My story: living with multiple sclerosis

Updated on October 25, 2024.

Though some lifestyle concessions are needed, it is possible to remain positive while living with MS.

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Transcript

00:00
Living with multiple sclerosis has really made me value the energy that I have
00:07
and choose very carefully what I give that energy to. [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:14
Exercising with MS has been a little bit of a challenge because heat really does cause me to have flares.
00:21
Something I've discovered that I absolutely love is deep water running, where your head is out of the water
00:28
but the rest of you is submerged in the deep end. And it's a great cardio option, while also staying cool.
00:34
Presently, we do a lot of just nice walking with our dogs and kids, and that is what I will take for now.
00:43
With MS, a few diet modifications that have been helpful is just paying a little bit more attention to anti-inflammatory eating,
00:52
so trying to eliminate things like sugars and caffeine and starches from my diet. I am not very good at it, but I'm aware of it.
01:00
[LAUGHS] Motherhood can be a challenge with MS, but I will say that it's really helped
01:07
spark a deep level of empathy and care within my children from a very young age.
01:13
That's not to say that they shoulder a lot of the burden but that they're very understanding and sensitive to how I'm doing and how to be caring in that moment
01:21
if I'm struggling. And they like to bring me water or snacks or whatever I need to just continue to lay flat and relax
01:29
and recharge. My MS diagnosis has impacted my art in many different ways,
01:36
including the medium that I choose to use and a few of the techniques that I've developed to help myself.
01:42
And that's what really shifted my lifestyle was my diagnosis. I do still have a part-time job that I work in cultural arts
01:53
within my city, but again, it's within that sphere of things that I really love, and so I'm really happy about it.
01:59
How I remain so positive with MS-- I'd say I really take the light and the dark in stride.
02:06
I don't have fantastic days every day, but I'm really thankful for the days when they're good, even,
02:13
and relaxed. I think just taking it all in stride is really important. [MUSIC PLAYING]

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