Raising Funds for MS Awareness

Hi all! For those not familiar I have chosen Nancy Davis' foundation, The Race to Erase MS, as my charity this year to help raise money and awareness. I'm raising an extra $1000 for this project. While it might not seem like loads of money, it's enough to make a difference and a reachable goal. If all of my friends donated $10 we'd be well over $1000! It adds up quickly. Click here for My personal fundraising page.

The foundation raises funds for the Center without Walls program. Click to Learn more.

Taken from their website:

Center Without Walls - Program Overview

“The Race to Erase MS wanted to build a winning team so we sought the best and the brightest throughout the world to create the Center Without Walls program.” – Nancy Davis

Funded by the Race to Erase MS, the Center Without Walls program (CWW) has provided support that has permitted the medical community to link together multidisciplinary scientific programs and expertise across the country to advance the understanding of the cause of MS and to develop new treatments. The Center is a break-through success because of the vision, insight and flexibility of these extraordinary doctors.

The Center’s theme is simple: communication – doctors working together toward a mutual goal. When this goal is reached, all will share in the victory.

Keep up the great work Nancy and team! Let's do this!

 

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Planning for a great event this Monday!

Looking forward to seeing some old friends and meeting new ones in Templeton next week at the Wellness Kitchen.

What would you want to hear about at this workshop? Post comments and join the conversation!

 

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Friends, Road Trips, Forgetting About MS

Sometimes it just seems necessary to forget I have MS. Put caution to the wind and just enjoy life. Not worry about what I am eating or doing. What the weather is like. What the activities on the agenda are. Just to forget and live the moment free and clear.

But please note, that while I put caution to the wind, I did pay a price with my MS. Came home to a several day detox and boy did I need it! A couple video clips after the weekend, a morning chat and some free flow movement.

Throwing caution to the wind is tough to do with an Autoimmune disease always nagging at your heels. There is always something I could do better to manage this disease. But sometimes you just want to say, TakeThatMS! While it may not be the physical solution to your problems, it may be the mental solution. That's what it felt like to me.

This past weekend I took advantage of schedules, friends, good weather and fun times, driving north to central California coast via hwy 101.

Quintessential California coast, train tracks, strawberries ready for harvest, palm trees and Santa Barbara off in the distance.

We took a quick pit stop at Refugio State Beach with its magnificent display of Palm Trees.

As the Hwy winds away from the ocean and up and into the valley we are devastated by the lack of green. Not surprised, but very sad. The drought is wrenching havoc on our agriculture. Most livestock has been moved to wetter grounds.

Then we headed to the quaint town of Los Alamos to Bedford Wine Tasting. We met Stephen, the owner, and had a nice local chat about.

Some amazing chalk art at the winery and a little taste of spring outside.

The next day we headed to Creston to see a long time friend and cutting horse rider, Patti Bello, at her winery, B & E Vineyards.

Yes, while it's fun to throw a little caution to the wind, I did pay the price. Junk food, eating out, wine tasting. Just a couple of days can change you. I felt quite inflamed after this weekend. No doubt, right?

Now time for some healing and anti inflammatory action!

Pomegranate tea, detox tea, Bragg's apple cider, Shentrition and mung beans make for an MS healing diet. A couple of days of this and I feel back to new!

What a great time with friends, Playing games, celebrating Valentines Day. Not being forgotten.

Yep. Friends, road trips and just being free for a day or two can make a real mental difference.

Now it's back to work and managing my MS. Lets do this!

 

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"New Food = a New You"

Girl with MS is coming to Templeton, California, March 3 at the Wellness Kitchen:

Caroline Craven, Girl with MS, presents "New Food = a New You", an interactive workshop introducing nutritionally sound foods to help manage Multiple Sclerosis.

Join us as we engage together and learn to thrive with MS through nutrition and mindful eating. We will review a variety of MS friendly foods and evaluate your dietary choices to see if you're living at your optimal best.

Caroline Craven, a graduate of Cal Poly, SLO, is a certified holistic nutrition educator and life coach, residing in La Canada Flintridge, California.

RSVP by Feb 28th to the Welness Kitchen at 805/434-1800

 

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MS on the Road

Follow along on some of my adventures at MSontheRoad.com

Today, it's all about keeping it Spoice....

Sometimes I travel or stay local but another little piece of me on my life with MS. It's just fun stuff. Join along!

 

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Doctors should be here to help, not stress

As those who have been following know, I've had some issues this past year with my neurologist. My lovely doctor of 10 years retired. The one who saw me at my worst. The one who diagnosed me. For ten years we worked on finding ways to thrive with my Ms and not suffer. We used nutrition, yoga, meditation, and more. We reduced stress from my life. It became a daily part of my life not much different than a diabetes managing their insulin. Managing the MS battery takes effort. The result: MS symptoms waning. So shouldn't this be a good thing?

I was referred to a neurologist upon her retirement. I attended her for three years but was getting frustrated at her inability to answer questions or to help me. She referred me to a neuromuscular specialist in her office and mind you, this was just last summer, I was told that their office didn't have my medical records from my diagnosing numerologist. Never could find them. So, this doctor had been treating me blindly for three years. No wonder she didn't know anything!

So another round of tests and MRIs to replace the ones that were lost and then lo and behold, my records were found! As soon as I went to yet another new neurologist thinking I would get some answers, they "found my records". It took two letters, at least six phone calls and two months for those records to make it to my house upon which I sent a copy to the new neurologist. This was twelve years of my history and I don't think he even read it. He reviewed a few charts at my last visit, laughed at me when I asked for my regular jury summons release and basically scooted me out the door in twenty minutes. With NO answers just more questions. He is not convinced its MS because I don't present as physically as others? Wtf? I look good, been taking care of myself, therefore I no longer am ill? What about my daily issues? Cognitive thinking, pain, fatigue, balance, vision?

I am so stressed by all of this. On top of it all he put down on my records that he thinks I'm bi-polar and have mental issues. Well, who the heck doesn't Have some mental issues with MS? It's an emotional roller coaster. Do these doctors know anything about MS? Who certifies these quacks and why do they even take patients if all they're going to do is run tests and laugh at you. I've never been so humiliated in my life. Between his visit and reading his notes I received yesterdefay, well, yes, today I may be bi polar! Crazy, mad, sad and depressed all at once. Funny thing is I felt fine before starting with this doctor. Here I thought he was going to be the answer. But FAIL!

Luckily I have a great Plan B. I got approval to see Dr. Weiner at USC and then I'll be joining a doctor down there that focuses on multiple sclerosis. Enough of these wack jobs.its just a matter of scheduling. At least it some peace of mind.

I have spent well over $2000 this year on doctor visits, MRIs and tests. Were they necessary? If the doctors had my medical history would they have needed to run all of these again?

Bottomline, good doctors should not be allowed to retire.

 

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