Diets for MS?

Posted on February 20, 2012 by DebbieMS

“You are What you Eat”

February 17, 2012

For years, many different diets have been promoted to help MS. Some claim to “cure” MS; others claim to stop relapses or prevent it from progressing.

I personally never followed a specific diet, such as the Swank Diet, but I always paid attention to what and how I ate. Eating to keep my weight down and my resistance up to prevent getting sick were my priorities. What made me feel well and not necessarily tasted well also were considerations. Common sense ruled. I knew extra vitamin B’s (for the immune system), C (for my bladder) and calcium (for bones, especially since I was on steroids a couple times per year) were good for us with MS.

In my book, Managing MS: Straight Talk from a Thirty-One-Year Survivor I wrote this as one of My Ten Commandments for managing my MS:

2. Eat properly.
I follow no special diet, eat what’s good for me and avoid what’s not. Truthfully, I don’t eat a lot. Balance, variety, and quantity are key. Lots of fresh fruits and veggies (low in calories, good fiber). A mix of fish, poultry, pork, beef, pasta every week (balance of protein, omega 3, carbs…). Small meals several times a day (keeps the stomach from expanding). Very limited sauces, gravies, butter (less calories); the plainer, the better (lots of seasoning gives me gas and/or causes me to retain water). Cook, broil and grill at home—I eat out only occasionally. I always drink water, except for a mug of coffee in the morning or green tea later in the day. No dairy products (they cause bloating and nausea for me, and are binding). Instead, I take calcium, and acidophilus for ‘good’ bacteria. I don’t deprive myself of potato chips or goodies—I just put a strict limit on them. No fast food unless I’m desperate. Liquor? I’ve had a cocktail or wine many evenings for years and will not give that up! I enjoy it and deserve it. My doctor tells me to go for it, as long as it’s in moderation.

I’ve been following this regime since my early years of MS back in the 80’s. In those days, I don’t remember the tremendous focus on diets, supplements and scientific research like there is today.

Fortunately, most of what and how I eat is “correct.” Nevertheless, I find myself reading articles and studies with regard to diet and MS more and more; many of the scientific theories and findings seem logical.

There has been much buzz the past few years about Vitamin D deficiency contributing to the cause of MS and the implication for flare-ups and progression. Studies suggest this could help explain why MS is less prevalent the closer you live to the equator. There also has been attention on the negative effects of consuming milk and dairy products. Now, all this interests me personally since I grew up in Pittsburgh where there are few days of sunshine a year; I rarely drank milk or ate dairy products since I was young child. Clearly I had a Vitamin D deficiency, though I guess not consuming dairy products is supposedly a plus. Since I moved to the Phoenix area ten years ago and am always in the sun, my MS has been quite stable and so I wonder if loads of Vitamin D from the sun exposure has contributed to this.

Here are links to two sites that I would recommend taking a look at: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/dietary-tips-for-treating-multiple-sclerosis.html and http://www.terrywahls.com/

It is interesting reading. You may or may not agree with some or all of the content, but what do you have to lose? You are the best judge for yourself.

Debbie Petrina

www.DebbieMS.com

Do Weather Changes Affect MS?

Posted on January 31, 2012 by DebbieMS

“The Rain is Coming”

January 22, 2012

I’m a walking barometer. I don’t have to listen to a weather report to know that a change in weather is coming. I can feel it.

My spasticity starts to worsen; my hands, legs and back begin to feel tight. I get tingling sensations and start to drop things. My coordination and balance problems go haywire. And then sure enough within a day or so, it starts to rain.

I hate it when it rains—or when it snowed when I lived in Pittsburgh. Those low pressure systems are killers for me. And when they linger on for one day, two days or more, I become more miserable. My one ‘bad day’ turns into two ‘bad days’ or more. My MS symptoms intensify, especially the spasticity and pain. And the longer it rains, the worse it gets.

I become unmotivated, lethargic and moody. My husband remarks that my moods change like the weather. I say, “yep, you’re right on that one!” No argument there. But, look out everybody if you are a female and have PMS at the same time…

I don’t have an explanation for why this is. I never researched it. I’ve talked with so many people with MS that this happens to; it isn’t a figment of our imagination.

When I moved to the desert from Pittsburgh, there was no question in my mind that a dry climate with limited days of rain helped relieve so much of my pain and stiffness. Pittsburgh is a soggy, rainy city almost like Seattle. People with rheumatoid arthritis move to the desert for this reason, too. My aunt has rheumatoid arthritis and she moved here over thirty years ago for this reason.

I was talking to a neighbor one day after a horrific thunderstorm passed through our valley. This good-hearted neighbor has four kids with severe brain damage. One child is biologically his, two are adopted, and one is a foster child. He told me the day before a thunderstorm hits, all the kids have seizures. I find that astonishing. There must be a neurological explanation to why this happens to us. I’m going to have to look into this.

I wonder what people with nervous system disorders living in the Amazon do. Maybe there aren’t a lot them in this situation; MS is rare down there nearer the equator.
People with arthritis say the same thing when it rains. They feel stiffer and experience more pain. My friends with arthritis who visit their relatives in wet or humid climates are happy to come home to the Valley of the Sun.

I try to keep up with exercise and deep breathing to relieve as much of stiffness and pain as I can during a rainy spell. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Complaining about it to others in our situation doesn’t solve the physical effects, but it does help the mood. There are sure a lot of us out there in the same boat. As they say, misery loves company. Sometimes I just throw in the towel and crawl in bed with a glass of wine and a good book.

The wind has just picked up and the rain is coming. My fingers keep missing the keys as I am writing this and I am becoming very frustrated. I think I’ll just throw in the towel and get that glass of wine. Eventually, the sun will come out again.

www.DebbieMS.com

MS Support: Know thy Neighbors

Posted on January 16, 2012 by DebbieMS

“My Eleventh Commandment”

If you have read my book Managing MS: Straight Talk…, you know about my own ten commandments I follow to manage my MS. I’m adding another one. As I was walking my dog around the neighborhood today, I reflected on how important my neighbors are to me. When I moved from Pittsburgh to Arizona in 2001, I lived alone for several years since my husband couldn’t join me until he retired. Being a planner and organizer, the first thing I did after settling in was become a co-director of our volunteer neighborhood block-watch program. I hosted the committee meetings and arranged quarterly weekend social events. The result? I immediately met and got to know everyone living around me. I made good friends, I found professionals (a mechanic, an a/c and heating technician, a computer guru, a lawyer…) and I felt safe. My dog and I have walked and patrolled the neighborhood daily for all these years, and if people don’t see me for a few days, they’re wondering why.

When a new neighbor moves in, I want to meet them. Recently, a new neighbor was putting the finishing touches on a new paint job for his new house. I introduced myself and told him how much I liked the color. It was instant rapport!

I love my neighbors, and can count on them if I/we need something, and vice versa. One terribly hot summer morning, my air conditioner stopped working. My a/c technician neighbor came to fix it within the hour I called. Another time when my husband was back East, I accidently pulled my Christmas tree over with my power chair at ten o’clock in the evening. I was surrounded by broken bulbs and lights! My girlfriend across the street came over immediately and picked it all up for me. If I’m home alone and I need assistance, I have a phone around me at all times so that I can call someone for help. They can get into my house by using the security-code keypad on my garage door. Many of our neighbors now are not only friends; they are like family to us and to each other. They are invaluable to me.