Girl with MS - Tips & Tools for Thriving with Multiple Sclerosis

Self-Care Challenge #11: Mind your P's and Q's

Time to "Make a Change - Make a Difference"!

#selfcareMVMT

Challenge #11

Help someone feel better - MIND YOUR P's and Q's!

For five days choose to show good manners!

Respect others, respect yourself.

Remind yourself that you are worthy of a healthy life.

Wellness begins in the heart.

It feels good to be respectful and thoughtful. To not take things for granted.

You did not do anything to deserve this illness. But there is something you can do to change it. You can take control. You can practice "Self-Care".

Take action toward wellness with the Health Storylines App by recording your feelings in the MyJournal.

"I am worthy of a healthy life"

1. Carefully and with intention be aware of saying Please and Thank You.

2. This helps show respect for others and for you.

3. Make a change and help yourself to a healthier life.

4. Record feelings in My Journal

5. Share the moment: #selfcareMVMT

After taking good care of myself -
Out on an adventure!

Let these intentions carry you away into a beautiful positive life.

SHARE:

Instagram – Facebook – Twitter

Because together we’ve got this!

#challenge #dowhatyoucan #spon #takethatms

#selfcareMVMT

Smile at the World!

Register at the Health Storylines App,

use the My Journal tool.

#selfcareMVMT

brought to you by Caroline Craven, GirlwithMS, Self-Care Catalysts and Health Storylines

Self Care Challenge #10. Give a Compliment

Time to "Make a Change - Make a Difference"!

#selfcareMVMT

Challenge #10

Help someone feel better - GIVE a COMPLIMENT!

For five days choose to say one thing nice to your friends, family and strangers!

Remind yourself that you are worthy of a healthy life.

Wellness begins in the heart.

It feels good to receive a compliment. So now it’s time to return the favor.

Maybe you like something they’re wearing. Maybe it’s the way they smile or are kind. Maybe it’s something nice they did.

"I am worthy of a healthy life"

1. Carefully and with intention be aware of something to compliment.

2. Then do it! Say something nice.

3. Make a change and help others feel better.

4. Record feelings in My Journal

5. Share the moment: #selfcareMVMT

Let these intentions carry you away into a beautiful positive life.

SHARE:

Instagram – Facebook – Twitter

Because together we’ve got this!

#challenge #dowhatyoucan #spon #takethatms

#selfcareMVMT

Smile at the World!

Register at the Health Storylines App,

use the My Journal tool.

#selfcareMVMT

brought to you by Caroline Craven, GirlwithMS, Self-Care Catalysts and Health Storylines

Self-care Challenge 9: Get moving!

Time to "Make a Change - Make a Difference"!

#selfcareMVMT

Challenge #9

GET MOVING!

For five days choose to get moving!
Remind yourself that you are worthy of a healthy life.

Wellness begins in the heart.

You do not have to run a marathon or compete in an iron man. Just get up and get moving! Can’t get up? We get it. Swing and sway in your chair. Play some music. Get the blood flowing.

"I am worthy of a healthy life"

1. Carefully and with intention get moving.

2. Play some music. Feel it in your blood.

3. Make a change and move to the beat of the world!

4. Record feelings in My Journal

5. Share the moment: #selfcareMVMT

Let these intentions carry you away into a beautiful positive life.

SHARE:

Instagram – Facebook – Twitter

Because together we’ve got this!

#challenge #dowhatyoucan #spon #takethatms

#selfcareMVMT

Smile at the World!

Register at the Health Storylines App,

use the My Journal tool.

#selfcareMVMT

brought to you by Caroline Craven, GirlwithMS, Self-Care Catalysts and Health Storylines

Potential Natural Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

Do your research. Lots of treatments out there. Here is Some good, substantiated research on these items. Check them out. Tips and Tricks for Living Better with MS!

VITAMIN D

Vitamin D

Long touted as help for MS, this easy to take vitamin is proven again and again that it scientifically helps those with MS. Recently studies showed that mothers who are deficient in vitamin D during their pregnancy were more likely to give birth to a child with MS.

Read More

MAGNETIC THERAPY

Bemer

May sound a little whacky but magnetic therapy is gaining ground in helping folks with MS using solid scientific studies. Devices such as the Bemer, might just help you feel a little better.

Read More

OXIDATIVE STRESS -

Oxidative stress is known to be really hard on multiple sclerosis. Basically it means that they fight free radicals in an effective way to be maximized by the body. It is something we can actually work on improving. Using an Nrf2 activator, such as Protandim, may help with some of your MS symptoms.

Protandim

Read More

Protandim is made from natural ingredients, plants and such. Includes bacopa monnieri and turmeric.

Read More

curcumin from turmeric

Natural forms of Nrf2 activators proven to work include curcumin, from turmeric, as well as green tea.

Interestingly, the DMD, Tecfidera (a dimethyl fumarate drug) is based on the same activation within the body.

Keep Checking Back - More Tips to Come!

#takethatms

(*This is not a medical site nor am I a medical professional -- These are items that have either worked for me or look promising based on research.*)

Living life to the Fullest with MS

There are days we are stuck in bed. Or a wheelchair or scooter or a cane. Some days we walk, run, bike and play. Sometimes gravity gets the better of us. Life with MS is not fun. But if we make it fun, then we can say #TakeThatMS!

Attitude is everything. Positive thought can make the difference. As well as learning how to chillax and accept that we have an illness and must take care of our lives as such.

Positive attitude. Can't say enough about this.
Awareness: meditation and mindfulness
Movement: yoga, exercise, tai chi, qigong etc
Nutrition: reduce inflammation and other symptoms through food
Social media: support groups, friends and family around the world who all understand what we are going through!
Peeing in ones pants: it's going to happen so just accept it now and move on.
Fatigue: oh dear. I just woke up and now it's bedtime again. How am I to to get through this day?
Depression, anxiety: talk to your DR. Use support groups, friends and family
Wine: may not be the best for MS physically but mentally can sure help the attitude
Learning to relax: it is OK to hold a couch in place with ones body
Boundaries: set them. Follow them. Your health comes first!
Ask for help: so many of us are Type A. Time to step back a notch.
Learn to say No: stressors come in all shapes and sizes. Priorities based on your health and well being are best.
Appreciate the little things in life. Stop and smell the roses.
Have fun! Pick up new hobbies. Look at life all over again with fresh eyes. Don't wallow in the past.

Here I am fishing once again. Fly fishing is very good on the nerves and when it includes friends, a twenty minute drive and funky Los Angeles surrounds, well, it all makes for a rocking good time! Now granted, I overdid a bit this past week and am feeling it today. It's Saturday and as I planned it, a pretty mellow day.
I'm feeling like the Giant American invasion on my little Philippine friends!

Last night I had a friends party and then a two hour Aromatherapy Yin Yoga workshop at my favorite little yoga studio in Montrose: TheraYogaStudio
Today: a relaxing Saturday with Wall Street Journal, and plenty of lemon-water throughout the day to cleanse this body!

How are you living life to the fullest with MS?

It's all a balancing act. Do more and pay the price. Treat your body right, get a refund on energy.
Right now, I'm treating the body right and restoring and rejuvenating for the week!

Posted with Blogsy

Self-Care Challenge #8: Love YOU!

Time to "Make a Change - Make a Difference"!

#selfcareMVMT

Challenge #8

LOVE YOUR Self!

For five days choose to tell yourself that you are loved.
Remind yourself that you are worthy of a healthy life.

Wellness begins in the heart.

Love yourself and begin the healing process. You did not do anything to deserve this illness. But there is something you can do to change it. You can take control. You can practice "Self-Care".

Take action toward wellness with the Health Storylines App by recording your feelings in the MyJournal.

"I am worthy of a healthy life"

1. Carefully and with intention watch how often you are smiling.

2. Are you sharing your smile with your friends? Your neighbors? The world?

3. Make a change and smile at the world!

4. Record feelings in My Journal

5. Share the moment: #selfcareMVMT

Stella the Cat reminding me that I am worthy of a healthy life and to do what I can!

Let these intentions carry you away into a beautiful positive life.

SHARE:

Instagram – Facebook – Twitter

Because together we’ve got this!

#challenge #dowhatyoucan #spon #takethatms

#selfcareMVMT

Smile at the World!

Register at the Health Storylines App,

use the My Journal tool.

#selfcareMVMT

brought to you by Caroline Craven, GirlwithMS, Self-Care Catalysts and Health Storylines

Are you ready to make a difference in MS research?

Empower Others with your Blood

There is one thing certain with my Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and that is to help as many people as possible learn to live better despite their illness. This includes helping the medical industry find answers. Helping others provides a purpose in life and allows me to say #takeTHATms!

One company looking for answers is DxTerity, which is developing genomic tests to help people with MS better manage immune-mediated diseases. They are currently recruiting people with multiple sclerosis for a unique research study called EMPOWERStudyMS.

EMPOWERStudyMS is collecting blood samples from MS patients across the U.S. to help identify biomarkers and other gene expressions among patients; what is termed genomic testing.

If you’ve been diagnosed with MS you can join this groundbreaking research to help researchers develop an at-home blood test to monitor MS disease activity.

Click here to learn how you can participate. I did.

Participating in the study is easy and can be done from the convenience of your own home. You won’t have to visit a clinic at all! Answer a few health surveys online and collect a few drops of blood with a simple, fingerstick collection kit. Drop the kit in the mail and you’re done.

Well, my EMPOWERStudyMS kit came and I did it!

VIDEO:

Caroline Craven @thegirlwithMS opens her kit and explores the contents for her EmpowerStudyMS kit.

Compared to all of those daily injections I used to take for my MS, the finger prick was a cakewalk.

I pricked my finger, collected blood and sent off my sample. Easy peasy for the most part.

My problem was that my blood did not cooperate as best it could. The instructions were clear but fear my cognitive fog kicked in a bit and caused some problems. My fingers did not warm up properly and the blood barely trickled out to be collected. The second lancet was good to have but I should have waited till my hands were warmer. I am not sure enough blood got collected but we will find out. The folks at EMPOWERStudyMS were very nice and are sending me another kit so we can confirm a better collection.

I greatly appreciated the human connection for all of my questions and answers. This is a research study, and we are “just a number” but you would never know that by the kind of service being provided. Feeling quite special to be a part of this important event!

During the intro video I got the blue lancet mixed up with the blue collector container. But got it straightened out when it came to it.