I received a multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2006. At that time I knew nothing about MS and thought I was going to die very soon as I imagined the disease was terminal. My children were in 1st and 2nd grade. I would lie in bed with them at night thinking that I wouldn’t live to see their high school graduation. Forget about seeing them get married and have children of their own.
Thankfully, my husband quickly let me know that the majority of people with MS do not die a premature death. Still, the diagnosis was absolutely shocking. All I could picture was the worst, that in a short amount of time I would be an invalid. I was not happy about that picture.
Now, I’m doing better. Here are the steps I took when I received an MS diagnosis. Most of these are free, and will cost you nothing financially.
Getting Started When Diagnosed with MS
1. Sleep
Sleep is a priority for healing any health issue and especially for severe neurological conditions. I get 8 hours of sleep per night minimum, and more on weekends. Sleep is free. If you have trouble sleeping see my Natural Sleep Remedies or post for information on supplements that support getting a better night of sleep. My Five Ways to Get a Better Night’s Sleep may also be of interest.
2. Diet
I follow a diet that is 100% gluten and grain free, without exception, and find this very helpful. Studies show that gluten can be detrimental to those suffering from leaky gut, and that leaky gut may lead to and exacerbate autoimmune illnesses, so removing gluten from your diet may be an effective strategy for dealing with multiple sclerosis.1
Don’t worry if you need recipes, I’ve got you covered! See my gluten-free recipes, and grain-free recipes. By the way, every recipe here on my website is both gluten and grain-free. You may also want to check out my keto diet recipes, as low-carb high-fat diets, or LCHF diets, have been shown to reduce inflammation.2
3. Exercise
Staying fit is an important part of maintaining, or regaining health. Exercise is another treatment for MS that is free. I walk 60 minutes every day, rain or shine. See my post about walking to find out how I built up my stamina to get to that 60 minute mark. Walking lifts my spirits and gives me a nice boost of endorphins.
4. Healing Movement
I do yoga, pilates, or weight lifting 3 times per week, and have found that stretching and resistance training has helped me to maintain strength, coordination, and balance. If you need inspiration, there are numerous videos available online for free, or, like me, you can make up your own routine.
5. Boundaries
Another part of my healing (also free) is to keep interactions as brief as possible with people, places and things that do not impact me in a positive manner. This can be challenging, yet it has the biggest payoff. MS is a disease of the nervous system, so reducing stress is critical in healing.
I designed this MS healing plan myself and chose action items that I felt would give me a very high ROI (return on investment). However, many of the above commitments were radical shifts to my life paradigm, I did not always embrace this change, nor was it easy for me.
As I learned through this process, rebuilding one’s health is one of the greatest challenges life presents. If you make such a choice, be forewarned that it could be very unpleasant and that you may find yourself resisting the very change you seek. This is because rebuilding health means interrupting old habits and patterns. You may not want to make the necessary commitments to, and sacrifices for, your health. For example, you might have to give up watching TV everyday in order to walk for an hour. Or, people might be angry with you for protecting your time and setting limits that serve you, not them. These types of challenges await you, along with healing.
Finally, to create the above treatment plan for my MS, I had to slow down enough to listen to myself, to my body, and my emotions. I had to figure out what I really wanted, what really served me. Even though the process was unpleasant at times, I reconnected with myself and got to know myself better which became a blessing. Am I done? Not even close. The point of my healing plan is not the plan itself, it is undertaking the process of healing, which for me is the process of listening. This is something I practice every day.
For additional resources on how to deal with an MS diagnosis see:
RMcD says
Be grateful for who you are.
Be grateful for who you are to become.
Be grateful for the boulders placed upon your path.
For they are not obstacles but stepping stones on your journey of self-realization.
–Joe Keane
Janelle says
Yes, the journey to health results in making many different choices. I’ve experienced the same journey with my own health, and my clients experience it over and over again. There is an excellent book that explains exactly why your mindset and the choices you make can make you survivor. It’s called “The Survivor Personality” by Al Siebert, Ph.D. I loved every minute of reading it. I’m so glad you’re doing so well Elana!
Kari says
Thank you for sharing. These are good boundaries to have with or without ms. You are an inspiration!
Deb Kinney says
Dear Elana,
Thanks for putting such a personal journey out there so publicly and honestly. It is so good to hear that it can be done AND that it isn’t easy. Both are important to know.
Keep going,
Deb
QueenJellyBean says
Thank you Elana. You shared a powerful observation about the need to limit non-positive interactions. Brilliant. I spent my afternoon reading “Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight” by Heller which addresses a poorly developed capacity for processing interactions with others. The book addresses “Sensory Processing Disorder”, which stems from poor neo-natal development of the capacity to organize input from touch, taste, sound, movement, smell. Sufferers are super sensitive to one or all of their senses (I’m debilitated by normal sounds in the office). Over time the physical stress of inability to properly organize sensory input breaks down health into disease. There are simple solutions in the book. — I’m a celiac who lives by your recipes, thank you. I just thought I’d throw that book title in there for other celiacs who, like me, may never have heard about “Sensory Processing Disorder” and might find relief from previously unexplained sensitivities. Thank you to everyone for posting – may you all find relief and comfort.
QueenJellyBean says
. . . and I LOVE the Jeter shirt! Great photo :-D
Kathy King says
I am so incredibly impressed with this post and am encouraged to do likewise by following your plan for recovering from current health issues. Thank you!
Marie says
Hi Elana,
I have 2 very close people in my life who have MS and both are treating it with diet. They have eliminated both gluten and dairy from their diets and have managed all their symptoms. I am really surprised to read how you have been gluten free for some time before being diagnosed and wonder if you perhaps had MS symptoms prior to your diagnosis? Do you still have any symptoms and if so have you considered eliminating dairy?
I know you may not reply directly so perhaps anyone else with MS and Celiac can answer for me. Both my loved ones are drug free and living normal healthy lives. We hope this disease can be “cured” naturally and sharing information is the greatest way to help fight MS! Thank you for your contributions and wonderful recipes, they are greatly appreciated!
Georgia says
This is such a beautiful post. I love your blog and your recipes. Thank you!
nora says
Thank you so much for sharing this part of your life with us! It is very personal, and also very motivating for me to hear. I have suffered with celiacs my entire life, and am just now getting it figured out. Change is very hard, but with the help of your great blog and books (which I own and love) I’m learning to make great foods for myself again! Thanks for all you do. You are an amazing inspiration to me. I love your care plan, and am planning on printing it off for myself as well.
Anna says
Wow Elena, I felt this way too when I discovered I had diabetes. I feared not seeing my newborn baby grow up. I felt depressed, but instead of giving up, I got into gear and learned everything I could do to control my disease. I feel much more positive about having a good outcome now. It’s so great to know others are successfully taking charge of their health too instead of just relying on medications. Thank you for sharing.