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How did you find the Overcoming MS Programme? What’s your story?  

I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS in October 2015, following a very acute onset of symptoms that Summer. I asked my doctor if there was anything I should change in my diet or lifestyle to help and was told bluntly “no there’s no evidence for any of that, just take the medication and hope for the best”. I knew there had to be more to it than that, so I decided to find out more. Fortunately, I found the OMS book by Prof. Jelinek soon afterwards. I read it over a few days, and it made perfect sense to me, as a doctor, but also as someone now living with MS. I started to make changes to my lifestyle straight away!  

Do you think that your medical background has affected the way that you approach multiple sclerosis?

Absolutely. It has been my greatest ally and foe! It gave me the skills I needed to assess the evidence behind the treatments and self-management options out there and allowed me to make informed choices. I quickly worked out that there is a huge amount of research into MS and new treatments which I was positive about. I also discovered that there was so much that I could do to change the course of my own MS right now, through relatively simple lifestyle changes! Being a doctor gives you access to a lot of information, whether you are ready to know it or not. So, as a person newly diagnosed with MS who had treated people with MS professionally, it was a very daunting time.

Why is the work that Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis does so important?  

OMS is a small charity with a gigantic goal! At a time when the role of lifestyle for people with MS is not always discussed by health care professionals, OMS’s work is vital in helping to get that message out. Whether that be through our books, website, social media channels, podcasts, blogs, webinars, Circles or community events, there are so many ways to discover the program and learn about the huge potential of relatively simple changes to your diet and lifestyle. The support and community that you can find at OMS is the most important thing. There are now many thousands of OMSers around the world, so the chances are pretty high that if you reach out, you’ll find someone not too far away who is in a similar situation.

Why is the OMS self-management programme so good?  

There are many “MS diets” out there, with hugely varying degrees of scientific evidence behind them. Whilst there isn’t one “proven” diet for MS, and there isn’t ever likely to be, the evidence base behind the OMS dietary recommendations is extremely strong and continues to grow all the time. Its origins come from the work of Prof. Roy Swank in the 1950s, but papers continue to be published today that corroborate much of the original research and improve upon it. The specific OMS dietary guidance (wholefood, plant-based with seafood if desired) has become the focus of a huge amount of research recently, and it is becoming ever clearer that this style of eating can have huge benefits not only in preventing but actually treating many of the diseases that cause morbidity and mortality in our communities. So, while it is very likely to help your MS, the holistic self-management programme that also covers things like exercise and stress reduction is likely to protect you and your family from many of the diseases that cause so much ill-health in our society.

What other work does the OMS charity do?

The charity does some fantastic work in educating and empowering those with MS and their families. There is a global community of OMSers that’s always ready and willing to support each other through the good and bad times that can come from a life with MS. There are many different ways for people to connect with each other and the charity now. One example is the “OMS Circles” programme, which is a network of local community-based groups, run by OMSers themselves, that are supported by the charity. There are currently 97 Circles around the world! The charity is working hard to expand the network and just launched a new Circles Online platform on the OMS website, this offers a safe, inclusive and dynamic way to engage with like-minded folks.

How important has the program been to your own MS management?  

It is difficult to put it into words! It gave me realistic hope in my darkest hour, it showed me a path to follow, a sense that I had some control over my health and that I wasn’t just a passive victim.  It has undoubtedly contributed hugely to my physical and mental well-being – more than 5 years after my diagnosis, I’ve never been so healthy!

My interactions with the OMS community have been the most fulfilling thing. I have met some incredible people in the past 4 years and made some life-long friends. I have walked into OMS events in different countries without knowing anyone and within a few minutes, I have found that shared bond, a like-minded determination to live well and have a huge amount of fun along the way!

You work as an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist; how do you manage your symptoms when leading such a busy life?  

When I was first diagnosed, I couldn’t work at all. A combination of vertigo and balance problems, cognitive and fatigue issues as well as needing to come to terms with my symptoms would have made it impossible for me and potentially unsafe for patients if I was working. When I felt ready to go back, I changed my career path and moved into a part-time role with less of a surgical focus. I had always really enjoyed the early pregnancy clinic and wanted to establish a recurrent pregnancy loss service, which is often a neglected part of gynaecology. The clinic is now a much-valued service that’s in high demand and expanding all the time. I have to be mindful of not taking on too much, something I can be guilty of, and saying “no” is an important skill! I always make sure that I find time for my meditation, exercise and family time too.

Vitamin D is important during pregnancy, why is it so important for people with MS too?

We know that MS is much more common in areas further north and south of the equator, where the sun is less strong. Exposure to sunlight causes the body to produce vitamin D and there is good evidence that keeping healthy vitamin D levels in the blood could prevent many cases of MS in the first place. It has many functions in the body, but specifically to MS, it seems to “turn down” the inflammatory response that causes the immune system to mistakenly attack the myelin sheath that coats some nerves. There’s also evidence that maintaining vitamin D levels once you have MS can reduce the frequency of relapses, the number of new lesions showing on MRI scans and disability progression.  

Do you think that people are more accepting of holistic health strategies for treating MS now?

I think that the mindset of people living with MS has always been to try anything that may be of benefit to them, especially when the medical treatments were less effective than they are now. The spirit of doing “whatever it takes” inevitably makes people try diets, supplements and treatments that didn’t always have a particularly solid evidence base. This can lead to scepticism on the part of medical professionals who always have patient safety as first their priority. This can sometimes lead to a blinkered approach! But this mindset is slowly changing and there’s growing acceptance of the vital role of holistic care in the management of chronic health conditions, and the importance of diet, exercise and stress reduction techniques in MS.

What are your top tips for living with MS?

I wouldn’t dream to tell anyone how to live with MS. Apart from anything else, it is such a variable condition and differs greatly from person to person, so a one size fits all approach isn’t right. What I can do is share the things that have worked for me…

Patience: This is an incurable and life-long condition. It is so important not to lose sight of the fact that things can and will get better, but it can take time to see those improvements. I found it helpful to keep a daily journal of my symptoms at the beginning of my journey. Over the course of weeks and months, my “scores” started to improve, and I got a sense that things were going in the right direction.

Surround yourself with the right people: A life-changing diagnosis often shows you who your true friends are. I know that not everyone has someone they feel they can reach out to, but there is so much support and community out there if you know where to look. The OMS Circles project is one good example!

Start slow and be kind to yourself: Lifestyle changes can be difficult. The first time I went around the local supermarket trying to buy new, suitable things, it took ages, and it was overwhelming. But, once the cupboards were stocked and I had a new routine of go-to recipes, cafés and easily adapted dishes when eating out – I never looked back. Research shows that on average it takes about 66 days to change a habit, and the odd slip-up won’t affect the long-term outcome, so stick at it.

Meditate: I would really recommend guided meditations to get you started. There are loads of apps out there and each one will offer something slightly different. Whichever you choose, start with 10 minutes at a time and gradually build up your practice. Try to do it in the same place and same time each day, when you won’t be disturbed or fall asleep- this really helps to cement the habit.

Throw yourself in: Approach this with a full steam ahead mindset. You have nothing to lose and a huge amount to gain. I love that I am my own scientific experiment: seeing what works and what doesn’t, finding things that make me feel better or worse and then finding the solutions to keep me well.

If you’re living with MS or caring for someone who has the condition, be sure to check out the myMS support programme and other resources on the talkMS hub.