BABY, It’s Cold Outside!!!!

Can any extreme temperatures cause an MS flare-up? I’m not sure where you’re located, but we’re now in fall but it feels like winter mode for me here in Chicago. That means hat, gloves, scarves, ear muffs, snow pants, boots, you know, anything to beat the extreme cold. “BRRRR, I’m Freezing,” seems to be my go-to words for the past month and will continue until April. For anyone that knows me, Yes, comparisons of Chicago and Antarctica are definitely on my mind!

Were you one of the millions of MS sufferers who were counting down the days for cooler weather?  Me too! Yes, heat and humidity can be very disruptive and cause minor, temporary flare-ups of our MS symptoms during the summer months, but did you know some people also have challenges during the winter months? It’s less common, but still can affect those of us with MS? And here’s another fact, unfortunately some people are affected by both hot and cold. If this is you, I’m sorry that you’re not getting a reprieve.

Many people report worsening of symptoms just as much in the coldest part of winter as they do in the hottest months of summer!  You might be wondering since we can use ice, cold showers, cold compresses or cooling vests to cool down during the summer, why would the cold negatively affect us now, why is this different? The truth is that any drastic changes in temperature either hot or cold can have a negative impact on MS sufferers.

 Things you may experience due to the Cold:

• Fatigue
• Spasms
• Joint and muscle pain
• Muscle stiffness
• Balance issues
• Numbness and tingling
• Depression

The good news is, just like in summer months, there are things we can do to protect ourselves against the cold.

Make sure your house is properly insulated, check around doors and windows for any pesky drafts, there are plenty of low-cost ways to seal them.  While you’re in, you can use a heating pad, blankets, extra clothing. Some people find warm showers or baths may relieve some of the stiffness, aches, and pains. (Be careful to not become overheated!) You can also warm up with a nice cup of soup, tea or coffee.

If you have to be out in the elements, try layering clothing to keep heat from escaping, protect your head and use hand or feet warmers. Also be sure to use any walking devices or aides to help you outside when your muscles can become stiff or slow to respond. Just like the summer months, it’s very important to stay hydrated, make sure to continue drinking enough water, people tend to think just because it’s cold outside you can’t become dehydrated. Dehydration can also cause or complicate many of the above symptoms.

As I’ve said before, our minds are extremely powerful and I’d like to say it’s as easy as thinking Warm thoughts of summer to beat the cold, but your best line of defense is to be prepared for the elements, listen to your body, and seek assistance if needed.  You can learn more about MS in All About MS and Resources section to help you on your journey! You can check out my new book “Waking Up From MS, My Journey to Health, Healing and Living Symptom Free. It details my almost 30 year journey living with and beating MS.

If you have found this article helpful please share. As always, I look forward to and appreciate your feedback!

To our health!

Kellie

If you want to learn more about natural, healthy CBD products visit:  www.successwithnewyou.com 

If you want to learn more about the BEST CBD products to help you on your own journey with MS visit: www.successwithnewyou.com 

You can also follow me on twitter @kelliealderton or my FB page Waking Up From MS where I share insights and information for everyone dealing with MS.

You can also listen to my radio show on http://radio.msgsn.com/ – “Live in Hope, Focus on Healing” – every Sunday at 3:30pm, est

Is there a direct link with Air Pollution and Multiple Sclerosis?

Can Air Pollution cause MS or cause our flare-ups?

I’ve lived with MS for almost 30 years and as many of my fellow MS sufferers, I’m always looking at ways to lessen exposures to toxins, what can cause exacerbations, or what might be at the root cause of this life changing disease.  One thing I’ve studied for many years is indoor air quality and products that could help me achieve clean air in different environments. Anyone wanting a healthier life must also be mindful of what we breathe. The air outside and indoors is packed with harmful toxins and chemicals that can affect our health, our central nervous system, and especially our MS.

A report from the Journal of Toxicology in 2012,  showed that Air pollution can affect the central nervous system and can damage brain structures or lead to a predisposition to neurological diseases. With air pollution, there is a direct attack on our Central Nervous System and that can start the demyelinating process. As any MS sufferer knows, when the myelin is broken down and stripped away, we have challenges like Multiple Sclerosis. You can investigate all about MS, it’s signs, and symptoms here.

Air pollution should be a major concern for everyone.  There are many industries at fault for polluting the air – think about the companies with big smokestacks pouring polluted air out over the skyline on a daily basis, we see all the cars and trucks on the roads. There’s radon, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), we even have air pollution from chemical pesticides like Roundup – from the ever dangerous Monsanto – being used on a daily basis that is causing many of our air quality issues.

Yes, Outdoor air pollution is a major health concern, but an even bigger concern for us is our indoor air quality.  The EPA estimated that we spend about 90% of our time indoors (think about the kids playing video games, being on the computer, everyone is on their phones, watching more tv – like no other time in history.) Indoor air quality can be up to 5 times more harmful than outdoor air due to mold, mildew, dust mites, off-gassing from paints, carpets, wood floors, granite countertops, furniture made from pressed or particle board,  radon,  air fresheners, candles, laundry detergent, fabric softeners and sheets, household chemicals and cleaning agents, even personal care products.  Homes are built so efficiently now that they trap all the chemicals inside, so there’s no escaping the constant bombardment of these toxins.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) indoor air pollution and air quality are listed as two of the world’s worst toxic pollution problems.  In 2014 air pollution caused the deaths of around 7 million people worldwide. People of all ages living in high pollution areas are at increased risk of different neurological disorders.  Again, Air pollution is known to cause damage to the Central Nervous System by altering the blood-brain barrier and can start the demyelinating process.

The good news is that we can protect ourselves from many forms of Air Pollution: 

1 – Get a whole-home air purifier.  I’ve been using an air purifier since 2001. I also use one when I travel, for the car, on airplanes and especially in hotel rooms.

2 – Use a HEPA vacuum cleaner that will prevent the spreading of pollutants each time you vacuum – (which needs to be on a regular basis to also help your air quality.)

2 – Use organic or all natural cleaning products.

3 – Use Low VOC or no VOC paints.

4 – Use organic personal care items like shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, lotion, deodorant.

4 – Buy Air purifying plants – According to NASA – Bamboo Palm, English Ivy, Gerber Daisy, Snake Plant, Chrysanthemum, Ficus, Azalea, Aloe Vera, Philodendron.

5 – Change Heating and Air conditioning filters frequently.

6 – Stop smoking and don’t allow smoking around you or in your home/car.

7 – Stop using aerosol sprays.

8 – Air out clothing received from dry cleaners.    

When I started on my journey to beat MS in 2001, I looked at the body as a whole. We must look at what we breathe, what we eat, what we absorb, even how we think. The mind, body, spirit connection to our healing is key. Thre isn’t one specific thing that gave us MS and we must look at a culmination of different ideas and techniques for us to heal.  Air quality if one part of our health that we must understand in order to focus on lessening our toxic load in our air to help our immune system, our central nervous system, and inevitably our MS.

Decide what ways you’re going to start cleaning up your air now so you and your family can breathe easy!

If you’re looking for more holistic and natural ways to beat your MS, you’ll want to check out my book “Waking Up From MS – My Journey to Health, Healing, and Living Symptom-Free.” It details my almost 30-year journey with MS and how I am now healthy, strong and symptom-free!

To our health!

Kellie Alderton

If you want to learn more about natural, healthy CBD products visit:  www.successwithnewyou.com 

If you want to learn more about healthy living and green technologies, check out my products page at www.myvollara.com/kga

You can also follow me on twitter @kelliealderton or my FB page Waking Up From MS where I share insights and information for everyone dealing with MS.

If you can’t stand the HEAT – Get out of the….

Although I’d like to say for us MSers that taking care of any heat issues we have during the summer months is as easy as staying out of the kitchen, that, of course, is not the issue. Many people talk about summer fun, hanging outside all day in the heat and sun while they happily get that baked to a crisp tan.  However, for people living with MS, we have a totally different position on the heat! In fact, anyone with Multiple Sclerosis that hears that single word “HEAT” could become anxious due to challenges the HEAT can pose for us.

Yes, preparing for the HEAT is serious business!

Truth be told, many of us begin in the winter months preparing for the summer! Yes, you read that correctly, in the dead of winter, we can start preparing for the upcoming summer. We focus on making sure the air conditioner is in tip-top shape, window treatments give maximum protection from the elements, we get cooling vests, head protection, travel to cooler climates and anything else we can do to make sure we are staying cool.

How do we deal with MS during the summer months?

I was always mindful of the heat. My MS Story may not be different than yours as heat intolerance was always the one thing that seemed to get me, that was before I became symptom-free. My head use to feel like it was baking…literally from the inside out, I would feel tingling, even some numbness. So I understand first hand why this is one topic that we need to not only prepare for, but share the info so others do not have to suffer!

Things you may experience when you are suffering from Heat Exposure:

1 – Dizziness

2 – Immediate onset of fatigue – (Almost as though somebody burst your energy bubble)

3 – Blurred Vision

4 – Shakiness or Tremors

5 – Numbness and tingling in limbs

6 – Decrease in your cognitive function (You knew you were smarter or more clear-headed before you got into that sun, sauna, or hot shower, right?)

An interesting fact about the heat and Multiple Sclerosis is that yes, it can cause us to have symptoms that either appear or start to get worse during heat exposure. It does not cause any long-term inflammation or lesions which is great news, but we still need to think about ways to stay cool and get over the immediate effects of the heat. And for most people, once they are removed from the heat their body will return to how they felt before going out in the elements.

Some “COOL” ways to beat the HEAT:  

1 – Air conditioning.

2 – Cooling Products – You can Google it, there are dozens to choose from. There are also things you can do – soak a sponge in water, freeze and then put in a freezer bag, this stays cool for a long time and is very inexpensive. Get a cooling towel or cooling wrist bands. Contact the MS Society they have cooling programs in place too.

3 – Get into a cool bath/shower, swimming pool, or if you’re lucky enough to be by a lake or ocean – jump on in.

4 – Misting Fans.

5 – Stay hydrated by drinking cool beverages – obviously water is the best choice. This will go to your core and immediately go to work on lowering your overall temperature.

6 – Keep covered when in the sun. By wearing a hat during the summer (before I was symptom-free) it gave me more time to be outside before the heat would affect me.

7 – Eat foods that are cool – fruits, veggies, salads. Healthy icees made from real food, not stuff packed with sugar (that can also cause fatigue).

8 – If exercising in the summer, workout later in the evening or earlier in the morning – making sure to stay hydrated.

I would like to say it’s as easy as thinking cool thoughts, but the best thing you can do to beat the heat is by staying prepared at all times and really listen to your body! 

Now, I do recommend that we get outside in the sun each morning, if possible, for 10-20 minutes to get the Vitamin D benefits from the sun.  It’s important to optimize our Vitamin D levels to stop inflammation, build our immunity, fight flare-ups and it can even keep us from having further issues with MS.

The good news is you can still have an enjoyable summer, even with the HEAT, if you stay prepared!

If you’d like to learn ways to deal with your MS in more natural and holistic ways, check out my book “Waking Up From MS – My Journey to Health, Healing, and Living Symptom-Free.” It is a roadmap to all the things I’ve done to become healthy and symptom-free on my over 30-year journey living with MS. If you want to learn more about my decision to add CBD to my healthy lifestyle and why it’s an important supplement for any person living with MS, please reach out to me or visit: www.successwithnewyou.com.

To Our Health!

Kellie Alderton

You can also follow me on my FB page Waking Up From MS where I share insights and information for everyone dealing with MS.

If you want to learn more about the BEST CBD products to help you on your own journey with MS visit: www.successwithnewyou.com 

Multiple Sclerosis can be a scary and unpredictable journey.  There are many trials and tribulations for each of us affected with this disease. After living with MS for many years with little hope of being truly healthy, my eyes and mind were open to the possibility of a total transformation of not only my health, but in every way I thought about MS.

It’s with excitement, gratitude, and humility I am happy to announce that my book “Waking Up from MS – My Journey to Health, Healing and Living Symptom Free” is finally available on Amazon.

This book details my almost 30-year journey with Multiple Sclerosis from my diagnosis at the age of 17 to now living symptom free at the age of 46.

This is more than a book about MS, it’s a book about how the mind, body, and spirit are connected and how we must focus on each area if we want to be truly healthy, whether you are living with a condition like MS or not.

My book covers holistic and alternative therapies that I used every day to heal my body. I want my book to take you on your own journey. I want it to be thought provoking and inspiring for everyone who reads it.

Please share with your MS family and friends or their caretakers!  

To our health!

Kellie Alderton 

#wakingupfromms

If you want to learn more about healthy living and green technologies, check out my products page at www.myvollara.com/kga

You can also follow me on twitter @kelliealderton or my FB page Waking Up From MS where I share insights and information for everyone dealing with MS.

Vitamin D – Is it the Multiple Sclerosis Miracle?

Vitamin D may be one of the most important nutrients to heal our bodies, not just from auto immune issues like Multiple Sclerosis but even cancers. Vitamin D deficiencies run rampant now – especially in Americans. It’s interesting that Auto Immune diseases, illness and cancers do too. Vitamin D levels are steadily declining, specifically in the U.S., as children and adults spend less time outdoors.

Studies conducted by researchers at the University of Oxford and another conducted at the New Jersey Medical School and even the Mayo Clinic have suggested that maintaining adequate levels of Vitamin D may have a protective effect and lower the risk of developing Multiple Sclerosis. Vitamin D may even lessen the frequency and severity of our MS Symptoms. When you’re having an exacerbation, your Vitamin D levels may be almost non-existent! Of course more research is needed to assess these findings, but I believe what’s been revealed is groundbreaking and as research continues around the world I grow more hopeful and optimistic each and every day about its benefits to the MS community! When Vitamin D levels are optimized it may help prevent many types of Cancers,  Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes,  Osteoporosis, Infections, Rheumatoid Arthritis. Any doctor can order a Vitamin D level test and it’s important to find out where you are currently so that you have a reference point in tracking your levels. Screening for vitamin D deficiency is especially important for African-Americans and other ethnic groups with dark skin, due to the decreased natural production of Vitamin D from sun exposure.

The link between Vitamin D and MS is strengthened by the association between sunlight and the risk of MS. The farther away we are from the equator, the higher the risk of MS. Sunlight is the body’s most efficient source of Vitamin D. An effective way to get your D levels up is spending 10-15 minutes a day (mornings are best) in direct sunlight with the least amount of clothing on.  The more skin exposure the more D that is produced. Don’t worry about staying out longer thinking that you’ll get more D, that’s not how the body works.

Supplementing your Vitamin D is very important and can be a great benefit. The Mayo Clinic and even in Swedish studies they’ve shown that the recommended daily allowances are nowhere near the levels we need if we are to combat Multiple Sclerosis and other illnesses. I take 8000 IU’s a day of Vitamin D3 with K2. During the summer months, I take 4000 IU’s. You can also do your own research at the Mayo Clinic website as they have a reference guide for Vitamin D dosing correlated to your specific disease or symptoms. (As always talk with your trusted health care provider before starting any type of supplement.)

The more I research, the more amazed I become! This is just the tip of the iceberg as to how AWESOME Vitamin D is for our bodies, our immune systems, and especially our Multiple Sclerosis!

To Our Health!

Kellie

If you want to learn more about healthy living and green technologies, check out my products page at www.myvollara.com/kga

You can also follow me on twitter @kelliealderton or my FB page Waking Up From MS where I share insights and information for everyone dealing with MS.

My heart is heavy today as I write my second official Blog post!  Sometimes It’s hard to decide what to write, I mean, I want to share so much information that I’ve learned over these last 25 years dealing with this disease from being a teenager, to an adult, to a parent living with this chronic condition, it’s clear now why I was waiting on what to write.

I received a text from one of my best friends yesterday, “I NEED TO TALK WITH YOU NOW”! My stomach dropped when I saw the text and I ran to find my headset and phone to call him back. He began to tell me of a young lady, a wife, a mom of 2 young children who was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.   I was anxious to talk with her to offer some support and HOPE! I know how scary it is when you have Multiple Sclerosis, the uncertainty of the disease course, the uncertainty of the future and how it will affect not only you, but your family.

Unfortunately, this was not going to be that type of call – He told me that she had committed suicide. My heart sank, I couldn’t believe my ears. I said Oh, No, what happened? I learned she was experiencing terrible headaches, pain at the base of her neck, chronic fatigue and had Optic Neuritis. Wow, Those are the same things I was experiencing when I was diagnosed 29 years ago. She was told by a doctor that she would probably have only 4 years to live…..Obviously, that was a ridiculous, inaccurate diagnosis, irresponsible and just plain inhumane.  I was told she was sitting at the computer investigating day and night about MS and was terrified by what she saw!

Please, Please, Please – know this – Multiple Sclerosis is not a death sentence. You can have a productive and good quality of life too. Yes, Multiple Sclerosis is a sporadic and ever changing disease, but there are plenty of options for all of us. We have the top minds in research, medicine, and alternatives working for us for a cure! THERE IS HOPE! I honestly wish I could talk with each person suffering and struggling with MS. Maybe we can devise a plan of attack, maybe we could just chat, and maybe they would understand they are not alone.

I am thoroughly upset by what happened to this poor woman, what if I could have talked to her, what if we could have gotten her some professional mental help, what if we could have gotten her to a local support group or even in one of these amazing Facebook groups we are a part of?

If you’re looking for more holistic and natural ways to beat your MS, you’ll want to check out my book “Waking Up From MS – My Journey to Health, Healing, and Living Symptom-Free.” It details my almost 30-year journey with MS and how I am now healthy, strong and symptom-free!

If you know someone struggling right now or if you are that person – Please reach out to someone!  YOU are not Alone! There is HOPE!

Your life is important!  You are important! Don’t let MS define you!

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255

National Crisis Hotline – 1-800-784-2433

www.mssociety.org – 1-800-344-4867 – “Knowledge is power section”  for newly diagnosed MS sufferers

To our health!

Kellie

If you want to learn more about healthy living and green technologies, check out my products page at www.myvollara.com/kga

You can also follow me on twitter @kelliealderton or my FB page Waking Up From MS where I share insights and information for everyone dealing with MS.

Can we beat Multiple Sclerosis?

If you look to traditional medicine for that answer that would be a resounding and absolute “NO!” We’re told once you have MS you always have MS and we sit and wait for the next exacerbation, we live flare up to the next flare up. That’s how our lives are defined, by the medical community anyway. The medical community also tells us that MS has a mind of its own, almost taking away any chance of us being able to do anything to stop or slow its progression. I totally disagree with that whole scenario. There is far too much information out there to help us start feeling better. We must open our eyes and take control of our health.

I’ve been dealing with MS for over 29 years – Yes,  this is my 29th year of living with this disease and I’m shocked at how some in the medical field will still say that there is nothing we can do to be healthy. They will tell us there is no “proof” that anything other than disease modifying drugs can help us. I’m sorry that’s just not true, I am living proof of that and there is far too much evidence to contradict that statement!

We know that some people with cancer, for example, would be considered “cured” if they didn’t have a relapse after 5 years. So why then is Multiple Sclerosis considered differently? Let’s say someone commits to changing their diet, they exercise, they change environmental factors, they look at their relationships, they look at healing the “whole” body?  What if we go for 2 years without a flare-up, what about 4 years without a flare-up, what about 6 years?

Can we ever say we are recovered or cured of Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple Sclerosis is very much an individual thing, but what if we take the 5, 6 or  10-year mark, relapse free, would that signify recovery? Think about it, what if we all strived to hit that milestone? If we stayed on the path to heal our immune systems, heal our bodies from whatever has thrown it off track to the point that we have an MS diagnosis. What if we stay focused on recovery and being positive  – wouldn’t there be so much to gain by considering we are recovered or healed or cured? How much HOPE would that give people to think this is not a “Life Sentence?”

I caution you, in this process, we cannot worry about every little symptom that may arise from our MS. This means do not think every challenge or twitch or flutter means a full blown exacerbation, possible hospitalization or even full disability. Our minds are so very powerful, as anyone with Multiple Sclerosis knows, in fact, many doctors will not want us to focus too much on what COULD happen or MIGHT happen because we will often times start to manifest those exact symptoms! YES, OUR MINDS ARE THAT POWERFUL. Instead, I say each of us should look at our lifestyles, what’s working, what’s not and do everything possible to target becoming healthy, heal our body, heal our immune systems, and just being happy!

I turned around my whole disease and am now living symptom-free, healthy and strong. I supplement, eat a healthy diet, exercise, do alternative therapies – chiropractic care, massage, acupuncture, meditation, dry brushing, earthing, juicing, healing relationships and making sure I laugh a lot!

We must take things in stride and put all our attention on our quality of life. This is a lifestyle, not a quick fix!

We can do it!

If you’re looking for more holistic and natural ways to beat your MS, you’ll want to check out my book “Waking Up From MS – My Journey to Health, Healing, and Living Symptom-Free.” It details my almost 30-year journey with MS and how I am now healthy, strong and symptom-free!

To our Health!

Kellie Alderton

If you want to learn more about healthy living and green technologies, check out my products page at www.myvollara.com/kga

You can also follow me on twitter @kelliealderton or my FB page Waking Up From MS where I share insights and information for everyone dealing with MS.