The Intelligent Person’s Guide to Beating Multiple Sclerosis

Photograph of Rebecca Hoover at age 59 taken in February 2009.

Please do take the time to press the “home” tab and read the posts on how you can probably beat multiple sclerosis (MS).

I was diagnosed with MS in 1991 and now, more than 15 years later at age 60, I still have no visible symptoms–despite never taking any drugs for MS, not even steroids. Most likely, I have done so well because I spent hundreds of hours reviewing research abstracts in PubMed and finding out what scientists and researchers said could be done to make MS more manageable.  I have not had a relapse in more than 11 years.  Because many of the steps involve very low or no costs, I want to share this information others with MS. Most of the steps do involve ultra living healthy–making wise choices about diet, exercise, sleep, etc.

Photograph of Rebecca Hoover taken July 2009.

So how good do I feel after all of these years with MS?  Well, quite good.  I broke an ankle a few years ago and now have arthritis in that ankle thanks to that nasty break.  That dang ankle hurts.  Other than that, I am in good shape.  When I had my last cardiovascular stress test, I outran the average woman of my age and, of course, the average woman does not have MS.  I walk briskly for over an hour five days each week.  Three days a week I do strength building exercises including lifting weights.

I can even dance on my tiptoes and pretend I’m Beyonce for 15 minutes without difficulty.  My overweight neighbor, in contrast, who is 20 years younger than I am, cannot even walk 10 feet on her tiptoes.

Some think that those of us with MS have to accept disbility but I think we may have to accept inconvenience but we can combine this inconvenience with wellness, good looks, even glamor if we wish, and a full and vibrant life.

My goal is to no less than help create the Intelligent Person’s Guide to Beating MS because the reality is that ultra healthy living is needed to beat MS.  If you want to beat MS, it helps to know what scientists think you should eat, how much you should sleep, what you should do about heat, etc.

Just so you know, I want to mention that I think the MS drugs are not at all impressive and often produce results that are much less healthy than those produced by ultra-healthy living.  The drugs reduce relapses by about 30%–hardly an exciting result.  In addition, the drugs produce severe side effects for some, and many try the drugs but experience such problems that they stop taking the drugs.  The drugs are ultra risky and ultra expensive.

Ultra healthy living, on the other hand, has almost no side effects other than a rare food allergy and is ultra economical.  Most who try ultra healthy living end up in great shape and with good looking skin, lowered blood pressure, and a lower risk of heart disease.  I think everyone needs to get on the healthy living train.  Please talk to your doctor and get started!  Ultra healthy living, however, is more precise than you might imagine.  The research shows candy bars and ice cream, for example, are not part of ultra healthy living for those with MS.  Please take the time to read the posts here to find out what ultra healthy living means for those with MS.

In addition to sharing information on how you can improve your odds by making wise choices, I want to help smash stereotypes associated with MS. Some of the most impressive, hard working and even sexy people in the world have had MS and I think it is time that those of us with MS challenge the view of us as somehow not capable of much. Please recall Paul Wellstone was a U.S. Senator who had MS. Barbara Jordan, who gave one of the best 100 speeches of the 20th century, had MS.

I work full-time (this pays the bills) and my interests include social justice, the environment, and health care for all.  In recognition for some of my contributions to the community, I was elected a fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.  Our goals are to foster enlightenment thinking and to serve a force for social progress.  There are about 25,000 fellows at this time.  More notable fellows from the past include Benjamin Franklin, Karl Marx, Adam Smith, William Hogarth and Charles Dickens.  Needless to say, most of us are not quite as notable as these past fellows.

For me, this blog is very much about expressing the yearnings of my heart and about challenging ourselves and the world and taking back our power. Please do leave comments on my blog. Please let me know what you like and what you find helpful. Please also let me know of ideas for adding topics.  You can reach me at rebecca10012002 at yahoo dot com.

Thank you for visiting this site and for all you do.  Remember with a little intelligence you probably can beat MS too.

Copyright 2009 Rebecca Hoover

Please remember to consult your doctors about how to stay as healthy as possible. Nothing here should be interpreted as medical advice. Instead, please use the information you find here in your discussions with your doctor.