Clarifications

From a recent experience I had, I realized that I may be slightly misunderstood, so I want to clarify a few things, and the more I read and learn, the more my opinions change, so next month all might be different, but right now these are the things I want to comment on:

1) I am under the care of a medical doctor, a neurologist, and I am doing the things he tells me to do. I feel it is important to track my condition and have medical guidance in what I do.
At my last appointment he said, "What you are doing is working, keep it up!"

2) The neurologist is the one who told me not to take the drugs for MS, for the sake of my unborn, or in my case, un-conceived baby. This opened the door for me to look at more. No one could make me sit on may hands with my fingers crossed, hoping I would be ok while I waited. I have learned so much now and am doing so much that I feel if I am doing well and my yearly MRI's come back with no new lesions then I feel no need to start the $1000/mo. injections that even my neuro calls toxic, but they are not out of the question.

3) I feel strongly that anyone in any condition should do their own research and work together with their doctor to incorporate what they found. I mentioned vitamin D to my neuro and he said, "Yes! I just read a study on how high doses of vitamin D have reduced occurrences in MS. But because the ranges were so varied, 4,000IU to 20,000IU, I set it aside." Wow! Here is a simple way to help people with MS and because he didn't really understand it he set it aside. He was more than happy to assist me in using this therapy though, because I brought it up.

4) I do not eat completely raw. I experimented with this and I feel healthier because of it, but because I didn't like many of the recipes I felt there were holes in my diet. I love cooked broccoli, but not raw, so I cook it and enjoy it. Mostly I am eating whole foods, with as little additives as possible and avoiding foods I feel I am sensitive to (gluten and dairy are the two main ones).

5) Diet is not the only thing I am doing. I take several supplements that double-blind, medical studies have shown to help (omega-3 oils, vitamin D, specific antioxidants), and I am seeing a wellness doctor who is helping me with emotional freedom techniques (which I feel got me through my miscarriage), heavy metal detox and immune support supplements. Curtis doesn't believe in a lot of the alternative stuff Dr. Babcock uses, but he cannot deny the results. I feel like a new person compared to just a couple of months ago and Curtis can attest to this.

6) The doctor clarified, at my last appointment, that I have not actually been diagnosed with MS yet. I have to have a second episode for that definite diagnosis. Well, I'm not wait around for that. I am doing everything I can to never have another. But only time will tell. He said on average episodes happen every 18 months. It will be years before anyone who has MS knows if what they are doing really works.

I know I'm babbling on, sorry, one more.

7) This goes along with #3. Medications alone with not stop MS. The meds only slow it (if they do anything at all for some, besides cause horrible side affects). I met a woman at a park with two young children the same ages as mine. She was using a cane and struggling to maneuver over the wood chips and failing to keep up with her kids (I caught one from falling off the play structure for her, she just couldn't be there with them). I was pretty sure she had MS and decided to talk with her. She said she had been on Copaxone for 2 years and it has worked great for her. She only recently started using a cane. In my mind, an episode once in 2 years isn't far from the average 18 months without meds. I would not be satisfied with a therapy that after only two years left me using a cane, but surprisingly she was. I asked her if she had tried any alternative therapies, she had honestly never even heard of them.
On a more personal note, I give my aunt Wendy as an example. She did all her doctor said, used Avonex for years and as we speak hardly has the strength the lift a fork to her mouth. This is someone I love, who lived with us and close to us, who came to Sunday dinner when she could. I guess my point is THERE HAS TO BE MORE, more that I can do.

I hope to never turn down a chance to learn and grow. I love all your support and advise.

More of the Kids...

Pic at Dino Museum ($2 Tuesdays in August)

I know I have been a little "selfish" with my blogging, talking mostly about me and the dietary changes I have been making, so I need to post about my cute kids.

Audrey got into the preschool they have at the elementary school. She gets to ride the bus every day and loves it! Her friend Colton goes with her and if he is not on the bus she will not get on and instead cry for him. I guess she is a little scared to do it alone.

Nathan is talking more. He can repeat a lot of the things we say and even says I love you, but more like: I wuh woo! Everything he says is so sing songy. It is really cute. If you tell him to do something he'll say Why? and then after you tell him he will say Oh!. Whenever he finds a headband or necklace laying around, he puts it on and says, "Tute!" (cute) or "Diddy!" (pretty). We all get a kick out of that.

I have been feeling great. My energy has increased, I am thinking clearer, finishing projects and I can actually think ahead to prepare a tasty dehydrator snack. I am working on cinnamon almonds right now. Raw foods can taste good! Speaking of tasting good, I am still loving my green smoothies and am starting to experiment with them more. Today I put in a cucumber, 2 celery stalks, spinach, a banana and a handful of green grapes. Mmmm! If you don't believe me come on over and I'll make you one! =) It is exciting to be feeling so good.

In the Raw

As some of you may know, I am trying to eat mostly raw foods. I have read a lot about how this helps MS and many other health problems. It is the diet of Adam and Eve. It is a difficult transition, harder for Curtis than for me though. He doesn't have the motivation I have. He ate 6 donuts at work the other day, didn't even blink an eye or gain an ounce for that matter. He is really patient with me though. Sometimes I just don't have the energy to make two separate meals and he takes care of himself. He will usually take a bite of whatever I have made, say, "It's OK." and goes back to whatever he was eating. He is pretty brave considering his family background. His dad is a really picky eater because his mother would make 3 meals every night for dinner so everyone in his family would be happy.

I changed my diet a lot after marrying Curtis. It was a slow progression to mostly processed foods that he enjoyed. They were quick and easy and didn't take much thought. It took me gaining 70 lbs and being diagnosed with MS to wake up and realize what food can actually do to you. I heard a statistic once that said over 90% of disease is caused by lack of proper nutrition.

When we cook our food we not only kill the living enzymes that help our bodies to heal, but in most cases destroy the vitamins also. As a nation we are starved for nutrition. If you are what you eat, I want to be alive and well!

Where to start?
I have really enjoyed searching the internet for raw food groups, tips and recipes. There is so much out there! I enjoy these sites:
www.goneraw.com An online community with tons of recipes
www.greensmoothiegirl.com She has videos on youtube too and an easy start program you can purchase (but I have not).
www.livingmom.net She is actually living on a homestead in Texas trying to be completely self sufficient. I don't have the energy for that, but I enjoy her blogs.

I have also been sharing tips with my sister Becca, and visa vera. She has been eating similarly, but still eats a variety of whole grains.

I really want to help other people, but I always worry about others thinking that I am preaching or they think I am judging them or that I am just plain crazy. I just feel there is so much the general public doesn't understand, but how do I share without the fear of offending someone and having them turn their nose up at me or my food for that matter.

I think we can all benefit from getting a little more fresh food in our diets, I know I am extreme, but I feel I need to be. I think it is helpful to think of it this way: add fresh stuff and don't worry too much about not ever eating this or that. The more raw foods we add to our diets the healthier we will be. Just a thought.

Have a healthy, happy day!