by Judith Norris

Sixty Year Survivor’s Story

Do you know anyone who has lived with MS for over thirty years?

Or longer?

Pretend the woman playing the grand piano above is now in her sixty-first year with MS.

Why are we doing this?

I needed to borrow a photo for mine was too grainy.

Back to pretending that is I’m playing the piano. Oh, a bit younger for sure. But, I do play piano.

My MS diagnosis happened in July 1958, just after high school graduation.

Many folks call me Gail, my middle name. My lovely North Carolinian southern belle friend calls me Judigail. That is cute. Others who hear it think so as well.

Judigail it is!

I digress. MS started this whole discussion.

Oh, is that it? Yeah, I think so.

What is this over sixty year MS adventure all about?

Miraculous MS Sixty Year Adventure, the working title of my forthcoming book.

Someone with good intentions stated,

“Why do you call having MS an adventure or miraculous? MS it is neither miraculous nor an adventure!” Someone with good intentions stated,

Yes, that is completely correct. MS is neither miraculous nor an adventure.

MS is insidious, often debilitating. It is a monster disease with NO good qualities.

I may have MS. But, It does NOT have me!

That is both the miracle and the adventure!

My spirit expects the best of life. And  usually gets that best!

Yet, a few times during those sixty years have been rough.

MS exacerbations I experienced included:

• paralysis or numbness in some body part,
• double vision,
• MS hug,
• nystagmus,
• blind spots,
• optic neuritis,
• stabbing head pain,
• unsteady walking,
• balance difficulties,
• cognitive insecurities and
• others too numerous to mention.

I believe that my strong faith in God and prayers of many helped me through. They helped me choose a non-drug route instead of relying on Disease Modifying Drugs, known as DMDs.

This choice has been good.

DMD’s (Disease Modifyinng Drugs) weren’t available in 1958. There really was no decision then. Continuing on that track was my decision. It has been the right choice for me.

Prayers of friends and family, exercise, eating good food and taking vitamins have been the best thing to do.

Many health minded people advocate these life choices today.

Since the 1960’s, 1970’s and beyond it is becoming more evident as the best way to live!

When there were other methods, I maintained my initial choices outlined above.

There are several reasons that choice turned out very well for me;

1. Stress filled my working life. Performance pressures caused MS flairs. That meant stepping away from my favorite Choral Director position.
2. Teaching any subject contains pressure stresses; deadlines, lesson plans, music teacher is always ‘on,’ students, parents, other teachers’ opinions, unions vs non-unions, an endless list.
3. Now retired in my late seventies, I feel better in ways though fatigue is still present regardless of getting enough rest. Once I am asleep, all is well. Actually getting to that blissful  state is my difficulty.
4. Recent exacerbations as well as a change in my MS status from Relapsing-Remitting to Secondary Progressive has my legs quite weak. Fortunate wheeled assistive devices are available.
5. I feel very well.
6. My mind is sharp, though forgetful at times. I need to remind myself of my age. Seventy-eight seems like someone else! I recenely went through a series of cognitive testing. Dr. Maya Ramirez told us (Auburn and me) that my memory lapses were age related, but mostly MS.

I strongly advocate the use of vitamins!  However, I do try new things.

Embryonic Stem Cell Infusion is endorsed by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society although it has not been approved by the FDA (Federal Drug Association).

It is expensive, between 5 and 10 thousand dollars.  Fortunately, we recently sold some real estate, so we had a few dollars to spare.

My husband is extremely generous, loving me, wanting me to be healthy as possible .

Today is Day Five since an infusion of 20,000 stem cells and an injection of 10,000 stem cells into my body.

Each day brings a new awakening.

Day 1: Twelve hours of sleep the first night. The Nurse Practitioner alerted me after the infusion and injection that I would be tired. I was very tired!

Day 2: Sleeping eleven hours seemed like I wanted more. I feel terrific!

Day 3: Some subtle changes in my body are taking place. The stem cells are working their magic!

Day 4: Visited with a different Neurologist. He advised I begin ampyra, called “The Walking Pill” and an infusion of another drug called Ocrevus. I agreed to try both of them because of my age, side effects are minimal., and curiousity.

Day 5: Numbness on my left side is almost completely gone. I had been leaning to the left a lot. That is much improved!

I was told nothing significant would occur before three to six weeks. I have a followup appointmen in six weeks. Optimism reigns supreme!

Nikola Joyce provides seven natural supplements in the article below. These are  wonderful for current MS patients and those with fatigue causing health issues.

Her claim to combatting fatigue with these vitamins is absolutely correct . Many others besides me have seen and felt the effectiveness of vitamin therapy.

Try vitamins before you start or perhaps in addition to a Disease Modifying Drug!

Seven Natural Vitamins

By Nicola Joyce

We’re all busy. But some of us are more stressed than others. Students, parents and busy executives know all about fatigue. But do you know how to combat it? Here are 7 supplements to help you fight back against life\

1. Tryptophan

This is one of the 8 “essential” amino acids (essential because our bodies can’t make them, so we need to get them from our diets or supplements). It’s known as a great supplement for boosting mood, recovery and sleep, but do you know why Tryptophan is actually a precursor of melatonin, niacin/vitamin B3, and serotonin (the “happy hormone”), all of which help us recover from any lifestyle stress. We can get serotonin from food sources but it’s difficult to get optimal amounts (and monitor dosage) without overdoing the calories. So supplementing with Tryptophan itself is a fantastic way to support mood and get better quality sleep.As you probably know, low serotonin levels are associated with anxiety and mild depression and can be a factor in snacking on comfort foods or eating late at night. So if you’re training hard, going through a stressful time, or suffering poor sleep, try Tryptophan. It’s totally natural and extremely cost-effective. Tryptophan can be found in our slow release casein protein – Complete Bedtime™, working in synergy with L-Theanine.

2. ZMA – ZINC, MAGNESIUM AND VITAMIN B6

ZMA is a hugely popular supplement with people who want better quality sleep. It’s particularly popular with men, but women can and do benefit from it, too. Our ZMA capsules deliver a huge 500mg blend of highly bioavailable forms of Zinc and Magnesium and (importantly) includes the original l-OptiZinc supplement. That’s the only Zinc-Mag supplement validated by published research. Be sure your ZMA supplement contains it (many don’t).

Here’s why ZMA might help you sleep and recover better. Zinc is responsible for testosterone production.  Magnesium is well-known for increasing sleep quality. And Vitamin B6 helps both Zinc and Magnesium to be better absorbed and used by the body. Regardless of your training or diet, ZMA will help increase natural hormone levels, support better sleep, and help with brain function and clarity. All of which will make you feel a lot better no matter how stressful life gets.

3. MAGNESIUM (IDEALLY MAGNESIUMISGLYCINATE)   

We’ve just touched on Magnesium as a sleep, rest and recovery aid. If you go for a single Magnesium supplement to fight bad sleep, fatigue and tiredness, Magnesium Bisglycinate could be the best bet. Magnesium Bisglycinate is a form of the mineral which is naturally bonded to the amino acid Glycine. This means it’s absorbed more easily by the body. Ours has 500mg per capsule, of which 100mg is active Magnesium. If those numbers don’t mean much to you, trust us when we say it’s a high level designed for optimal dosage at a low price.

4. A QUALITY B VITAMIN COMPLEX

The B-Vitamins are important for a healthy body which can withstand periods of stress and tiredness. We stock various B-Vit products but our B-Vitamin Complex is (as the name suggests) a complete combination of everything you need, all in one dose.

Here’s how the ingredients could help you fight off fatigue. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) supports mental wellbeing and mood, Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) helps reduce oxidative stress (and therefore tiredness), Vitamin B3 (Niacin) has been shown to be effective in supporting brain functions and Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) helps support important neurotransmitters (brain chemicals). Then we have Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride) which plays a part in reducing fatigue and strengthening immunity, even when you’re under stress and Vitamin B8 (Inositol, Myoinositol) which helps nerve signals “communicate”.

There’s plenty more in our B-Vitamin Complex, including Choline which isn’t a B-Vit, but we added it in anyway because it works with all the B-Vitamins and helps maintain brain health. Oh and did we mention that our B Vitamin Complex is just 8p a serving!

5. AN IRON SUPPLEMENT

Iron supplementation is often mentioned as a solution for combating low energy (particularly in the case of women). Whilst it’s true that females can be commonly deficient in iron, men shouldn’t think they’re immune. In fact, lifestyle stress, dieting and training can lead to iron deficiency in anyone regardless of age or gender.

Our K-Pure iron capsules are a top-quality choice, containing Ferrous Bisglycine (“gentle iron”) – a highly bioavailable source of iron. A lot of iron supplements are just Ferrous Oxide. Ferrous Bisglycinate has a 24% iron content and it’s absorbed much better by our bodies than Ferrous Oxide.

Why supplement with iron? It helps reduce tiredness, can stop you getting run-down and can make you feel less fatigued. Ideal for women, anyone suffering from anaemia, or anybody who doesn’t get a lot of iron in their diets (our vegetarian and vegan friends).

6. A COMPLETE MULTIVITAMIN

If your life is hectic and you feel stressed, it can be sensible to supplement with a complete multivitamin. Not only will this support your general health but is a good “safety net” if things get so busy that your food choices suffer.

Our Complete Multivitamin Complex™ isn’t just vitamins and minerals. In fact it contains antioxidants, probiotics, fruit and plant extracts too – 30 separate ingredients in total. They’ve all been chosen for quality, bioavailability and effectiveness.

Why does a top quality multivitamin make sense? It’s easy to become deficient in certain vitamins or minerals when you’re stressed, and being deficient in just one thing can have a knock-on effect on your body’s metabolic pathways. And stress can often cause gut issues, sensitivities and digestive problems (that’s why we put probiotics and digestive enzymes in to this formula).

Cover all your bases with one complete formula like our Complete Multivitamin Complex™: vitamins, minerals, probiotics, digestive enzymes, antioxidants and plant extracts. We’re rather proud of it!

7. A NATURAL ENERGY BOOSTER

Some people say it’s counterproductive to take an energy-boosting supplement when you’re already stressed and tired, but we know you live in the real world. If you’re knackered from a day at work but need to go and train legs, what option do you have? There are a few all-natural supplements you could use to boost energy (see our caffeine tablets or taurine supplement) but let’s look at our Complete BCAA Energy™ powder.

Forget cans of fizzy energy drink. Complete BCAA Energy™ is a much better choice of energy supplement to sip on when you need a boost: it will hydrate you, give you those all-important BCAAs, and support your energy too without over-stimulating you.

This is a branched-chain amino acid formula with a boost! It actually contains BCAAs in a 3:1:1 ratio. But then we added guarana and green coffee extract, two effective natural energy sources which give you 100mg natural caffeine. Enough for a good boost without jitters or a “crash”.

What are your favourite supplements for combating fatigue, tiredness and stress?

About the Author:

Nicola Joyce has been writing for (and about) sport, fitness, nutrition and healthy living since 2004. She’s also a keen sportswoman: her background is in endurance sport but she now competes as a natural bodybuilder, most recently winning a world title with the INBF. When she’s not writing content, she can be found blogging. Follow her here www.nicolajoyce.co.uk and on Facebook & Twitter (@thefitwriter) too.

Further comment from J. Gail Norris: “These vitamins do what they are supposed to do for many diseases. MS patients will find them helpful as well.

Good advice came from Dr. Rudolph Cartwright, NeuroSurgeon, MS Researcher for 40 years. From Odessa, Texas, now lives in San Diego where he retired from brain surgery.

Dr. Cartwright’s daughter-in-law was diagnosed with MS while completing her residency as a trauma surgeon. Scott Cartwright MBA manages his dad’s website.

Dr. Cartwright’s proprietary blend of vitamins is called The Essentials.  Take two tablets twice morning and evening helps MS symptoms and fatigue.

Mary Ellen Dickinson, author of “No More MS,” advocates The Essentials!

J. Gail Norris says: “My energy level soars with The Essentials. Dr. Cartwright’s  90 day Protocol provided me with new lease on life!”

www.MSHealthUniversity.com This website leads to much information about MS, Dr. Cartwright’s research,  my writing, and more.

Each person has Multiple Sclerosis their own unique way. Although we are different,  we are also similar in many ways.We all:

• are human beings.
• inhabit planet Earth.
• breathe air
• eat food.
• drink water.
• have similar body shapes.
• make lifestyle choices for good or bad health.

In our uniqueness, we have many choices. Research ensures we choose the best decision to enhance living the best life possible.      

Remain Healthy; It’s Your Choice!