MS Awareness Week

This is National MS awareness week. Not that most people even are aware of that or know what MS is. But for those of us effected by it, I suppose it has a lot of meaning in it. I decided I would take this week to become better acquainted with Aaron's disease. Its been on my mind a lot lately, mainly due to his poor health and the new challenges ahead. But also, because I'm frustrated that Im not doing more to help Aaron's health to be better.

It can be overwhelming at times, to feel a responsibility to help your husband have good healthy habits and cook good foods for him. I feel we are generally very healthy people and have always been. But, we've really cut down and a lot out these past few years. Still I feel the pressure that it isn't enough. I've had two very close friends tell me different paths we should take as far as food goes. One pretty much told me a cure would come if we stopped having a certain type of food in his diet, another said that if we cut everything out, with exception to those things that naturally come from the earth that we would see him obliviate all bad symptoms. Though I do not disagree that what we eat truly impacts our quality of life, I'm frustrated that we continued to get bombarded by people telling us what to do, because they've witnessed a situation where their food choice changed the health of someone.

In one instance a friend said because of their family members diet change, they were "cured" of an undiagnosed MS. They had some symptoms, but it was obvious to me that it wasn't MS, but in her mind that was the answer. It kind of came off as, Hey! if Aaron would only get healthy and eat right, everything would be ok. You guys wouldn't have this disease anymore. Its pretty much your fault where he is and if you don't change, then its your fault where he is headed. I'm not sure if thats ever how anyone would ever put it or say it, but it feels this way. Of course, if I knew there was a simple answer like eliminating a certain food that would cure him, we'd do it. But it doesn't, they've proved it in studies and most MS people we talk to are all over the range of diets and lifestyle, yet they all continue on the road with the disease. Yes, again, it can eliminate nasty symptoms and help Aaron healthy to fit the disease more aggressively. But, its not the cure.

So here's Aaron anyways, who is super healthy. Very healthy. In fact I used to tease him that he needed to enjoy life a little more and eat a less healthy things. But, I've started the research. So I can truly understand and feel that what I feed and give my husband isn't truly killing him. He has started to decrease and eliminate most dairy and gluten products from his diet. It hasn't been long enough for us to see any change. As I have read, and the more I read, really what we need to decrease and change is more of the salt intake and processed/fast foods. We really don't eat fake, processed dinners or foods. In fact I live by the rule of shopping the premeter of the store. I do buy crackers, cereal, bread and fruit snacks for the kids, but Aaron rarely eats anything like that, unless its organic type of snack with a few ingredients. We eat out rarely and when we do, we share a meal and keep away from fast food places like Mcdonalds.  We will continue to experiment and find what helps him feel best. Everything that I read takes me back to what his MS doctor said about whole foods, plus high fibrous whole grains, oils, nuts and high in fatty omegas. We are not fish people, but we can give him that through vitamins and other foods. I just need to continue to research and learn more.

Ahhh, my venting session is done. I really want what's best for Aaron and I will truly change or do whatever we need to do. I just wish people around us would stop judging, critizing or telling us what we should do. I wish there was a book that told us exactly what to do. There isn't. MS effects every person differently, everyone is treated differently and each person responds different. So forward we go. I do want to put it out there we don't not want to hear from people what has helped them, we just don't want to be told that if we'd only change this or that he'd be cured. Be sensitive is all. In the end Aaron's a good guy who really takes everything that is said to him lightly. I'm the one who thinks about it too much. AS you can tell.

Anyways, Aaron had a big dose of steroids yesterday. The nurse at the clinic didn't like to hear he had two new lesions. Not a good sign at all. I guess we will know more in April. AS for this week, we are going to continue to learn and read more about it. I want a healthy and happy husband in the future, so I feel what I do and learn now could really help that to happen.

Much Love. Thanks for reading my ventings. Jamie

Next Step

Well we finally got a call back from the Doctor's office. They've bumped Aaron's appointment from the end of May to the beginning of April. Which means we hopefully will get some answers a little bit sooner than we were thinking, which is great news! They also told Aaron to go in and get one more dose of steroids to keep him going until then. We are hoping this will help. Once we know more  we will update the blog. Until then. Prayers we can receive some guidance on the next step, that we can come to understand this illness better and really find a direction in how to make Aaron feel better. We've started eating a lot healthier once again and trying to get Aaron more sleep. It seems to help a little and we hope we can continue.

Thanks for reading and for your concern! It truly means a lot to us. I do want to let you all know that overall, life is good!!! I seem to come off negative in my posts, mainly because its the only time I really talk about all of this or share what's going on with others. But, we are HAPPY. We feel blessed Aaron is as healthy as he is, that he can work and doesn't have any symptoms at the time the prevent him from a regular everyday life.