Meditation benefits with or without Multiple Sclerosis

Meditation has been practised for thousands of years.  Which is why I thought I would at lest give it a try.  It is intend to alter our state of consciousness without using drugs.  It helps get the core to open the heart and develop a more stable balance and calmer mind.

It encourages and heightens state of awareness and focused attention. People use meditation in; religion, for spiritual  and therapeutic reasons. There are many types of meditation that can be practised with many health benefits.

Living today in our modern world with our hectic lifestyles our body is often in a chronic state of stress, giving our body the “fight or flight" response state within our nervous system.  over time, this dampens levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain, our “feel good” neurotransmitters. Low levels of these neurotransmitters are commonly associated with the loss of; pleasure, gastrointestinal issues, weakened immune systems, tension, anxiety and depression.

There are many types of meditation that is practised and are for different reasons.  Guided meditation is for the beginner and I find the easies to follow.  It is guided by voice talking to you you to where your thoughts and mind should focus on, as our minds have a tendency to wonder.  

The three most common guided meditation are: mindfulness, stress reduction and relaxation. Which you can find a short meditation is used at the end of most Yoga sessions, as Meditation and Yoga are often practised together. 

Stated from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society;  "The relaxing benefits of yoga may also help manage the unique challenges of MS, such as lying in an MRI machine for extended periods of time, receiving injections or infusions, staying calm during an exacerbation and focusing when meeting with your health care professionals."

It is also proven that yoga decreased fatigue and other medical conditions.  Reports say that they find improvements in anxiety, depression, fatigue, bladder function, pain, spasticity, weakness and walking. There personal reports and saying that yoga can help sexual function. For general health of people with or without Multiple Sclerosis, yoga may improve arthritis pain, reduce blood pressure, and promote weight loss. 

You can also find free meditation through a search on internet or any of these apps like; Facebook, Mindfulness, Headspace, YouTube and many more.

Have you tried Meditation?  How did it help you? I would love to hear your opinion below. 

Saying hello to 2017

As this year ends and a new year begins, I cross over this bridge. With every step, I will let the negative things flow down the stream.  Saying goodbye to 2016 and its events that carried me through this journey, leaving me with a strong positive mindset.  

With this MS journey of mine, I like many others with this disease have been struggling with depression. My depression was not just from my diagnosis of having this illness, has been from what the illness has done to me from my past relapses.  I often struggle off and on throughout the year. With the lack of sun in the winter months, it is important that I stay consistent with taking my Vitamin D. In my research, it is  repetitive in my findings within MS research sites, which states that with MS and taking this supplement, improves our health and helps diminishes some of the symptoms that we with MS often experience. Such as; Fatigue, Numbness, Tingling, Memory, dizziness, blurry vision, just to mention a few.

Some start the New Year with: "New Year, New me". For me, that saying is nothing but a load of crap!  I do, however, use this time of year to look back and measure how my disease is affecting my health,  my family, my over-all well-being and how it is affecting my life. How I can now improve things. 

Depression had been one of the things I have been struggling with this year.  Which is why I find I haven't been doing my blog posts.  Some of the MS symptoms I have been experiencing this past year has affected me not only emotionally but also physically. Keeping me closer to home.  I know these things usually pass just as many of the other symptoms have. It just seems that it affected me on a deeper level then the symptoms in the past have. 

Maybe, triggering the thoughts within me, telling me; "Yes girl, you really do have MS, now deal with it!" Now get out there and improve your life while you can. You face each day on a positive thought.  Physically do what you can to improve your health, because, you are the only one that can do it.  

No one can do it for you.

What is it you would like to improve this year? 

Let me know in the comments below. I would love to hear your feedback.

Sherry

* Please read ~ Disclaimer* 

MS Lesson: Put your needs first. Exercise and Stress.

I have been finding that just doing the normal routine things in life have been put to the back burner lately.  I really have been slacking and pushing things off to the last minute. Taking my meds, eating, brushing my teeth and even pushing myself to hold off to go to the bathroom, which, has had its consequences .   Life for me has been busy lately. Not to mention I haven't even thought about the stressful experience of having to go out Christmas shopping yet and its only a few weeks away!

I honestly have been trying to hold off of that holiday stress of the stores and aggressive grumpy people who I think have forgot what the true meaning of Christmas is. For me and my family, so much has changed and taken from us. From loosing so many that we love to me having Multiple Sclerosis, we have love the fact of just being together for a evening, meal and laughter at Christmas. 

Yes, my health is paying for my new habits of over scheduling my days and procrastination! My MS Monster has awoke and is actively playing around within my body like a puppet on a string. My mind can't seem to focus on one thing for very long and wonders off to never never land now and then.  Leaving me feel that I haven't accomplished much of anything that day. These types of days are very frustrating and disappointing.

Today, I look back  to see what I did that the times I felt better. Feeling happy , positive, more active, more alert more like the old me that could handle any unexpected situations that me be thrown in the mix.   I see these where the days and times that I put my needs first before I did anything that day. I got myself into a routine. I took my medications first, exercising of some kind, usually working up to an hour a day, ate and went off with my day. Made sure I ate healthier, fresh enriched foods that helped my body.  I put my healths needs first and had things planned out.

I was successful, much like this morning! Got up. rested, visited with my husband while we had a coffee together and ate.  I ate a banana, like most days, I try to eat something small before exercise. 

Take my pre-workout drink, I go walk or walk on the treadmill. Drink a post-workout drink, so I am not so sore the next day. 

I took my medications after a shower, got dressed as if I where going to go out and to some errands. Although today I didn't have plans to leave the house it seem to have set my day off on the right foot. Placing me in the right direction to have a successful day. This has been something I been striving for and will continue.

We all need to plan out our days by putting ourself first.  If we don't put our self and our needs first, we can't enjoy doing things and be there not only for ourselves but most important others.  I love helping my family and friends and it is most disappointing to me when I can't be there for them. I have learned I have to put myself first so I can be there for others.  

I also find by putting my need to exercise my body each day also helps me deal with not just everyday stress, but major stressors that can send us with Multiple Sclerosis, into a down word spiral. These are unwanted as it not only activates the MS Monster within but sends us into a relapse which can potentially leave us with permeant nerve damage or disabilities. 

It IS NOT a selfish act to put your needs first.  For me that has been a hard lesson to learn; You must put yourself first, so you can live as the happy and fulfilled person you are meant to be.

I would love to hear how you have benefitted by putting your needs to fit exercise into your daily routine.

MSandLivingLife

Focus on Progress not Perfection

Slow and Steady wins the race..

I am definitely not on the road I had planned out originally but I have learned that we need to lessen our loads that society makes us feel we should live up to.  Looking back I have learned to be more flexible on how I get things done and the time it takes me. Not to put so much emphasis on the small details of things as it only causes disappointments.


Being diagnosed with a chronic illness with no cure like MS, makes you realize you have absolutely no control over some of the things that happen in our lives.  However, we can choose how we are going to deal with it. Having this kind of diagnosis at a time in my life where I was crossing the finishing line of better health and wellness, showed me how we can get blindsided, turning our lives into turmoil.


I have never gave up on my journey.  I found the journey just showed me that perfection of what I looked like, wasn't a priority anymore.  Even though I sometimes have to modify workouts and laid out my days out accordingly to how I feel. It has taught me that maybe I was just competing with myself to start with!


Learning that fitness is a big influence on controlling many health issues. I have had to except  my fitness  levels and activities as they differ each year or season.  Using that as a measurement of where I stand, seems to put less emphasis on its' disappointments and more on what I actually achieve. I see that my new approach to making the most out of life has less affects on debilitating me in my tracks. I admit, it's not always easy to pick out the positives affects that has guided many of us through such devastating times.

We become unhappy and feel as though we are dying due to lack of moving forward. Not spending time dwelling on the negative repercussions, it allows you to live in the moment and look forward to tomorrow. If you focus more on the good things that are happening, more good things seem to show up. 

Training ourselves to thing positive is like a muscle, the more you work it the easier it becomes.

Opening yourself up to this positive way of thinking allows you to not only progress but, enjoy what you have achieved.  It really does back up the belief; "Everything happens for a reason in its own time."  I am amazed at the new doors that have opened for me to help others see a new look on their own lives just by me sharing the things I have learned. 

So.... Yes, I do see what I have lost down this long dark road with with a chronic illness with mountains I thought I would never get over. However, the most important thing is what I have learned and I wouldn't be who I am today, if this road wasn't taken. It really is about what progress I am making and not so much on trying to make things perfect.

"So, Strive for Progress, Not Perfection!"

Do you focus on perfecting everything you do or do look forward in the progress you gain?  I would love to hear how you focus on progress in the comments below.

Leaving you today with positive approach....

#MS #fitness #positive #MSLife

Health Update…a MS monster is blindfolded.

It is now 5 years since my diagnoses or Multiple Sclerosis, MS.  My treatment, each day I self inject a needle to help control the damage that can be done if or while I have a relapse.  The damage is unseen to the eye but is seen through an MRI.  When looking at the MRI, they look at many factors and previous damage the daise had done to my brain or spinal cord, which, these are called lesions  which apparently look similar to tumours.  They compare the current images to previous images,and measure lesions to determine if these are; growing, multiplying, shrinking or can test to see if they are active.  

Growing or multiplying means the disease is causing damage done to the body, which usually the inject a die to see if it is active.  Shrinking….. well, most doctors don’t believe it is something that happens, but have heard of it over the internet boards. .

Well, it has been confirmed that did have two relapses this past winter by my specialist, however the MRI that I did have last month showed them that they where pseudo relapses. Thus, meaning that I am going through the motions of a relapse but it isn’t doing any permeant damage to my body. In other words it is not progressing!  Good news! The injections are doing their job!  

Even though the motions of the MS Relapses is not only tiresome but also; draining.  Often, getting vertigo, feeling extreme fatigue, confusion, pain, brain fog…. numbness, lack of coordination anxiety, and depression.  Often causes loss of; memory, vision, body functions and ability to move one or more of your limbs. Not only this but we tend to become house bound and withdrawal from society, friends and family. Sometimes, others do not understand our withdrawals and take it personally. 

This experience can  be extremely scary not knowing if these functions will partially return or fully return back to normal. These bouts of attacks, on our brain and spinal cord, can last from days to a week to even months at a time. Only with it “the Monsters’ ” choosing, of what it wants us to loose and for how long. Which is why I call it the Monster within.  No one can see what we are experiencing but can only notice some of its  side affects it does to our functions.  When the Monster decides to lay still, only then will we gain our abilities and functions.  

If the monster manages to get through and cause permeant damage to our nerves, chances are we may never get it back.  Even though the brain is capable of redirecting signals  by making new connections, the spinal cord can not.  

I hope this helps others understand a little more about MS, Multiple Sclerosis. I will not give this monster a NAME, as it gives him too much time, energy and attention it doesn’t deserve.

Wishing you good health… and happiness.

Image from   http://www.viewphotos.org/canada/images-of-Guelph-178.html

Photos Blindfolded bear near Guelph, Ontario, by author copyright Marilyn Whiteley

Extreme Emotions with MS ❤

Recently I have been absent from social media, not because I was wanting to but I have been playing  my own super hero personality, my MS Warrior with fighting another flue bug.  This time a bad sinus cold which had turned into an infection.  Not just in my sinuses I have left it and it went into my inter ears as well. 

Normally, for people who do not have MS, you would go to the doctor and they would give you some type of antibiotic to clear up the infection and you would rest and get better.  Well those of us with MS, well its a little more complicated.  Not only do we go through this process but, in addition, the infection wakens the MS Monster within us with vengeance! Fighting with the force that can through us into a s flare-up or even a relapse.  Relapses can be so severe that can possibly cause us permeant damage.

Our immune system is already fighting and eating away at our good cells and tissues. Once the immune system realizes their is an infection it kick in to a higher gear eating away all cells good and causing us to have a flare up. Meaning the immune is attacking everything in our bodes and our symptoms become active announces its presents physically and mentally. At this time, this is not only felt by us but seen the affects to others by looking upon us.  Slurring speech, dizziness= staggering or bumping into things, memory loss, not able to carry on a conversation, become very weak. Not only do I experience this but I get a brain ache. Yes, it isn’t a headache.  our hearing and vision either diminishes or becomes oversensitive.  I also could hear my eyes blinking in my interear. Similar to hearing your heart beat when you have a high fever.

A few days into my antibiotics, thinking I was getting somewhat better and needed to get outside for some fresh air, I decided to wander down the street to my youngest sons house. If I needed a ride home, I know he, our family and his friends where there and knew they would drive me home. 

I was pleasantly greeted by my granddaughter, Ashley, almost 2 years old now.  She was running toward me as I walked slowly up their drive as she yelled; “Nanna! Nanna! Nanna! Nanna here!” Which made the short journey worth while, just to experience that and a big hug from her as we met. 

We ventured to the back of the house to join everyone talking and visiting.  Within a short time I was feeling over whelmed, and felt an unexplained urge to cry. What the heck is going on I thought, as I was trying to hold it back.  

Within moments my husband asked me if I was alright, explaining I didn’t look well.  I said I don’t know.  Think maybe I need to go home….. and I started uncontrollably started to cry.  Everyone became quiet and turned to look at me .  I said I don’t know whats going on? … 

I don’t know why I am crying? …. I can’t help it!! I don’t know whats going on??? and i cried more!!! 

Extreme Emotions and MS

Everyone looked at me wondering what the heck was wrong with me? You could see the look on their faces. I could feel and read their thoughts; "Everyones enjoying themselves and she’s crying? What the hell?”

I quickly through my hands in the air and explained it must be my MS because of my flare up, I don’t know why I am crying? I am happy to be here? Ashley just made my day.  I am so thankful I could walk here, its not that far but…….Its got to be my MS cause I have done this laughing too? Sorry for crying I explained, the uncontrollable laughing is more inlighting and funny to see!! 

My son, the clown he can be, and caring for me, starts walking over to me.  As he hugs me he says; “ Aw, Mom, we all love you, you don’t have to cry, we understand, your just so happy to be with us!”  and laughs braking the ice.  Everyone starts laughing!  I begin to laugh and cry at the same time….quickly everyone started in too.  Oh, how I am thankful my son has a nack to make an embarrassing moment something to laugh about. 

Looking back, I choose to see how this as benefited not only me but those around me.  Even thought they don’t always see what the MS Monster is doing to me, they can gain some understanding of what I am going through.

This will became one of my great memories.  Similar to the time we where at a funeral for an older family friend. Right in the middle the eulogy of a well known, respected community member of our small town, I broke out laughing and couldn’t stop! People looked on with discuss and some with humour. Some began to giggle. 

Later the family asked with curiosity, what I was laughing about?  I was very embarrassed. I explained that another friend had called us and had somehow locked himself in his garage and we had for got to go let him out.  It really wasn’t that funny.  But now, looking back on it, as it was before I found out I had MS, it was a sign,  or a symptom of Multiple Sclerosis.  

And, just maybe our friend who passed, wanted to give his family something to laugh about at their sad time?

I never really thought too much about these extreme emotional outbreaks I would have, until after my diagnosis.  The news of my diagnosis up set many in our small community. So much so some would later come visit me and offer their help if I ever needed it.  Remembering one supply teacher I had in grade school.  She had taken over the class when my teacher had to take a leave of absence do to an MS Relapse.  She explained to me she now understood my emotional laughing out breaks I would have in class.   I don’t remember doing this, but do remember I tried to be the clown in the class so I could get out of doing some of my work.  Not understanding why I was doing so good in school one day and the next I couldn’t read and had to relearn!   

So, sometimes as playing super hero and playing an MS Warrior with this Multiple Sclerosis monster, we can not control the things the monster triggers within us, but we can turn the experiences into something positive and allow us to laugh at it.  By choosing to see the positive from my experiences, I believe it helps me realize so many blessings I have in my life.  It helps me realize how important it is to look after my health; distressing, getting enough sleep, eating healthy and getting the right amount of exercise is important. But a Must! 

I am learning my health must come first ,above and before all other things , to keep me healthy.

I thank you for taking the time to read about my experiences. 

With all my love, MS and Living Life.

You can live a positive life with MS!

I believe you can live your life with Multiple Sclerosis with a positive attitude.  My experience is when I am positive things go better.  Just think about research.    We need to educate people to let them know MS is manageable!

As yourself; Would more money be given when you put out a positive look on life and how you manage it?  

Winter is a gift from God for us with MS, Multiple Sclerosis.

Day 4 of my fitness journey I Nailed T25 Ab Intervals. It was tough but P90X3 The Challenge was even tougher! Wow!  I was really amazed with this workout.  

I am feeling stronger.  My legs are feeling not only stronger but toned.  My jeans feel like they are fitting different.  Funny how when you get yourself back into a fitness routine you feel yourself walk different.  Like I felt today when I was out, I am starting to carry myself different. I know it has only been 4 days of pushing play but I am on a roll and it is becoming a part of my morning routine.  Just want I it!  I need this!  I need this constancy to help gain strength on this hidden beast in side me.  I was somewhat disappointed in myself for not completing the P90X3 Challenge workout.  I need to listen to my body and I know with my back being as sore as it has been the last couple of days, this workout, working the back, would not be good.  I did however burn 261 calories in my Focus T25 Ab Interval workout, so it wasn’t like I didn’t workout at all.  Plus, I have been pushing myself to complete two workouts the last 4 days.  Cutting back isn’t going to be a set back. I did however feel totally exhausted this afternoon and when I laid down for a rest, I woke a hour and a half later.  So, my body was needing this to repair and recharge.

This disease is a constant fight not only mentally but physically. I will do this!  I had lost 70 lbs, and it is creeping back on, but not for long!! Winter is a gift for us with MS and I am going to take full advantage of it while to goings good.

                

I am on a roll! Workout Check In

Day 3; Think I am on a roll here with my Winter T25, P90X3 Challenge to better health! 

Well I must say today I was pumped to press play, impressed that both Focus T25 & P90X3 actually worked together today on our calendar ! T25 being Total Body Circuit, being cardio and P90X3 was X3Yoga. 

Being the first time I did Focus T25 Total Body Circuit, I think I did fairly well. I struggled to keep up with the modifier, although I pushed myself, and thought Shaun T was tying to give me a heart-attack! Looking at my Hart rate monitor and knowing how I was feeling, I am thinking I may need new batteries in this technology gadget !  It was tough! I had to stop a couple times to pull myself together as I thought I was going to puke. LOL 

I am thinking maybe I had too much in my stomach to do a workout?  I had a cup of Green Tea when I got up followed my 1/2 of a banana with my P90XE&E ( Energy and Endurance). Or maybe I just pushed myself too hard? But,, when I to came to doing my P90X3, X3Yoga I was looking forward to it.

This being he second time in doing the X3Yoga, I was ready for the moves and it did make it easier to move on to the next pose with Tony Horton. I feel he has really done a great job with this program so far.  I am impressed with how he keeps me going and moving even by modifying. Normally in the past doing Yoga was a problem for my MS.  I find Tony doesn't stay to long in one pose without moving on to another. Which is great for me, as I feel, I don't over stretch my muscles and I haven't gotten spasticity in either times I have done this Yoga Workout. Any other time I have tried Yoga my muscles throughout my body shake uncontrollably.

In general, I feel I did pretty good today.  On top of it all, I burned 434 calories within my workouts today! Yay me! 

Does your life depend on it?

Today having more energy then I have had in sometime and am so excited.  I feel my Fatigue Management approach is actually starting to over power this Monster. I always get disappointed when I know I'm loosing my battle and my physical/mental abilities has been compromised and fatigue has set in. In knowing the difficult climb I am in for to regain my stamina and strength.

I love this motivational picture.  As I do believe; "My Life Depends On staying active."  Within the last 3 years of this chronic illness I am finding summer feeds this monster and slowly Creeps out from his box.  This last two years I find by pushing myself with slow intervals of physical activity helps me gain control of this illness with on and off battles throughout the seasons. But with each time, it seems not only to be harder physically but quicker to regain myself.

Starting to become active, is a challenge for the average person but even more so when you have the MSMonster fighting against you along the way.  

What it is like to fight MS? 
My battle with it as I call it; "My Monster in the Box! "

Visualize a big hairy monster (Giant like, like in the movies). Now visualize yourself, wrestling that huge strong beast and trying to place him in a steel cage or box....by yourself.  With thing but your own body and strength. 

That is my experience and struggle with this beast within,  adding this over powering fatigue that over whelms those of us with MS. 

I fight this monster with exercise and a plant basted diet. I start with walking and work my way up to more challenging activities. I do push myself to exercise just like the fitness gruo' out there. However, that monster knocks be down when I have pushed my body to far.  He then show’s himself setting me back, sometimes back to the start. 

I believe that I am doing this for My Life Depends On It. To fight back and stay active. My quality of life.  I refuse to use a wheel chair and pray that I will never have to…. But if I do, you can bet, I will be fighting to get out of that thing and walk again.