Can wake-up sunshine help with MS?

  

Pulling back the curtains or running up the window shades immediately upon awakening in the morning has become a popular natural elixir for lots of folks. It’s not exactly a new discovery, but lots of health experts are trumpeting the merits of catching a glimpse of sunlight right after waking up.

 Starting the day with a glimpse of natural light can be soothing and cheery at the time, but it also may provide some significant ongoing health benefits.

 

Sunlight (or UV lighting) isn’t just a treatment for seasonal affect disorder anymore.

 Experts agree that, although excessive exposure to sunlight may cause skin cancer, sunlight can aid in resetting the body’s circadian rhythms (internal clock), adding vitamin D, generating emotional well-being (by boosting serotonin and melatonin in the brain), improving vision, easing certain skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, and vitiligo), treating jaundice, reducing blood pressure, and perhaps helping with weight management.

 Scientific American says it may help with cognitive fog, fatigue, inflammation, lethargy, and other symptoms common to MS. The National Library of Medicine offers support of the theory that sunlight (or light therapy) can reduce MS-related fatigue.

 A 2021 study published in Neurology magazine suggested that children and young people spending considerable time outdoor in summer months might be less likely to develop MS than those who did not.

 Some actually use ultraviolet light boxes to self-treat autoimmune diseases like arthritis, Crohn’s, colitis, diabetes, and more. Oh, and multiple sclerosis.

 

Step outside, if you can!

 Direct sunlight is a known source of vitamin D, which is healthy for everyone, but especially difficult to build up for many MSers. It seems we can’t get enough of it. A short jaunt outdoors (or perhaps a brief stop to read a chapter of a good book) can be just the ticket.

 

Sunshine before screen time

 There’s something to be said for taking a few moments to breathe deeply and enjoy a peek at the outdoors before picking up the phone, tablet, laptop, TV remote, or other screened device. Starting the day with a pause seems like a healthy thing to do – especially as a stress-buster. It’s a way of changing the channel before jumping into the plentiful concerns of the day.

 Personally, I love to open the blinds and let the sunshine in (or just natural light, if it’s a cloudy day) and then crawl back into bed for a few minutes. Sometimes I can spot birds, rabbits, or other delightful sights. It’s a great time to ponder the day to come and think through my plan of attack, so to speak. Even that is likely to start a new day in an intentional and deliberate way.

 Hey, it can’t hurt.

 

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• What's a weather-related migraine?

MS can be a ticket to de-stress

 

Life with multiple sclerosis can be exhausting. Add the occasional (or frequent) sudden onslaught of MS-related fatigue of biblical proportions, and it’s almost unimaginable.

 High-energy people may find it difficult to empathize or understand what the MSer means, when he or she describes a titanic tiredness that saps all strength and sends energy and motivation limping away.

 Physicians may call this lassitude, and it's a hallmark of MS. It’s physical and mental weariness, a crippling sluggishness. And it can come on suddenly, seemingly without warning.

 One thing we know for sure – MS hits us the most when we are tired and stressed.

 

Maybe it’s time to let MS be our ticket to de-stress and recharge.

 Here are a few strategies for minimizing the stress that can aggravate and increase the fatigue that goes with MS (and that can leave the MSer extra vulnerable to a full-blown flare-up).

1. Clutter is confusing and chaotic. Simply clearing off a kitchen counter, putting away clean laundry, or tossing out junk mail helps remove stressors.
   

2. Multitasking can be unmanageable. Efficiency is lauded as a virtue, but too much multitasking can send our minds awhirl and our energy away.
   

3. Tackling to-do lists reduces stress. Sometimes it helps to make to-do lists and then knock off one task at a time. By listing even the smallest chores, we can gain satisfaction with each completion. At the end of the day, we can review what’s done and feel a bit of accomplishment. If MS has us homebound, sidelined, or otherwise restricted, this strategy can be extra important.
   

4. Realistic goals are our reality. Sure, we like to stretch ourselves, often past our own limits. But setting more reachable objectives can be rewarding and simplifying. The net result is often less stress. The tricky thing is, MS can change our energy resources spontaneously and unpredictability. (Ever heard of The Spoon Theory? We never know how many we’ll have in a day.)
   

5. Learning to say “no” is life-changing. Boundaries can be a new best friend to the MS warrior. They don’t come easily, because we tend to want to volunteer and participate and be active helpers. That’s one way we get worn out extra quickly, so we have to choose carefully when to say “Yes,” if someone asks.
   

6. Granting ourselves permission to rest is powerful. Stopping our self-expected activities isn’t easy. Who doesn’t want to feel productive and useful? Yet those living with MS may need more rest than those whose myelin isn’t threatened and compromised? We may need to curl up with a book, stretch out under a blanket, or even catch a catnap to regather ourselves and avoid the overdoing that can invite MS to wreak its havoc on us again.

 Self-management is tough, especially with the ever looming challenging that the MS MonSter brings to our lives. And it’s not like we want to cop out of life, escape all responsibilities, and sit idly by. But it’s critical to be deliberate about our mental and physical exertions, if we are to reduce stresses and build ourselves to battle the dreaded beast as best as we can.

 Preaching to the mirror here. I know. Remind me again … soon.

 

Related items:

• Can MS show you how strong you really are?
• Excuses: Ever played the MS card?
• Learning to plan down-days
• Life with MS: Sometimes you feel like toasting, but other times you're just toast.
• Somebody stop me. I've done too much. Again.
• Stress brings MS to excess

 

Image/s:  Adapted from public domain image.

 

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Stop the skipping soundtrack to beat back the beast

 

Living with multiple sclerosis (or nearly any chronic medical condition) can feel a lot like listening to a skipping record.

 Vinyl records are making a comeback, but I sure hope someone has engineered a way to make songs stop skipping. If you’re been around awhile, you may recall the frustration of hearing a song stop mid-phrase and repeat the same measure or two, again and again, until somebody got up and moved the needle forward on the record.

 

Why did records skip?

 Usually, the culprit was dust or dirt on the surface of the vinyl record. Sometimes a scratch in the record’s groove caused it. At other times, the arm of the record player needed rebalancing, or the needle had to be replaced.

 Hmm. I think there are a few lessons to be found – at least, for me. Maybe for you too! Dust and dirt are clutter. Scratching is damage. Lack of balance is a challenge as well. Maybe these factors combine to make life with MS seem like a skipping record sometimes – when the same annoying symptoms crop up again and again and again.

 

How can we stop the skipping soundtrack to beat back the MS beast?

 Sure, we cannot eliminate an MS diagnosis and the struggles that go with it – until a cure is found. But we can equip ourselves to battle it as mightily as possible. Here are some statements of strength that I’ve found helpful. Perhaps they will inspire others, as we take on the MS MonSter in our own daily lives.

 

1. Acceptance is authoritative.

 This is critical, but it’s a tough step. Coming to terms with the reality of owning up to having an as-yet incurable chronic and potentially disabling medical condition is very hard. But accepting this truth helps us to step up to the proverbial plate and slug it out each day, even with MS throws its weirdest hard balls our way.

 There’s a reason people refer to MSers as warriors. Ask any of us, and you’ll hear some vivid stories.

 Consider the name of this website, Kicking MS to the Curb. There are days when MS kicks me – not just to the curb, but out into the middle of traffic. It happens. But with everything I have, I want to take authority over the dreaded MonSter, retaking ownership of my own life, right in the face of strange symptoms.

 

Stop me, if you’ve heard this:  I have MS, but MS doesn‘t have me.

 

2. Gratitude is empowering.

 This is true for anyone facing down any form of difficulty. Even if our vision fails, can we spot something for which we are thankful? Gratitude changes the channel, switching our focus from our struggles to something more satisfying, even for a little while.

 Little and large points of appreciation can come from unexpected places, such as:

• a delicious snack that doesn’t trigger any symptoms
• a flare-up that waits till after an important event
• an encouraging phone call from a friend
• a long-lasting symptom that finally abates
• a few moments outside on a mild day
• an appointment suddenly canceled, leaving newfound time for rest
• a cozy reading time with a warm blanket, fresh from the dryer
• an MS scan that shows no new changes

 It’s all about perspective. We are boosted when we notice.

 

3. Hope is helpful.

 It’s easy to fall into the cancellation rut, living with such a tiring condition. And it’s hard to commit to repeating responsibilities or plans. How do we know how we might feel on such-and-such a day? The what-ifs can be even more crippling than our actual symptoms.

 Most of us find that we have to educate our friends and loved ones about MS, at least enough that they can understand when we bow out of plans (often at the last minute). But isn’t that better than not making plans at all?

 A teacher I have long respected, who carried a chronically disabling condition for his entire adult life, used to offer this advice repeatedly (almost like a mantra):

Don’t skip the plans, even if you end up having to skip the event.

 He knew that anticipation was worth plenty. Maybe we all need to look forward to something. So we go ahead and fill in our calendars (even if we clutter them less than we used to do), and hope for the best. Yes, we learn to balance busy and idle, and we might aim for lighter schedules. But we still make some plans.

Then we hope for good MS days, rather than bad ones.

 

4. Attitudes add up.

 I only knew one grandfather, when I was growing up. Folks called him Tiger, because he was such a fighter. He wasn’t angry or contentious. He didn’t pick fights. But he fought back when life was hard. When his health failed, he fought even harder. His attitude was upbeat, even when his body felt beaten down. He enjoyed his life, despite difficulties.

 That’s a lesson. Many of us haven’t fully learned that yet, but we want that spunk.

 

5. Platitudes are pointless.

 Every one of these statements only rings true when we preach them to ourselves. When someone else parrots them at us, then they are mere platitudes. That feels like we’re being shut down, instead of supported. And that helps no one.

 But when we learn (often the hard way) how mighty our mindsets can be, then we become much more than the medical condition with which we contend. That’s how we stop the skipping record, or maybe just stop the sound from getting under our skin. Sure, we cannot stop the symptoms, as MS stages yet another onslaught. But we grow stronger in spirit, so we can rise (even figuratively) to do as much as we can for as long as we can.

 Maybe that’s all anyone can ask for. Let’s play that tune again … and again … and again.

 

Related items:

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• Maybe MS has taught me something, after all.
• MS makes me wanna cheer anyone struggling to exercise
• Stress brings MS to excess
• You have MS? I know someone who has that.

 

Image/s:  Adapted from public domain image.

Feel free to follow on Twitter. Please visit my Amazon author page as well. You are invited to join the Kicking MS to the Curb page on Facebook.

Can infirmity be a blessing?

 

I met a woman in a wheelchair yesterday. And she’s a miracle. Her cheerful attitude and upbeat outlook inspired me more than I knew I needed.

 

 This lady was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis almost 50 years ago. She’s battled the beast ever since.

 MS research has come a long way in the past five decades. Back then, when this dear new friend was diagnosed, doctors had very little to offer her. None of today’s disease-modifying treatments were available. Physicians could only address some of the MS symptoms, as they arose.

 This sweet lady is basically bedridden. Her husband, recently retired from a lifelong career, cares for her daily needs and more. He’s a marvel.

 

 The two of them came out to address a monthly fellowship group to which I belong. Their appearance required herculean efforts on both their parts. They said they rose at 6 am to prepare for the event. They said she almost never leaves their home.)

 As they spoke, recounting their story, sheer joy fairly seeped from their pores. He said it was the greatest blessing of his life to care for his beloved wife, feeding and dressing and assisting her in every way. She sang his praises as well. Honestly, they were adorable.

 After their brief presentation, I was able to slip across the room and introduce myself to her. I leaned down by her and told her I shared the same diagnosis. She looked up at me with a contagious smile and a light in her eyes. Yes, despite her physical limitations, this woman jumped at the opportunity to encourage someone else.

 I thanked her for coming and said I hoped she would not be overly exhausted by the effort.

 “Honey,” she answered. “I’ll be done in tomorrow, but it’s worth it.”

 Seriously, I’d been feeling a little cranky that morning. I’d had a few unexpected inconveniences that cluttered my progress before the meeting. I arrived just in the nick of time, struggling a bit to show up with a chipper attitude.

 

Boy, was I missing something!

 Then I heard this lovely couple’s story.

 I do not know why MS has crippled her and left me still standing with nearly full physical faculties. I cannot explain why she is restricted to her bed and sometimes her wheelchair, while I'm out hiking and biking and participating in nearly every activity I choose.

 People often tell me I’m staving off MS with all of my exercising. They claim to be astounded when I run a race or log the year’s number in annual miles. Sure, pursuing physical fitness can make us healthy in all sort of ways. But MS can still sideline anyone, seemingly randomly, no matter how much we try to fight it.

 Other claim that a solid faith can keep MS at bay. I believe in faith. But I also know extremely faith-filled people (like my new friend) who have been attacked viciously by MS. And my faith seems feeble next to hers (if it’s even fair to compare). I know God is able to heal and sustain anybody. But I cannot begin to understand why some still struggle immeasurably, while others seem to face simpler challenges.

 I cannot tell you why MS boxes in some people and allows others to keep on going in all sorts of physical ways.

 But I can earnestly tell you that this dear lady is still going strong, even if it’s from her own bed. And I am both impressed and inspired.

 That’s hope.

 I don’t know if infirmity can be a blessing. But she surely is.

 

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• Tuning in sometimes clears the clutter for an MSer
• You have MS? I know someone who has that.

 

Image/s:  Adapted from public domain image. Word cloud generated by this user.

 

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You are invited to join the Kicking MS to the Curb page on Facebook.

HELP is a four-letter word with invisible illness.

Living with an invisible illness (such as multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, lupus, Crohn’s, chronic fatigue, or any of the variety of others) takes guts. Those of us who battle such conditions daily often seem to have a certain amount of independent spirit and spunk. That’s important, as it keeps us fighting.

 

But it also makes it tougher for us to ask for help, even when we need it.

 Consider a holiday like Thanksgiving, for example. Have you ever tried hosting a large family gathering, only to find the angry hidden beast of invisible illness attacks in a frenzy, sapping energy and making even routine daily tasks a whole lot harder?

 Maybe we’ve all been there.

 Or perhaps the occasion isn’t marked by a full-scale exacerbation, and we feel pretty good. So we do and overdo. We work and overwork. We keep going and going and going.

 

Eventually we run out of gas, even if it’s the next day.

 Again we chastise ourselves, “Why didn’t I ask for help?”

 And we know it’s because “help” is a four-letter word with invisible illness. We are reluctant to enlist assistance. We may even reject help when it’s offered, claiming we can do it ourselves. We might have pleaded for help before and been denied, so we’ve stopped asking.

 

Color me thankful today.

 A few members of my own family have really clued in lately, especially in the past year or so. After a long time of relatively smooth sailing (as far as MS is concerned), I started experiencing a ramping up of some difficult symptoms. My energy and activity levels dropped dramatically. Like any other invisible illness battler, I wanted to keep on doing life in all the ways I always had.

 For years, I’d been like the Little Red Hen in the well-known children’s story, offering to do it all myself.

 But how refreshing it was to find these special people stepping in and stepping up. This year, they insisted on coming over and cooking Thanksgiving dinner – right in my house. Sure, I did some assisting, but they did all of the heavy lifting, proverbially and practically speaking. It was amazing, and we all had a blast, sharing my little kitchen to pull the whole thing together.

 Maybe I should have invited such help long before now. But you know, “help” is a four-letter word with invisible illness. We hate to ask.

 

Related items:

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• Should you tell people you have MS?
• What if a spouse urges an MSer to file for disability?
• Who goes with you to your MS appointments?

 

Image/s:  Adapted from public domain image. Word cloud generated by this user.

 

Feel free to follow on Twitter. Please visit my Amazon author page as well.

You are invited to join the Kicking MS to the Curb page on Facebook.

MS makes me wanna cheer anyone struggling to exercise

The gym is sort of a microcosm of society. At least, ours is. I’ve met some of the kindest folks ever at the gym, but I’ve seen plenty of pettiness and a smattering of mean-spiritedness too. Hey, it happens.

Yesterday presented a prime example.

A bunch of us were gathering in one of the workout studios, waiting for exercise class to begin. As we chose our weights, we glanced through a bank of windows, overlooking the lap pool. The lifeguard was chatting with a resting swimmer in one corner. Another swimmer was slogging along in a center lane.

This lady swam so sluggishly that it seemed she was making her way through molasses. Seriously. But she persisted, creeping along in some semblance of the freestyle (crawl) stroke. She barely lifted her right arm out of the water. She dragged her legs along in almost a vertical position.

“Look how slow that lady is!” one onlooker exclaimed.

“Do you think she’s alright?” another asked.

We continued to watch for a few moments, as we stood and stretched a bit to prepare for our own routine. And the swimmer kept going, stroke after agonizing stroke.

“Maybe she has MS,” one of my cohorts suggested.

“Like me,” I said.

Then a familiar thought hit me like a typhoon, as it so often does.

I have no idea if that swimming lady has MS. But that might have been me.

I could be the swimmer who barely makes it to the end of each swimming lap (if I even climb into the pool). I could be the runner who stumbles across the finish line, fully spent. I could be the lady in the wheelchair, who cannot walk independently.

When I remember this, I become more mindful. I realize, once again, that I am grateful for every step I can take. I appreciate that I can even get to the gym and join a workout class. Living with multiple sclerosis, I know my days could be very different than they are.

And I salute the struggling swimmer in the pool – because she is in the pool. She’s out there getting it done, no matter how long it takes her. It doesn’t matter that her swimming is labored and painfully slow. She is faster than anyone who didn’t put on a Speedo that day.

Points for playing, girlfriend!

Remember middle school, when kids mocked those who weren’t so good in gym class?

I surely do! If a kid couldn’t hit the baseball, run a fast 50-yard dash, or shoot a goal in floor hockey, that kid instantly became joke fodder. And if someone accidentally scored a point for the opposing team, it was all over – as in all over the school.

I know. I’ve been there. I was that kid.

And I’m not laughing. I am cheering, especially for the underdogs, who underneath are the genuine champions.

Image/s:

Public domain image

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Hold on! Having MS, I'm thankful for ...

November is a popular month for thankfulness, as we count the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Lots of bloggers put up daily posts, pointing out things for which they are grateful. That set me to thinking.

Is it possible to be thankful for multiple sclerosis?

That’s a tall order. But I believe enumerating blessings is a healthy and worthwhile endeavor. With that in mind, here’s my alphabetical list of MS-related things for which I am thankful. Some items may seem tiny and trivial, but they matter to me.

Awareness – Before MS, I pretty much operated on auto-pilot, never having to focus much on personal health concerns or my own physical condition.

Believing – My faith insists that every battle is part of God’s purpose – even MS.

Cooler temperatures – I’m not a big fan of bitter winter weather, but I definitely appreciate the onset of autumn’s sweater-y days. I’ll even put on a parka with a smile, as long as frigid winds don’t chill us to the core. (Extreme cold sets off MS issues too.)

Dogs – I have a couple of high-energy canines who nudge me and urge me to be up and about, even on my MS-draggy days. I’m always glad I did, especially when I didn’t really feel like it. Their enthusiasm is contagious and rewarding.

Energy – MS makes my energy rise and fall. My vim and vigor varies. Knowing this, I make merry when my wherewithal is worthy of it.

Fellow MSers – I gain considerable encouragement and helpful information from others who are fighting the same MonSter as me.

Glasses – As chronology and MS dim my vision somewhat, I am grateful for my specs, which are most often perched atop my head. Now, if I could just find them …

Horses – Although I don’t always ride (like when MS vertigo attacks full force), simply being around these wonderful creatures heals my spirit in ways nothing else can.

Icepacks – This sounds simplistic, but there are days when a little chill can be a beautiful thing.

Jokes – Yikes! Please don’t fill the comments section with hokey quips, tired riddles, and painful puns. But I have to say that humor is healthy. If we can’t laugh at ourselves, how can we fight the MS MonSter? Comic relief is definitely real relief.

Knowledge – When a doctor first told me that I might have MS, it blindsided me. As I awaited the diagnosis, I began to research and read. Learning that MS is not a death sentence and what life with MS might look like gave me hope, which I carry today.

Layers – Like most MSers, I am temperature-sensitive. That means I am layering and peeling my clothes all day long.

Music – I think everybody sort of has a soundtrack for his or her life. Or maybe we ought to. I enjoy compiling playlists for all sorts of activities and settings. Playing some favorite songs brings me joy, increases my energy, and draws me out of the MS dumps.

Nutrition – I used to eat nearly anything I wanted. Cravings counted. As I’ve learned more about MS and its symptoms (including headaches, various forms of inflammation, and gut issues), I’ve also explored proper nutrition with more interest and discipline. I believe I am healthier overall as a result, and I’m grateful for that.

Occupation – I love to write, even when I’m cranking out copy to meet a deadline. It’s expression. When I write about MS, it’s also an outlet. (Thanks for reading.)

Pain-free days – Every day without an MS migraine is a big blessing. (Remind me of this on my worst headache days, would you?)

Quilts – I’m not a thimble-fingered artisan, but I have made a few cozy patchwork quilts that welcome me warmly when MS sidelines me. It’s nice to have a nest when I need it.

Recreation – OK, this kind of goes with exercise (see below). But a bit of distraction and fun can go a long way, when it comes to coping with MS … or life in general.

Stretchy clothes – Tailored clothes are awesome and stylish, but some MS days simply call for extra ease in dressing and wearing. Yes, I’m one of those moms who darts out to do errands in gym clothes (but never in PJs).

Timing – I count it as no small gift that many of my worst flare-ups have somehow peaked when I have been home, rather than out of town and in the middle of some inescapably hectic event.

Understanding – Lots of non-MSers will never comprehend what the MS life is like. Maybe that’s OK. I’m just grateful for those who are willing to come to understand why our energy waxes and wanes, why we may seem absolutely fine one day and fall to pieces the next, and why we make plans that may require last-minute rescheduling.

Victories – Living with MS can be frustrating, and it takes flexibility to face canceling when symptoms flare. But I think it’s important to celebrate the times when we can actually show up and meet goals and live life at its best.

Walking – Before MS, I assumed everyone who had it would eventually become unable to walk without assistance. Since MS, I have trained and run a full marathon. I know my own outcome could have been so very different. I am extremely thankful that I can still walk and run.

eXercise – Grateful for continuing mobility, I am pleased that I am able to keep on running and biking and hiking and horseback riding and pursuing other physical activities I like -- at least on my better days.

Youth – Most people would say I am no longer young. I’m celebrating a milestone birthday this month. But some say 40 is the new 20, 50 is the new 30, 60 is the new 40, and so on. I don’t act my age, even with MS. I don’t plan to. And I’m thankful.

Zen – I don’t practice formal meditation or follow the religions that promote “Zen.” So I’m using the term rather loosely here. But I am grateful for the de-stressing that comes with accepting MS. Once I learned to live with this chronic medical condition, I realized a sense of power, rather than defeat. Contentment brings its own sort of relief. MS has become a challenge to face, a dragon to slay, and a MonSter to kick to the curb. I’m not giving up here.

Image/s:

Adapted from public domain image

Feel free to follow on GooglePlus and Twitter. Please visit my Amazon author page as well.

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