MS & dieting

[NRaye]

Anyone out there diagnosed with MS and trying to lose weight?? :?:

[Gracietoo]

I haven't actually been diagnosed with MS yet, but am going through a bout of optic neuritis. The neurologist keeps throwing out those words and I am in the risk group for developing it. It seems that this disease is so hard to diagnose sometimes. I am also trying to lose weight. That is my greatest challenge at the moment.
Do you have any specific challenges that you are trying to overcome in your weight loss efforts? Any food that is hard for you to handle?
I wish you good luck in your efforts.


:) :) :)

[NRaye]

Oh yes...the fun phase of getting your diagnosis!! In actuality, the best diagnosis comes from a brain autopsy but I'm not ready to do that yet:dizzy: There are tests, however, that can lead them in the right direction. I initially had a CT scan which showed lesions on my brain. They then ordered an MRI which the radiologist and neurologist interpreted as MS according to the lesions. Our nerves are covered with a myelin sheath...I describe it as the coating around the wires that go from your lamp to the wall plug. If the wires are chewed or ripped, this causes the electrical circuit not to be properly connected. That's the same with MS...it causes the myelin sheath to be "chewed" and exposes the nerve and causes scar tissue at that site. That is what shows up as a lesion in the MRI. They can also do an MRI including your neck ... if there's a lesion in your neck, you definitely have MS...if there's not a lesion in your neck..you just don't have a lesion in your neck!! :?: Good luck...get healthy and get fit!!
As far as dieting, my neuro said to concentrate on a low-fat or heart smart diet. I have been getting on the internet and looking for low-fat recipes. I am going tomorrow to our hospital's Health Plex which is an exercise area in which you are assigned a "coach"...my neuro wrote me a Rx... I'm very content to be sedentary but I know I have to do something for my health sake!
Type Heart Smart in your search and you'll get alot of links!
Keep me posted!!

[Gracietoo]

Hi Nraye!

I had the MRI first. Fortunately it didn't reveal any lesions at this time and there was no "white matter changes". But my neuro said that it just put me into a lower percentile for developing MS over the next couple of years. I think he has his doubts though. It seems that with everything I have read and seen on the Internet, optic neuritis is a very suspect condition as it relates to MS. I don't have pain anymore (thankfully!) but still have decreased vision in my right eye. I am scheduled to have another visual field test done in 2 weeks. If I haven't regained the vision by then, I think it may be a permanent loss. But as long as I can still see pretty well to do everything that I need to do, I will be okay. Right now I just have altitudinal and pheripheral visual loss. My neuro says that sometimes the lesions may not show up in the MRI and other tests have to be performed. He keeps talking about a spinal tap. But I don't know..... I have some other pressing health needs right now that believe it or not are taking the forefront. I need foot surgery to correct a tendon rupture. I am sure that all those years of carrying around excessive weight has really taken a toll on this old body. I began to have pain in my ankle and tried to ignore it at first, coming on the heels of the optic neuritis - I thought it may be another form of neuritis. But after it began to swell and was tender to the touch, my husband made me go to my family doctor. Good thing! X-rays revealed that it wasn't due to neuritis. I just wish I hadn't waited so long. I may have made it worse by waiting. I need to get my weight under control more than ever now. My mom has just begun a new way of eating and she has lost about 23 lbs. I am very glad for her. Maybe she will be the encouragement that I need.

Be well and take care of yourself.

Gracietoo

:) :) :) :)

[NRaye]

Hi Gracie...
Bless your heart! Sounds like you have ... and are...really going through it :spin: It can make a person crazy!! I'm going to include the site for the MS forum... http://www.delphi.com/dir-delphi/ You might find some help there, too. There's a Doc Schneider on there who has MS and worked in the field prior to diagnosis... he answers any and all questions... everyone on there is so nice and friendly. You can get on and read some of the messages and may recognize similar symptoms in someone else that you can relate to. Others have talked of the vision problems. One must be very careful because sometimes people fall into going to the (i.e.) eye doctor for one thing, and the foot doctor for another thing and the chiropractor for something else... and if all of these examinations were put together, it would indicate MS...but as the patient, we may not know that. MS was the last thing on my mind... I thought I'd had a stroke!! Then the symptoms went away but my family doctor is very thorough and order a CT scan which showed the lesions. So I'm one who was diagnosed very quickly. Many, many people mess with doctors for years before getting their diagnosis... :?: I have heard of the spinal tap being done but my neuro said that's a test of the last resort :o You hang in there and keep after the docs to get you the care you deserve!! :angel:

[Gracietoo]

Hi Nraye,

Thank you for the info. I will definitely check it out! I need all the information I can get. You are so right about all the "weird" symptoms that you go to all kinds of Dr.'s about. Something I read recently warned about assuming everything was realted to MS until you get them checked out. But with the way my ankle started out, I really did think it was related! The swelling and tenderness came later. But I can think back to past ailments and wonder if they were related. Usually there was no reasonable cause for some of the things and they eventually got better on their own.
I saw my mom this weekend and she looked great! She has really changed her style of eating and especially reduced her sodium intake as well as calories and fat. She feels better than she has in a long time and as I expected....she did inspire me! I have had a good weekend of making better food choices and I feel good about myself. My foot surgery is scheduled for Sept. 10th and I am determined to lose some weight before then. I figure every little bit counts! It's going to be hard enough as it is especially since I will be "dragging" around so much extra weight. I really wish I had stuck to my weight loss efforts long ago, maybe I wouldn't be so scared about all this.
Thanks again for your help and encouragement!
You are an angel!!!



:angel: :angel: :angel:

[NRaye]

You go girl!! I'm so proud of you for getting motivated and starting to revamp your eating habits!! I saw Suzanne Somers on Rosie O'Donnell's show yesterday and she inspired me to get started!! I'm going today after work and getting her book. She was talking about getting naked in front of your mirror :cry: and looking at your body type. She said that if you tend to carry weight around your middle, then you are storing fat from sugars and carbohydrates... Well, that would be me...and I didn't even have to look in the mirror :p I know that I eat way too many carbohydrates!! She was saying, too, that you can eat proteins and fats together but fats and carbs are almost lethal because your body recognizes both as sugar and stores the fats. My body must think I'm a bear and need to get ready for the winter :D
But good for your mom and good for you!! As long as we keep in our heads that we didn't get this way overnight and it's not going to go away overnight, we'll be better off!!
Keep me posted!!

[Gracietoo]

You really sound like a kindred spirit! I too must be a bear because that is exactly where I seem to store most of my weight, right around the middle!:o Sometimes I feel like I am a slave to carbs.....(especially the fat laden ones!!!) I had a good day today but I did get a little hungry. I guess the body rebels when you try to change what it's used to. You echo my husbands words when you say that the weight didn't get on overnight and it won't go away overnight. I just have to be more patient. I have a terrible habit of getting all "gung-ho" for a few days and then the next thing I know my chin is dragging the ground! :eek: Just having someone experiencing some of the same pitfalls is really encouraging to me. (Even though I wish you weren't!) It's hard to share these things with people who don't always understand.
I tried to get on the scale at work today and see just exactly where I have gone these past couple of months.....but my "fracture boot" got in the way. I couldn't get me and IT on the scale!!!!! So, I will monitor my progress by how I feel (and how my clothes feel). When I make good choices, I know only progress and success will follow!
Thanks for the encouragement and I hope in some small way, I can be of help to you. Have a great day.
And as always, take care of yourself.
Gracie:) :wave: :)

[NRaye]

Don't you love these little smiley faces and all the different styles of them... I wish I could have them in my regular email because I'm always doing this :>) or :>/ or something!
I know what you mean starting out all "gung ho" and then fading... I've done it a million times. "TODAY I START A DIET" and I read (i.e.) Sugar Busters and it all makes sense and I like what it says and.........two weeks later I'm eating just like I always did and I've gained back the 10 pounds I lost and added a couple more!! That's how I got to where I am now. I'll never forget when I first crossed the 200 mark... I cried...I was sick...how could I be so heavy...how could i let myself get to 200#.... okay, how could I let myself get to 220#.... You know how it goes! It is so discouraging and so disgusting! I am CONVINCED that some of us do not have some gene or cell or connector that others do who can eat whatever they want and stay thin. My oldest sister and I are built exactly the same but my middle sister was the one who lived on fast food (I don't eat any) and would eat a stack of chocolate chip cookies for breakfast (while I had my healthy breakfast) and she never weighed over 125!:devil: I don't understand... I will acknowledge that I'm more sedentary and maybe the whole secret is moving...God, I hope not :D But I have started exercising. I asked my neurologist to refer me to our hospital's Healthplex. For the first month or so, my insurance will pay for my "workout" and then after that, it's $18/month. They have great equipment and the room isn't filled with 90# yuppies who are complaining about how fat they are!! Everyone there was originally referred due to a health problem and have stayed to continue working out OR they are employees of the hospital...but it's not like going to a Spa :eek: So, I'm trying to train myself to drink more water :s: and to get in the mindset of making the Healthplex part of my life.... hopefully, I'll live PAST the gung ho period and continue on in to 'wagons ho'...and move forward!!!!
As for you... you need to learn how much you are worth 'saving'... and if eating better and 'moving' a little will help you live longer, it's worth it because YOU'RE worth it!! I also feel that our self-esteem has something to do with GETTING overweight.... like there's a little voice in the back of our head saying "what difference does it make how much I weigh... no one cares anyway".... or we 'protect' ourselves from having close relationships by putting greater distance between us and them (with our carbo middles) ... so we also need to unlock those feelings and get rid of them!!
As for the carbo problem... what they say is not to eat carbohydrates and fats together... protein and fats is okay...but not carbos and fats... read Sugar Busters or Suzanne Somers' book... it's not easy but you're worth it!!

[Gracietoo]

Greetings Nraye,
I made it another day! Today was actually pretty good. I'm really trying to watch what I eat but I think I let my blood sugar get a little too low this afternoon. That's a problem with not eating as I should for so long (while taking insulin at that) and then cutting WAY back (on the same dosage of insulin!) and trying to balance everything out! It usually takes a few days to get re-adjusted. I even drank more water today too. Watermelon essence, wasn't too bad either. No sugar in it, sort of like the watermelon "ran" through the water! Ha! Ha!

How was the Healthplex? I know what you mean by not having to be there with all those tiny folks who have never had an extra pound on their bones! Are you on equipment there? Do you have a specific plan that you are working on there? I wish we had something like that here. But right now I guess it wouldn't matter. I couldn't participate at the present time, but I sure have gotten good at getting around in this "boot"! As long as I don't have to go up an incline I do pretty well. You will have to tell me all about the Healthplex adventure. Keep me posted.

What is Sugar Busters? Is it a diet, a book? I have never heard of it but it sounds like something I ought to know about. I CRAVE sweets something fierce! I found these little 130 calorie low fat, low sodium, low sugar "pastries" yesterday in CHOCOLATE-EXPRESSO!!! Yum.....Yum. I took one to work for breakfast this morning and it was Heavenly! Very satisfying and one of those healthfood type products that we discovered last night at the grocery store. You should have seen us, my husband convinced me to ride around in one of those little motorized carts so I wouldn't have to hobble around the store. He was walking alongside and we ended up in the "specialty" food section. There are a lot of neat things there. Also, you wouldn't believe the products that I saw on the lower shelves.......I guess when I walk, I never bent down to see what was on the lower half
:lol: :lol: :lol: Anyway, it was very interesting and we bought a few new things to try. Anything to make dieting and staying healthy more interesting!
BE GUNG-HO! As always.....Take care of yourself!
Gracie;)

[NRaye]

WOW!! You're really serious about this... way to go!! I know I have lost a couple of pounds and it's probably just from sweating... between exercising and this heat and humidity... there won't be anything left of me... OH! one could only hope :D
The Healthplex was great... I really liked it. Since my MS neuro referred me, I have a PT with me for now... teaching me the machines and what to do , etc... they said after about a month or so, I will be on my own and can come and go as I want. It really is a nice place! For a relatively small town, it's quite "up-town" to have this :p
I really need to plan menues and get to the grocery store. Sugar Busters is a diet... it's a book and a tape... I had both until I loned it out :s: The book has sample menues... it really does make sense and spells out what to eat together... like Proteins and fats are okay and carbs by themselves. I noticed when I was doing it before that once I got away from carbs and sugars for a few days, I quit craving them. Drinking water helps immensely... I never t hought I'd say that :o ... I have always hated water!!!!! But I have found that forcing myself to drink it, makes me get thirsty for it now... who knew !!!!
You keep at this, kiddo... and you will do it! I know you can... you have the desire... so do it!! I always say...it's your car so drive it!!!
Take care and have a healthy weekend!!!
Marlene
:angel:

[Gracietoo]

I found out the hard way that you really DO need to eat protein with carbs!!! For some reason I felt it necessary to eat a muffin my boss brought in yesterday. BIG mistake. 3 hours after eating it my blood sugar was still 196. (This was a bran muffin with raisins). I though that eating just that for breakfast would be okay. I thought that surely a mere muffin wouldn't be so bad. The problem was that I didn't know what was in it. Today I ate a couple of slices of low calorie toast with some light margarine and a small piece of chicken (not my usual breakfast food mind you!) and the blood sugar was within normal range throughout the morning. I guess I do need to listen to other people's experiences BEFORE I do my own thing! HA!HA!:D My clothes are feeling better. I don't know how much I have lost (if any). It's too hard to weigh with the "boot" on. I got the papers from the surgeon today telling me about how to prepare for the surgery. Now I'm beginning to really get scared. I still have about 4 weeks before the surgery so I will probably be a basket-case by then. :dizzy:
I go back to my neuro on Monday. He doesn't even know about my foot yet. I'm sure he is going to have questions and will want to make sure the orthopaedic is right about his diagnosis. I guess x-rays don't lie! Fortunately, I go back to the Dr. one more time before the surgery. I will make absolutely sure he has no doubts before I actually have the surgery.
Good luck at the Healthplex! You have a great weekend.
Take care of yourself!
:) Gracie

[Mammaw]

Hi Gracie and NRaye, I just logged on to the site and have read all your postings. It sounds like you both are having a time of it. I looked at all the other threads but this was the only one that seemed to fit my category. I was diagnosed with Peripheral Neuropathy which means that the nerve endings in my extremities are being destroyed. (Here's that analogy of the wire coatings again but how else to explain it.) So far only my feet back to the arch have gone conpletely numb but some days I drop things easily and even my nose and lips have had their days. Still I need to lose weight. Lots of it :( I keep trying different things like extra B vitamins and swimming. I belong to a Tops group and I realy like the encouragement I get there but every little bit helps. So keep up the good work on your end and I will keep trying on mine and maybe we can beat one of these demons.:devil: I hope you don't mind my barging in here. It is just nice to let off steam to someone who knows what you are talking about. Best wishes, Mammaw

[Gracietoo]

Welcome Mammaw!
We are glad to have you join us. (I'm sure Nraye feels the same way too!) So sorry to hear about your nerve problems. I understand how frustrating it gets at times. As for the weight problems.....we all struggle but maybe we can be of great encouragement to each other. It is so nice to have a place to come and share our "up's and down's" and to know that there are others that truly understand. Please know that there are many folks out here who want to be a blessing to you especially when the pressure of "things" get you down. Hope to see you often at this site!
Take care.
Gracie
:) :) :)

[gamma]

Hi to all....I, too, am a mamaw, but my grandson (1 of 4) christened me gamma. I know what you all mean... For 15 years they told me I had MS, then they said the MRI was negative, so I didn't know what was wrong. Now, they say the MRI was inconclusive, I probably do have MS, but right now it's inactive. Instead, I have arthritic psoraisis, (new) which is active:?: :?: Yep, I'm confused. The one thing I have learned is that hidden food allergies can make auto-immune(or any other problems), a lot worse. For example, if I eat pork, within 2 or 3 days I have alot of problems walking...Doc gave me a great book that explains it all, I'll look for the name, if anyone's interested. Thanks for the MS chat address, I need all the help I can get! Bye for now...Gamma

[NRaye]

Welcome Mammaw... I too, am a 'gamma'... welcome aboard! For the record, my 'real' name is Marlene... I use NRaye as a login sometimes... it's in honor of my sister Nancy Raye who died in 1992 from a brain aneurysm. She was my best friend.
I am off to take a class right now but will return to write more later... just didn't want you or Gracie to think that I'm ignoring you :lol:
Marlene

[Gracietoo]

Greetings to all of you!
I went back to my neuro on Monday and received some good news for a change. My vision seems to be stable with slight improvement. My pupil defect has even improved a bit. I actually identified all the color charts which indicates that my optic nerve has resumed more normal functioning. This is great news especially now. I won't have to go back again for 6 months as long as there are no other symptoms. I have 3 weeks before foot surgery now. I have lost a few pounds and feel better but still have a long.....long.... way to go:mad:
see you all later
gracie:) :)

[Gracietoo]

Help!
What kind of exercise can you do when you can't walk? I'll be off my feet for several weeks and even though I won't have an eating problem (husband will be bringing me the food!!!) :eek: :eek: I am liable to gain weight anyway due to the inactivity! Do hand held weights do anything? How am I gonna lift all this weight while on crutches? I am beginning to panic now.
Any suggestions?
Gracie
:?: (husband will be bringing me the food!!!)

[NRaye]

Hi Gracie...
You can do what we call at work "chair exercises"... do the top half of jumping jacks...side bends....arms out front,to the side,over your head, to the side, out front.... anything to get your heart pumping...and this does do that!! and try adding 2# weights...after you ask your doctor if that's okay!! Richard Simmons used to have a video for chair exercises that was really good. I don't know if they could hook you up or not! Try contacting his web page and see if they still have that. Write to him... he loves that! I work with adults with retardation and we wrote him a letter and told him how much our folks love him and he wrote back and sent a picture!!
Good luck :smug:
You can do it!!
Marlene

[NRaye]

Gracie.. just saw your post about your good news with your eyes!! Congratulations!!! I'm so happy to hear that wonderful news. Keep up the good work with your weight loss and your positive attitude. It WILL pay off!!!!
Marlene

[Catherine_C]

Hi everyone:

This is the first time I have posted on 3FW in over a year. I didn't remember my name and password and had to register all over again!!

I would love to join your support thread. about a year ago i lost about 45 pounds before my wedding. i wasn't as thin as i hoped to be but it was a huge accomplishment to get that far. i didn't post a lot, but read a lot and found this site to be very supportive and informative with my diet and exercise program. Two weeks after my wedding I was diagnosed with "probable" MS. (one scar in the brain and some irregularities in the visual evoked potentials.) I was went to see a doctor because my older sibling was diagnosed and had similar symptoms that I had experienced ( I just thought stress from was causing some numbness and tingling)/Over the past year I have dealt with my stress over this situation in a really adult manner ;) by eating back about 30 or so of the hard lost pounds, and trying not to think about it at all. I am just now wanting to get back into a healthy lifestyle and take care of myself.

My husband is tremendously supportive, but I find it really hard to even talk about. This whole disease is so strange, and the fact that they can't tell me if I do or don't have it makes it all worse. My husband's aunt is in end-stage MS, and seeing first hand a worst case scenario, well...it hasn't helped. My neuro explained to me that her case is extremely rare , and even if it wasn't someone diagnosed well over 30 years ago does not have the advantages that the research, knowledge and drugs have provided the world today.

I don't want to be "poor me" I want to be "strong healthy me." I would love to join you all. My eating habits are poor, my job stresses me all the time and i haven't worked out in over a year. I know that if I can just get back on track with nutrition and exercise, that will help me manage my stress. I also want to start trying to have a baby next year and that is another motivation to get my health together.

The thing is my symptoms come and go and right now I don't feel terrible - - I think that my fear is the worst symptom of all!

That is my story in a nutshell. Hope i didn't go on too long. I plan to start walking tomorrow and then moving into strength training and yoga. I hope to do this and really change some things in my life. Hope I wasn't a downer! :)

Have a great day!

Cate

178/162/125

[Gracietoo]

Welcome Cate!
On behalf of everyone on this thread, we welcome you. I'm glad that you came back and that you want to try to make sense of all the things that are going on in your life right now. I know that it is hard to deal with MS, or "probable MS", or "you are in the risk group for developing MS" as well as these other nerve debilitating diseases mentioned in these posts, but we are all here to help each other. It isn't enough that we have to deal with these issues but we also have the burden of excessive weight to contend with!:( This is a great place to go to for support. We can lift each other up and be that one place to come when it seems that no one else can understand our frustration.

Personally, I slipped a little bit today and didn't make very good choices. NRaye, I'm not "gung-ho" today. My chin is dragging even though I know that tomorrow is a new day and I can pick myself up again. :rolleyes: Thanks for the exercise tips, I will definitely try them.

Mammaw and Gamma, I hope you two are having a good day! I'll be thinking about you all!

Take care of yourselves...............Gracie
:wave: :wave: :wave:

[NRaye]

Dear Cate...
Welcome to both of my worlds!!!! Bless your heart... I understand everything... and I mean everything... you said! And how ADULT we are to handle our diagnoses in such a healthy way. I keep telling everyone that I'm fine...I'm not depressed...I can do this...I can handle anything.............. then I eat!!:( Consequently, I have gained about 40# (on top of the 40 I already wanted to lose!!) since I was diagnosed using the excuse that I can't exercise because it's so tiring and I'm not supposed to get over-heated!! Isn't that convenient!!? :eek:
Well, I'm with you... it's time to take control of MY life and make ME healthy and make ME feel good and get MY body in some sort of healthier shape than I am right now.
I'll never be Heather Locklear...shoot! I wasn't before I gained weight... but I can be a healthier ME!! I can get me in better shape and I can eat healthier!!
I recently purchased Suzanne Somers book re: diet and it is very similar to Sugar Busters. It makes a lot of sense to me but you have to find the diet that's right for you!
I have joined our local Healthplex which the doctor had to write me a script to join ... a PT is with me now guiding me through the machines and since he knows I have MS, he doesn't push me hard:D . In another couple of weeks, he will "cut me loose" then I can go exercise on my own...which I am looking forward to! You might talk to your neuro to see if you have a similar program anywhere near you (I'm in Ohio). If you do, ask him/her to write you a script to exercise!! My insurance company pays for the exercises as long as the PT is instructing me and then I'll pay a monthly fee.
You hang in there... rely on us to support you through this and if you need MS support... please check out the Delphi Forum MedSupport at http://forums.delphi.com Register and join the crowd of people with MS who talk daily to one another! It's helped me tremendously!!
Marlene

[NRaye]

Hi Gracie!!
Get that chin up off the floor... let me see that beautiful face and great smile... let me hear those words..."I screwed up today but tomorrow is another day"... you can do this! You're allowed to mess up from time to time... you're allowed to 'slip' :dizzy: Just know that with the sunrise comes a whole new chance to start over again... and DO IT!! :^: I believe in you and I know that you believe in you!!
This isn't easy!! No one said that dieting was an easy job... coz it isn't!! We didn't put this weight on overnight and we're not going to lose it overnight!! The problem is...it was more FUN putting it on ;) But it is much HEALTHIER to take it off. Every 1/4 pound counts... every glass of water helps... every by-pass of the dessert counts!!
Suzanne Somers new book has good recipes in it... check it out!
Hang in there, kiddo!!!!
Marlene
keep me posted!!

[Gracietoo]

Hi Marlene,
Hope you're having a good week! I am trying to pick myself up again.....but it's going a bit slow. Sunday was my birthday and I had the blues. It wasn't necessarily because I'm getting older (the alternative is a killer!) I don't know exactly what it was. Maybe it's the pressure of all that is going on around me. My husband has been really good about all this but I think things are getting to him now and we are all a bit edgy. I only have a couple of weeks left before the surgery and so much is going on. I was doing well and then my husband went out of town on a business trip last week for a couple of days and I made the "fast-food" choice for dinner those days. Whenever I put "junk" into my body, I feel alful! :( I know better and I wouldn't have done it if my husband had been home. It just seemed easier at the time. Then after a couple of days of junk, I'm hooked and then I crave the carbs and fat! Breaking away from them is always so hard for me.
You keep up the good work on your exercises/PT! Thank you for your encouraging words. You always lift my spirits.
Take care,
Gracie
:wave:

[NRaye]

Hi Gracie!!
HEY!! You can do this... look what it took to get you started in the first place... you can get back on track...because you know that your health is worth it!! YOU GO GIRL!!!!:lol:
I want to tell you this...not to brag but to let you know how important "moving" is :p I have now gone to the Healthplex 5 times to exercise...and they put me through the paces for about 30 minutes each time... (point being this hasn't been excessive)... anyway, I've lost 8 pounds since I've started working out! I was floored!! They're not weighing me but we have a scales here at work and I couldn't believe that I'd dropped that much weight in this short period of time. I can also tell the difference in my 'luv handles' and other pockets :rolleyes: Now I know that there is no way that the weight will keep coming off like that BUT it is proof positive of how important moving is!! Do not underestimate the chair exercises either!! You'll find that anything you do will get your heart pumping (aerobics) and that is movement!! Do you have an exercise tapes? If so, put it in the VCR... sit in a straight back chair and do from the chair what they're doing...move your legs & move your arms... don't worry about it if you poop out! Just try each day to increase the amount of time you stay with it... if you start with 3 minutes, that's 3 minutes more than you were doing ... RIGHT?? :D Then gradually increase the amount of time you are getting your heart pumping. From what I've read, it's okay to do aerobic exercises every day but if you feel that every other day is the way to start, that's ok! When you're up to it, get 2# weights to hold in your hands while exercising... then when you're up to it... start a walking program! There are some great audio tapes out that you can listen to while walking that coach you through your walking. That's something you will have to build up your endurance, too... meaning that if you can only walk for 1 minute...that's where you start! There's no shame in doing it YOUR way... don't let anyone try to shame you into doing it anyway but what's right for you!!
One of the girls I supervise has lost around 100# following the Sugar Buster diet... they have that out on audio tape, too, if you'd rather not read it! Try your darnedest to get off the sweets and carbs. Don't eliminate carbs... just be careful what you eat them with. The Carbohydrate Addicts diet advocates for eating a carb meal.. but don't couple it with protein/fats... If you eat a plate of spaghetti and a large salad...that's okay... just don't put meat in your spaghetti sauce. Protein & veggies or carbs & veggies are the couples of the year!! And Suzanne Somer's book says that you can eat fruit... but eat them alone and on an empty stomach. You can have fruit for a snack in between your meals or eat only fruit for one of your meals but don't eat it with anything else... because of the fructose. I'm having cantalope and a peach for my breakfast right now... as I write this :dizzy: So you don't have to eliminate anything... just know portions and what to eat with what!
You can do this, Gracie.... and you know why??? 'Cause you're worth it!!!!!!!!!!
Keep in touch... I enjoy talking to you!!
Marlene

[Gracietoo]

Marlene,
Thanks so much for the encouragement. I really needed it. Tomorrow is a new day and I CAN get back on track. I think I need to plan things out a little better so that I don't make any "fast-food" decisions!
Great news about your weight loss and I am so glad to hear that you are doing so well on your PT program at the Healthplex. Way to go! Are you still with the trainer or are you on your own yet?
Thank you for the advice about the chair exercises too. I don't have an exercise tape but I still have some time to get one. Maybe Richard Simmons would be a good one since he is always so "gung-ho"! Also, that Sugar-Buster diet sounds like it may work for someone like me. I will try and find the book since I'll have lots of time for reading soon. I also will try to find some 2# weights because the ones my son has are 5# and they really tire me out too quickly!:dizzy:
Take care of yourself and I'll talk with you later.
Gracie:wave:
(I love this little waving smile. It always makes me smile!)

[Novelwriter]

Hi Everyone...am crashing in on your thread as I think I walk in similar shoes. About 13 years ago I was first diagnosed with imbalance from an inner ear infection, migraines and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Umpteen tests...you know the drill...and then it was Optic Neuritis, Fibromyalgia and Probable MS. Now I am "just" MS and Fibromyalgia, but usually every symptom I ever have gets dumped into the MS file. Still have a lot of the Optic Neuritis symptoms, balance and depth perception are certainly not my strong points, and I do hurt a lot. But the crazy thing is, if someone asked me how my health was, off the top of my head I would probably say it is excellent! Am I in major denial or what??? Maybe I take positive thinking to the absurd, but I still believe I can do most anything. Obviously, that doesn't always work...duh...so I turn around and try something else...sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But I'm gonna' keep trying!

Due to lack of exercise and a great love affair with M & M's (or anything chocolate!) I gained about 70 pounds over the last 13 years. Seemed to be gradual at first, then Whamo! Here I am. I tried everything from Suzanne Somers to Atkins and beyond. Lost and gained, Lost and gained...Then I was shocked at some recent pictures taken when my newest grandbaby was born in June...so June 13 I joined Weight Watchers and have lost 24 pounds so far...Hooray!!! I am still far too sedentary and know the next 50 are going to go much more slowly, but I am going to start a daily swimming program. We are moving to a community that has an indoor pool specifically so that I can do this. My neurologist is a huge believer in swimming for MS, or moving whatever you can in the water. I am really looking forward to just stretching out in a big ol pool of water...mmmmm....

Anyway, I am new to this whole website and was delighted to find a thread devoted to this topic. Good luck to everyone. I look forward to getting to "know" you...feel like I sort of do already just by reading your posts. Hang in there everyone...thanks...Judi

[Gracietoo]

Welcome Judi!
Looks like you have really been through a lot over the years too so we welcome you and hope you will continue to be a part of this group.
I have been away for a few days and so has everyone else it seems! Hang in there and keep up the good work at WW. I have had some success there in the past, but with the new points system - and diabetes- I wasn't able to make it work. Seems like all the lower point items are the ones with the most carbohydrates! My WW leader told me there wasn't a plan that converted the points for Diabetes usage and she told me to try and eat the lower carb points. I found this to be too hard for me to do. Even the WW frozen entrees had too many carbohydrates in them for my metabolism. (Evidently!) Anyway good luck and keep at it!
Again welcome!
Gracie

[Novelwriter]

Hi Gracie...thanks so much for the warm welcome. It's nice to find some people who share some of the extra challenges we have. Am afraid you are right about the carbs on WW. I try hard to avoid refined carbs...no white flour, no sugar, no white rice or potatoes. I have increased my vegetables to mountainous proportions and only eat one fruit per day. I do eat soy products as my main "meat" source, and they definitely have carbs, but so far so good. I make a lot of soy milk smoothies and substitute low carb veggies for the refined foods as often as possible. Like mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes...we love this "comfort" food a lot! And I do make a lot of soups that are loaded with lower carb veggies.

Trying to keep my carb intake low and stay on plan with WW is not an easy task...but I'm really trying and have a long, long way to go.

How are you feeling? Hope this is a good MS day for you...some certainly are better than others, huh? Thanks for your support...Later...Judi

[Gracietoo]

Hi Judi,
The mashed cauliflower really does sound good. I never thought of trying something like that in the place of potatoes. Is there anything else that you add to it or is it just mashed and then seasoned? I would really like to try that.
For a while I was eating a lot of grilled vegetables drizzled with a small amount of olive oil. Eggplant, summer squash and mushrooms mostly. Believe it or not, these were really good. I have a Foreman Grill and it was very easy to do. I need to get back to doing that. I also like to grill salmon steaks or fillets on that grill. Mostly I am having a problem with "will-power" right now.
I have been feeling pretty well. Although I haven't actually been diagnosed yet with MS, I seem to be in the risk group for developing it. My bout of optic neuritis is improving. But the strange thing is that some days I feel as if my vision is better than other days. My foot surgery in scheduled for next Monday and I am pretty focused on that right now. I am a bit nervous about it. Maybe not so much the actual surgery, but afterwards. Being so overweight is going to be very difficult when you will only be able to use one leg/foot for awhile. Sometimes I really "bash" myself for ever letting myself get into this condition. I know better.
Anyway, you keep up the good work. Let me know if you have any other veggie or protein substitute tips/recipes that work for you. I would very much like to try some of them.
Take care.
Gracie:wave:

[Novelwriter]

Hi Gracie...I haven't figured out how to use all the cute little icons like your little waving guy yet. He makes me happy! (I'm easily amused!!!)
So Monday is the big surgery day, huh? Mmm, don't envy you. I have such a distaste for hospitals, surgery, etc. How long will they keep you? I swear these days everything is practically a drive-by surgery! Remember, the Drs., Nurses and staff are "your" employees...you are the one paying the bill, thus paying their salaries, so make sure you ask for and get the best of care. If you haven't already met with the Anesthesiologist, ask to do so...this one is probably the most important one in the whole surgery procedure. Let him/her know of ANY and ALL medical problems and/or concerns. Make sure they know about the Optic Neuritis. Anesthesilogy is dealing with the nervous system...so is Optic Neuritis. Trust me...I'm not saying to be all beligerent and demanding...just make sure they take extra good care of you. I don't know how much overweight you are, but I did read a rather sad study recently that said many medical specialists tend to neglect the needs of overweight people. Don't let 'em neglect you!!!

And please don't be so hard on yourself. I'm sure we all wonder how on earth we got to the weight we are today. I sure as heck wasn't born this size! And what is now my "goal" weight, I once would have considered huge!

Do you mind sharing a bit about your Optic Neuritis? That was one of my first diagnosistic tests that I flunked...you know the one with the sort of checkerboard screen you have to look at while your brain is attached to electrodes. Oh my, when those little squares started moving around I thought I would fall off the chair...talk about dizzy and disoriented...aarrggggghhhh...hated that test. Did fine with my spinal tap, even without any lidocaine or numbing agent. Am deathly allergic to all "caines", so have to have dental work, etc. done with nothing. Not complaining. Thank goodness I have a pretty high pain tolerance!!! But oh, that Optic Neuritis test, ugh! I have a lot of problems with things sort of moving around on me when they're not. I think my depth perception is not so hot either! And the flickering sensation, like a fluorescent light is burning out, drives me nutso. Just wondered if you have these same sorts of things...

Hope to hear from you before Monday. Will certainly keep you in my thoughts and prayers....best of luck...JL

[Gracietoo]

Hi Judi,
I am only supposed to be in the hospital overnight for "pain management". :( I really don't like the sound of that! I guess they will then send me home with some nice pain-killers:dizzy: so I hope.
I never had the kind of test for optic neuritis that you spoke about. I actually began to have eye pain especially with movement of my eye (right only). Then I developed a killer headache on that side of my temple that would not go away. Severe light sensitivity. Vision was blurry as well. I went to my opthamologist first because I thought it was actually an eye problem. He examined me and ordered a visual field test. (I flunked that one and my results indicated "optic nerve defect". He sent me to a neuro-opthamologist. When he examined my eyes with all sorts of lighted instruments, he discovered an "afferent pupiliary defect" in the right eye. I also could not discern the test using color plates indicating that I had lost a good deal of my ability to see color in that eye. My visual field and neurological testing he did in the office indicated that I had lost some of my peripherial and altitudinal vision. Then he ordered an MRI which thankfully came back "normal appearing". He is now monitoring me periodically for any changes and to see if I am recovering any of my vision loss. I am slowly improving in all areas. First the pain finally went away along with the light sensitivity. The headaches stopped and gradually my vision seems to be improving and I can now discern all the color plates. I won't have to go back for 6 months now. ;)
I don't think I could have handled the test you had! I get dizzy and nauseous whenever I see a strobe light!
:lol:
Take care and thanks for the prayers for Monday.
Gracie:wave:

[Gracietoo]

Hi Nraye,
I hope you are doing OK and that all is well with you. I miss you!
Take care,
Gracie:wave:

[briezma]

HI I'm Robin, I was diagnosed Jan 2000 (while I was pregnant with my 2nd child). Optic Neuritis was my "identifier". I thought I needed glasses, and after 3 specialists and an MRI I found out it was MS. I was blind in my left eye for a total of 18 months... I still have heat/fatigue relapses, but for the most part the vision has returned. Prior to this I had years of attacks; but they were always overlooked. Currently I'm on daily injections of Copaxone (and I still hate needles).

My 2nd daughter was born in April 2000 and my last month of pregnancy I suffered from shortness of breath... I assumed because I was pregnant. After she was born I still suffered from it, so I figured it was because of the MS (and I was a smoker). By March of 2001 it still hadn't cleared up, so I quit smoking..... it got worse. I FINALLY mentioned it to my doctor who began testing and it was discovered that I have Pulmonary Hypertension. They believe it may be secondary as the right side of my heart is enlarged as well... for unknown reasons at this time. I'm seeing a cardiologist this Tuesday (Sept 11/01) and we'll go from there.

I remember when I was diagnosed with MS, I asked the Dr's if it would kill me. I got the typical answer of NO... I didn't have Progressive MS at this time, and most people go on to live a normal life span.. it's just the quality that is effected. I could live with that. I felt as long as I'd get to see my girls grow up. But my latest health battle hasn't been so easy for me to deal with; I'm in denial at this time. Since I still weigh what I did when I gave birth to my 2nd a year and half ago, I decided to join WW and do something about it... that and it will take my mind off my health and it certainly can't hurt!!

In a nut shell that is the tip of the iceburg of my story... it feels nice to be able to share it. Thank you!!!!! I look forward to getting to know all of you.

Take Care... Robin

[NRaye]

Hi Gracie & Robin...
This is weird... I wrote each of you a message and neither of them appear on this site. I wonder what I did wrong!! Oh this is nuts...
But, after what happened in New York, my screw up here is irrelevant!!
Isn't that terrible?? What a horrific day those poor dear people had in NY and Washington... and it's no way near over! We will live with the consequences of what these crazy people did for a long time!
I hope you each are doing well... I have been out of this loop because my mother fell and broke her hip... OH GRACIE... I just realized... didn't I send my message just to you??? Maybe THAT's why it isn't showing up here. LOLOLOLOL...
Don't let anyone tell you that MS doesn't effect your brain and memory!!!:lol:
Please keep me in on the group here and keep me posted!!
Love,
Marlene

[briezma]

Thank you for the welcome Marlene.

I had my appointment with the cardiologist on the 11th and received the worse news possible.... I have Primary Pulmonary Hypertension. You may recognize this disease as it's been in the news over the last few years as it is often caused by Phen-Phen.. however, I'm one of the RARE few who has developed it on my own with out any use of drugs.. although they did look at the drug I'm taking for MS. Apparently it does not cause it, or so the medical books showed when 900 people had tried the drug (the book was written when it was still in the experimental stage)

Apparently there is a specialist for PPH in Toronto, Ontario (about 400 kms' from my home town) They are going to try to get me in to see him, but in Ontario, our waiting lists are years long for specialists.... it's hard to say when or IF I'll ever get to see this man.

I'm on a bit of a pitty party lately (it too will pass), but until then I'm going to step away from the computer for a while.... thank you for your support... I'll be back soon

Robin

[Gracietoo]

Hi Guys!
Where is everyone? I had an excuse but where did everybody else go? I made it through surgery but couldn't get into the room with the computer and was way.....too.....sick to try. Later on I had serious complications from surgery but God spared me. I sure would like to hear how everyone is doing.
Take care.
Gracie :wave:

[kermie]

Gracie:

I enjoy reading your posts in the MS Dieting room...where did everyone go?

Glad your foot surgery is over and done with - and sorry you ran into complications. My husband is going for a foot rebuild procedure tomorrow, and I hope he doesn't run into complications now. Hope you're on the mend and feeling a whole lot better.

Someone very near and dear to me has recently been diagnosed and is going for a Visual Evoked Potential test, Brainstem Auditory Evoked Pot. test, and a Sensory Evoked Pot. test this coming Wed. (Dec. 19)....did you have all these things done too?

Hope your weight program is in the works....

Judi, Robin - come on back.....be looking for you gals....you're a good, sincere bunch and I miss your posts.

[NRaye]

Hello All...

Sorry I have been away so much... I think depression has set in and taken over my life! I managed to get a tree up this year and have NOTHING else out by the way of decorations...and I always have A LOT out... my grandsons are even living with us and I still haven't done anything. I intended to do something this weekend but my husband and daughter both had the flu and I can't carry the stuff up out of the basement. Anyway, I am still kicking and I am trying to get up out of the gutter!
I don't know where the depression is coming from... it was identified when i went for the neuro-psych eval that my MS neuro ordered. I kept saying "I don't feel depressed... I'm just tired"... so they wanted me to see anything psychologist and she said that she didn't think I was depressed as much as over-stressed! She said that we women have a tendancy to think we have to do everything... always in charge...always in control...we can handle anything... And I know I do that ... then when my daughter and grandsons moved back home, it just got to be a little much. I have no privacy and no quiet time. My work is hectic all day and then I go home to craziness! :dizzy: Oh well... I guess we all do so why am I whining!!?
How is everyone? Gracie, I was so glad to see that you're healing from your surgery! I hope everything went okay (minus the complications)...and that you'll be cuttin' a rug real soon!!
Hope everyone is anticipating a wonderful holiday season and looking forward to a year of peace, love and joy! I wish each of you all of life's best!!
Take care... and keep in touch... I will try to, also!!
Marlene

[kermie]

Gracie: Hang in there hon - you're doing the best you can - it's hard to have children around if you're not used to it - but it may be temporary.....

I've spent a lot of time crying lately too - I think it's part of the season....and not much sun here either (which is unusual).

Do your best, and the flu will leave your environment, and your husband will help with the Xmas decorations, and these times will pass.

No kicking up our heels here, Hubby's in the hospital - with major foot surgery, but hey - to have him home for Xmas will be nice...and I won't have to go to the hospital -

Take care,

[Gracietoo]

Hi Guys!
It's so good to hear from you NRaye and from Kermie too! I really missed everyone. Kermie, I hope your husband is doing well after his foot surgery. If he is going to be "down" for awhile, PLEASE make sure his Dr. gives him blood-thinners! Mine didn't and it almost cost me my life! But thanks to God, I am healing and will be okay. I am now able to walk (with the walking boot) but at least I can get around by myself. I even went back to work. I have some lung impairment still but I fully believe I will recover all function with time.
Marlene, we are here for you. I know that you are going through some very stressful times but I think of you often and you will be okay. There are so many changes going on in your life right now that anybody would appear to be depressed under those circumstances. You have always been such a positive inspiration to me and I know that "this too shall pass". Hang in there!
As for me, I regained my appetite after my last hospital stay and regained some of the weight that I had lost when I was so ill. But this is a new year and will be a new year of new beginnings for me. On New Year's Eve my husband told me he was thankful that I was still here to celebrate the new year. This really struck home with me considering all that we have been through these past few months. I may not be all that I want to be, but I will strive to change some of the things in my life!
God bless you all.
Take Care,
Gracie ;)

[NRaye]

Hi Gracie!! Glad to hear from you and glad to know that you are hangin' in there!! It's tough! I have started to work on my new resolution... to move more!! I had quit at the Healthplex (too long of a story for here) but have now started at the YMCA. I went yesterday and walked for a mile and rode the bike for 20 minutes. With the MS, I'm not to overwork the muscles to get too overheated so I didn't overdo it on the first day. But my intention is to keep this up and just make it part of my day! Please God let me keep my promise to myself! I ate like I wouldn't have any food after Jan 1 so I also am trying to deal with eating "normally"! I am not being strict about any one diet but I am being cautious about what I eat with what. If I have carbs, I don't eat protien with it. If I'm having protein then I eat a big salad and veggies with it rather than potatoes. Just trying to change a lifelong habit is tough enough (this is meat and potato country!!) I know I can do it!! Hope you had a great holiday and are looking forward to a very happy 2002!! Keep in touch! ;)

[Gracietoo]

Hi Marlene, it's really good to hear from you.
Your new resolution to move more is a good one for all of us.
I too ate like there would be no "tomorrow" over the last few days before the new year began. One of my goals is to try and not snack in between meals, especially at work. I really need to stay away from the vending machines. There is very little that is nutritious or low-fat in there! I have pretty much cut out eating at night after supper. I did that while I was down after surgery. Now, I don't have "withdrawal" like I would have normally if I had just cut it out "cold-turkey".
I know that with your new exercise program at the Y, you really do have to keep from getting overheated. From what I have read, overheated myelyn(spelling?) does not conduct impulses as well as someone without MS. This is something I found out with the optic neuritis. Even a hot shower can raise the temp. inside and cause even worse vision (thankfully temporarily) in optic neuritis.
Hang in there and take care of Marlene! You are off to a great new year and I know that you will do great!
Take care.
Gracie:wave: :wave:

[TrudyL]

Hello NRaye!

I have had MS for 9 years now. My MRI showed "possible" lesions, so I had the lumbar puncture (which wasn't half as bad as I imagined it!) which gave me the answer I was seeking. My MS hasd progressed from relapsing-remitting to secondary-progressive, so as of now I spend about 85% of my time in a wheelchair.

I think the most difficult aspect of having this disease is keeping a positive attitude. Sounds ridiculous, but your attitude can make all the difference in the world, positive or negative . I was angry and grieving until I landed in the ICU with pneumonia two years ago and almost died. I decided life with MS was preferable to the alternative!! :)

Right now I am struggling to lose weight. I am currently 275 at 5'7". Having limited mobility and stamina makes exercising a challenge, to say the least. But I view Sugar Busters as the first realistic method of eating that I've seen in a long time, so I'm very hopeful.

All I can tell youo is stay positive, avail yourself of any help, including antidepressants, and be open to ways of dealing with the disease besides pharmacological ones. Beware of the quacks and sideshow charlatans that promise a cure - all they will do is empty your wallet. Explore vitamins and minerals and herbs (be careful).

Most of all, stay hopeful!

TrudyL

[Debelli]

Hope you don't mind me jumping on your board and addressing a post to

TRUDY:D

Trudy, just wanted you to know that there's a SUGAR BUSTERS BOARD right here on this site. If you haven't had a chance to check out the SB SUPPORT BOARDS, please do. We'd love to have you visit and/or join us at any time. Here's a link to our area here on the 3FC'S site:

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=85

You can find our group posting on the SB WEEKLY SUPPORT BOARDS.

To everyone else, continued success on whichever weight loss program you are following!!!

:queen: Debbie

[xani]

hello everyone, i am a 23yr old college student. i unfortunately discovered that i had ms last summer. i herniated a disc in my back and then three days later, my legs went numb from the waist down. almost a year later, i still have some numbness in my feet. i can walk, but i can only walk at a normal rate, and cannot run at all. it's still weird. my brain still thinks i can, but my legs just won't do it. i wasn't thin to begin with and when the problems with my legs began, i packed on another 40 pounds. so now i am starting to regain a little control and have started eating better and am going to the gym. i am taking avonex, baclofen, amantadine, paxil,.... the gym is still a bit of an experiment. after about 20 minutes on the treadmill, my right leg goes almost completely numb from the knee down. i go lift some weights for a little while until my leg returns to "normal" and then try to do another 20 minutes. i am going to try out one of the aqua-aerobics classes this week. anyway, i just wanted to say hello and introduce myself.

amy

[wsw]

hi xani and welcome!

i don't even know what made me check this board right now, since i haven't done so in quite a while, but i'm glad i did. i am sorry to hear about your ms diagnosis last summer. i was dx'd 2 1/2 years ago and have been on betaseron since that time. i have leg numbness due to ms and also spinal damage (not ms-related, though) and have a tailored exercise program, which my physical therapist developed for me. i had weight to lose before the dx and am trying to lose that now plus more. i am counting cals., exercising regularly, and trying (anyway!) to make myself drink plenty of water, etc. well, i wanted to welcome you and wish you all the best on your weight loss journey. take care.