUMSnow.com is the brainchild of Kathy Reagan Young, another MS advocate and warrior.   She has so much great information on her blog.  Her podcasts cover a variety of important topics.  




GREAT NEWS: Caroline is now a contributor to the podcast and will be featured on a regular basis!

We're looking forward to many more of these podcasts.  



What do you want to hear about?   Let us know and Join the conversation!   



CLICK HERE for PODCAST about Natural Treatments for MS Symptoms 


#multiplesclerosis #FUMSnow #takeTHATms!

Interesting Research about Multiple Sclerosis




Oh what a year it has been!  

Here are some great research articles about multiple sclerosis that I wrote for Healthline.com these past years.  Quite a variety and feels good to look back and see how much was accomplished despite fighting relapses all year.  

A healthy lifestyle can and will make a big difference with this disease.  Take time to own it and kick it's ass.  Because it needs kicking.   

All I can say is #takeTHATms.  

Surviving Summer

I wrote this a few years back. Upon reviewing it reminded me of many important tricks. I updated it, except school hasn’t started yet. But it will and in the meantime we can learn tips for surviving summer heat!

“Today is the first day of school for many students.  Wow do they start early!  For us it was always after Labor Day.  To start when temperatures can still reach 100F is not a pleasant thought.  What's worse is that the parents doing all the driving and cooking may have MS.  And, if that's the case, then that can be doubly difficult.

For us in Southern California the summer heat can easily stretch through to the beginning of October.  Usually by the middle of the month we are free and clear of 100F days.  But it's only August 14, so we have at least another six weeks of summer in these parts.“

Here are some suggestions to help us all survive that last warm weeks of summer:

EATING RIGHT:  SUPERHERO SALAD

Cook light, healthy and with efficiency.  High protein and lots of produce can help make the summer more tolerable.  Another trick is the use of some key ingredients such as apple cider vinegar and nutritional yeast.  


"What is best for anyone with a compromised health system is to eat with efficiency. For folks living with MS in the summer heat, this means foods rich in minerals and nutrients, anti-inflammatory foods, and those with cooling or neutral energies." 


KEEPING YOUR COOL:  RITUALS FOR SUMMER


Read this article for tricks that will help you stay calm and relaxed throughout the day while still taking advantage of the long hours. Select the rituals that feel right for you, then create daily habits of them to make the most of your summer.

If the heat is too much - than stay in side and play some video games.  Some of them are actually quite good for us!
Click here to read the which video games can help.  

More articles by Caroline Craven on MangoHealth.com:


How do you say #takethatMS in the summer?  

Conquer MS with Self-Care! Tips and tricks for surviving these Covid Times.

Tips for Surviving 2022 and beyond with MS


For nearly 20 years now I have been battling my multiple sclerosis (MS).  Good days, bad days, every which way days.  I’ve had them all.   

 

I could not walk or see unassisted when the MS struck me.  Now I’m thriving in my own MS way.  It’s not the life I was used to or expected for me, but you know what happens when we have too many “plans”.  Time to let go and let life plan itself. Time to move forward with MS.  My success has been based on a natural, holistic approach to living with a lot of monitoring and help from my doctors. Life skills and stress management have played major rolls in my success.

Times like these we can benefit from learning to move forward...read more

TiPS and TRiCKS to stay healthy and cool this Summer:

Importance of Making a Plan B

Escaping the Red Zone of MS

Cooling and Healing Tips for MS

Join GWMS on youtube 

Radio Show - Tips and Tricks for living better with MS

"I'm newly diagnosed with MS - now what?" 

 

MS Living Well Podcast 9: Cognition and Multiple Sclerosis

MAY 21, 2020

 

Barry Singer MD, Director of The MS Center for Innovations in Care interviews:
Caroline Craven aka The Girl with MS is a certified life coach, writer and motivation speaker. Her writing focuses on articles in health journalism and highly rated blog. Her blog post topics range from personal experiences, research-based articles, recipes, life hacks and resources.

Click For Apple Podcasts

Click For MS Living Well Podcast 
 

Dave Bexfield (ActiveMSers.org) along with Kathy Reagan Young (FUMSnow.com), Cathy Chester (anempoweredspirit.com) And many more saved this Girl with MS during some really dark times. And that was before Covid. We have so much love and support out there. Reach out and see what there is to learn. Click here to see the full list of helpers/advocates. We’ve got this!

 

 

The Rocky Ride of MS and What Helped

Multiple Sclerosis is like riding a roller coaster in so many ways. 

This past year has shown a lot of love for this Girl with MS.  Some symptoms subdued, others raised their voices.  But top on my list was meeting so many wonderful people living with MS across the country, in person and around the world via the internet and telephone.

Despite my good year and pleasant holiday, the MS reared its ugly head with a bad case of pseudo bulbar affect or PBA.  One minute laughing, the next in tears.  I just call it the funk.  And it got a holt of me bad the other day. 

The fact it's the end of the year caused a bit of the emotions. Focusing on what did not get done in 2019 led me down a path of quick depression.  Even healthy people have to give themselves a break, but the pressure and disappointment that one can put on themselves can be debilitating.  And that's where I found myself.  

You know what helped?  All of these MS advocates and friends Read more...

Football season is a coming, not sure what it will look like but I’m getting ready.  Love my Oregon Ducks and Puddles!  #takeTHATms!
Take the Self-Care Challenge! 

Self-Care is vital in our fight against MS.  What can we do for ourselves?  Life skills lead to better health. One of these skills is to learn to quiet the mind... read more

Potential natural treatments for MS 

Alternative Therapies for MS  

Why me?  managing anger in MS
 

Surviving the Covid Quarantine

Life as an MS patient brings enough uncertainty and stress. 
These last five months have created challenges upon challenges. But it’s also provided opportunities.  I started a sourdough starter as did many people. I can’t eat a lot of gluten as it affects my MS in a bad way but it’s been fun making stuff for the family.  More importantly is that I posted two great resources to learn more about living with MS during Covid.  One is by the awesome @CathyChes at The Empowered Spirt and the other by Dr. Terry Wahls and the Wahls Group.  Did you know that elderberry during this time may not be a good thing?  So much to learn....read more...


 
Take action to potentiate your wellness. 

Other natural treatments for MS symptoms.
 
Keep on Moving if and when you can! It took me awhile to build up my strength after some time off. And this heat will have me down for awhile, but enjoy the little moments and all achievements.  

10 Ways you Can Prepare to Age Well with MS
by guest writer Anita Fernandes

Conquer MS with Self-Care:  GUT HEALTH

Much research has been done regarding gut health and MS.  And let’s face it – our guts are not healthy!  When we take pills by swallowing they have to compete with every other bacteria in your stomach and gut.  This can be a detriment for folks living with MS.  
 

Precision medicine, DNA and MS - Oh just spit in the tube!

What does saliva have to do with MS?  

Many people with MS are inspired to help others with their illness by being part of medical research.  People living with MS can help with research from clinical trials and all the way to the other end of spectrum, filling out surveys or spitting into a tube.  

I am one of those people.  Everyone is different and this is a very personal choice.  One of my goals in life is to help others with MS so my decision was made early on - how can I help MS research and have fun learning more about myself? With this in mind, I decided to use my DNA for research. And I joined the #SanoCommunity.  

Is MS Genetic? 

Is MS genetic?  Is it inherited?  Well, it is complex according to Patrick Short, CEO, Sano Genetics.  But there is a genetic factor that can dis-regulate the immune system.  There are many genetic aspects that can affect ones tendency toward MS.  I cover more of this in my article, "New Research Shows MS May be Genetic in Some Families," originally posted on Healthline.com.    

How genetic is MS?  How much does the environment affect MS?  Many of these answers can be found via Sano and their research.   

Other non-medical conditions become available in Sano's personalized reports.  I found this super interesting, learning about reactions to certain foods, or response to stress, or allergy tendencies.  I'm now curious how my family compares to me!  

By participating in research and sharing your DNA data (totally your choice!) you are helping the researchers better understand the genetic element of conditions like MS   The goal is to be able create precision medicine based on DNA and solid clinical research.  

The Sano DNA Kit Reveal! 



What does DNA have to do with MS and our health?  Time to think of the future folks, time to think ahead and what may become reality.  

I greatly appreciated this interview by Kathy Reagan Young (FUMSnow.com) and Patrick Short (SanoGenetics.com) to better understand DNA, MS and Personalized Medicine:



Privacy is key

Once you sign up on Sano and upload your DNA data (if you have it, it is not essential for signing up) it is your choice to say "yes, share my data" or "no, don't share my data".  The control is in your hands.  Most other groups will sell your data.  Sano uses the data for research if and only if you approve.  

Visit the website to learn more: 

  • Check out reports!  

Explore the Sano Blog - Personal stories about living with people living with MS you know and some that are new.   #ArdraShephard @trippingonair and #EliseOsmond from Australia.  Click here for the #SanoCommunity stories! 


 

The 5 "P's" of Personalized Medicine


When I first heard of the five "P's" of personalized medicine, which was just yesterday, I thought, WOW, this is the ultimate self-care tool.  Imagine being able to predict or prevent MS, or make a more precise diagnoses.  Personalized and targeted intervention may not be far in our future.  And all of this creates a more participatory role for patients.  Self-care.  Patient stories. DNA.  An interesting mix.  


Prediction & Prevention of disease

more Precise diagnoses

Personalized and targeted interventions

a more Participatory role for patients

So many questions to ask, things to learn, and eyes to open.  Thank you Patrick Short, Kathy Reagan Young with FUMSnow.com, and everyone at Sano who is rocking the MS world with their hard work and dedication.  


Connect with SanoGenetics, Patrick Short and more! 


Thank you for joining the #SanoCommunity, engaging, and commenting.  We love to hear from you across platform and look forward to hearing about your DNA experience!   #takeTHATms!