Diagnosis


Seeing as this is the inaugural post for #MSMonday, what better way to start off then where we all start, at diagnosis.

Being diagnosed with MS is not like being diagnosed with most other things. It isn’t a one time doctor visit, a one time conversation and a black-and-white, yes or no answer. It is usually a long journey of tests, explaining of symptoms (usually symptoms that you can’t explain), and trying to put puzzle pieces together to understand what is going on in your body.  There’s blood tests, lumbar punctures and MRI’s that we go through to try to make sense of the oddities that are occurring.
After you said your story at least a dozen times, and to at least a dozen different doctors, you may get that answer(s) you’ve been looking for. Not because you want a diagnosis of anything, but because you want an answer, a direction, something (anything) to do that might help.
But as is the case with early MS, A diagnosis of Clinically Isolated Syndrome might be given instead.  Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) is that unfortunate state of ‘is it, or is it not’ limbo that many people with MS find themselves in prior to a full MS diagnosis. CIS is diagnosed when an individual has symptoms that are consistent with a diagnosis of MS, but they’ve only had one symptom present. In order to receive a full MS diagnosis, more than one symptom needs to be experienced.
I was considered to have CIS for almost a year prior to my full MS diagnosis. This left me wondering when I was going to get that ‘full diagnosis’ and every doctors appointment. Will this be the time?’ I would wonder. ‘Do I have it now?’ It drove me nuts. After changes on my MRI I moved from CIS to MS. Something I knew that would eventually happen, I just didn’t know exactly when.
Being diagnosed with MS may happen suddenly, or maybe gradual over several years. But regardless of the speed it’s still a painful and exhausting process, both physically and mentally. One that is full of confusion, questions and few answers.
Husband’s 2 Cents:
“I wasn’t around for your diagnosis, in the way I am today. We were just barely friends. Initially when you said you had MS, I did the same thing that everyone else does, I went ‘Ohh, that sucks’ but was thinking I had no clue what that was. I didn’t know if I should ask, or shouldn’t, but I ended up asking ‘What is that again?’. You gave me a pretty in-depth, but concise overview and I thought ‘Damn that sucks, this poor girl’. We were just hanging out as friends at that time, so I didn’t think about it that much after. When we started dating, I obviously started thinking about it and researching it. It seemed really scary to go through alone. I knew you had MS when we started dating and I never wanted to ‘get out of it’. It’s not fair to get out of it, it’s not fair you have it, so why would I do that. I’m not a fair weather boyfriend, when I care I care, and I’m loyal. I liked you before I knew what MS was and that you had it, so I decided I’d get your back and love you no matter what.”

I’M ALISSA!

I help women who have also been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis make specific and personalized diet, lifestyle & subconscious changes so that they can begin to heal their body, reduce disease symptoms, and return to a life they love.hey there,

follow along on Instagram:

👉🏼Feeling stuck with your MS symptoms?
👉🏼Feeling like your body betrayed you and is working against you?
👉🏼Are you worried you’re stuck like this and will never get better?

I get it. At one point I did too.

Years ago I was experiencing “Aggressive MS” and I thought I’d never function the same.

I thought my days of moving how I wanted, or doing anything on a whim were over.

I couldn’t walk well, couldn’t feel my body correctly and I was SCARED.

But now?
I’m confident in the ways I’m helping myself.
I no longer have aggressive MS.
I can move how I want, when I want.

Because of the changes I’ve made over the years.

No, it’s not easy, but that’s where I come in!!

I’ve dedicated my life to helping those with MS realize that feeling better is possible and helping them get there.

My 2 courses and my membership are on sale this weekend for Black Friday,

want to start your own success story??

Comment SUCCESS below and I’ll send you the link!!

👉🏼Feeling stuck with your MS symptoms?
👉🏼Feeling like your body betrayed you and is working against you?
👉🏼Are you worried you’re stuck like this and will never get better?

I get it. At one point I did too.

Years ago I was experiencing “Aggressive MS” and I thought I’d never function the same.

I thought my days of moving how I wanted, or doing anything on a whim were over.

I couldn’t walk well, couldn’t feel my body correctly and I was SCARED.

But now?
I’m confident in the ways I’m helping myself.
I no longer have aggressive MS.
I can move how I want, when I want.

Because of the changes I’ve made over the years.

No, it’s not easy, but that’s where I come in!!

I’ve dedicated my life to helping those with MS realize that feeling better is possible and helping them get there.

My 2 courses and my membership are on sale this weekend for Black Friday,

want to start your own success story??

Comment SUCCESS below and I’ll send you the link!!
...

14 0
Grab your path to healing!!

These are the lowest prices for my courses like ever, and they won’t be back. (And they’ll prob be going up in the new year- planning some updates!!)

Comment HEALING below and I’ll send you a link, or check out my stories!!

Grab your path to healing!!

These are the lowest prices for my courses like ever, and they won’t be back. (And they’ll prob be going up in the new year- planning some updates!!)

Comment HEALING below and I’ll send you a link, or check out my stories!!
...

3 2
The first step to being successful with managing stress (& being successful with anything really) is:

Awareness of where you currently are.

You can’t change or manage what you’re not aware of.

You can only know yourself as deep as you’re awareness of yourself goes.

Try this:
Right now as you read this, pause for a sec.
Take a deep breath, and ask yourself:

Where were my thoughts?
Where is my breathing?
What am I saying to myself?

Get really honest here too (warning- it might be uncomfy)

What did you discover while checking in? Let me know in the comments!

-
-
If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa. I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in MS. 
I use all the tools I’ve comprised over my 10+ year career (and 14+ years with MS) to help my clients with MS decrease their symptoms, improve their overall health and get back to living life on their terms, not MS’ terms.
Interested to hear how that might look for you? Comment 🧡 below or DM me and we’ll chat!

The first step to being successful with managing stress (& being successful with anything really) is:

Awareness of where you currently are.

You can’t change or manage what you’re not aware of.

You can only know yourself as deep as you’re awareness of yourself goes.

Try this:
Right now as you read this, pause for a sec.
Take a deep breath, and ask yourself:

Where were my thoughts?
Where is my breathing?
What am I saying to myself?

Get really honest here too (warning- it might be uncomfy)

What did you discover while checking in? Let me know in the comments!

-
-
If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa. I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in MS.
I use all the tools I’ve comprised over my 10+ year career (and 14+ years with MS) to help my clients with MS decrease their symptoms, improve their overall health and get back to living life on their terms, not MS’ terms.
Interested to hear how that might look for you? Comment 🧡 below or DM me and we’ll chat!
...

14 1
Progress is absolutely not linear.

But, it’s still progress nonetheless.

I see you if you’re in a “dip” or feel like you’re going “backwards”

You’re really not, you’re right where you should be.

Keep going!!
🧡❤️🧡

Progress is absolutely not linear.

But, it’s still progress nonetheless.

I see you if you’re in a “dip” or feel like you’re going “backwards”

You’re really not, you’re right where you should be.

Keep going!!
🧡❤️🧡
...

21 1
Lol, all this got me was an MS diagnosis. 

This was me basically my whole life up until a few years ago.

My clients have all talked about situations like this too.

It’s no wonder why a lot of us have an autoimmune disease now. 

Please, speak your truth. Your body will thank you.

If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa.
I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in MS.

I use all the tools I’ve comprised over my 10+ year career (and 14+ years with MS) to help my clients with MS decrease their symptoms, improve their overall health and get back to living life on their terms, not MS’ terms.

Interested to hear how that might look for you? Comment 🧡 below or DM me and we’ll chat!

Lol, all this got me was an MS diagnosis.

This was me basically my whole life up until a few years ago.

My clients have all talked about situations like this too.

It’s no wonder why a lot of us have an autoimmune disease now.

Please, speak your truth. Your body will thank you.

If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa.
I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in MS.

I use all the tools I’ve comprised over my 10+ year career (and 14+ years with MS) to help my clients with MS decrease their symptoms, improve their overall health and get back to living life on their terms, not MS’ terms.

Interested to hear how that might look for you? Comment 🧡 below or DM me and we’ll chat!
...

90 4
This has been a TOUGH week friends.

Don’t lose yourself.

What else would you add to this list?
What helps you when life is super hard?

❤️❤️

This has been a TOUGH week friends.

Don’t lose yourself.

What else would you add to this list?
What helps you when life is super hard?

❤️❤️
...

20 2
I’ve been actively working on my nervous system for the past year or two.

That hasn’t meant that all my anxiety or depression magically vanished.

It just means that when I do find myself feeling like an anxious mess or a depressed puddle, I know how to attend to and care for myself.

Not in the goal of “fixing” per se, more honoring and accepting.

This is one of the ways I help my clients improve their MS symptoms, but attending to their nervous systems and improving their stress response and resilience.

I have so many ways to work with me.. from 1:1 support to my free community.. comment below “interested” and we’ll chat about what would be right for you!

I’ve been actively working on my nervous system for the past year or two.

That hasn’t meant that all my anxiety or depression magically vanished.

It just means that when I do find myself feeling like an anxious mess or a depressed puddle, I know how to attend to and care for myself.

Not in the goal of “fixing” per se, more honoring and accepting.

This is one of the ways I help my clients improve their MS symptoms, but attending to their nervous systems and improving their stress response and resilience.

I have so many ways to work with me.. from 1:1 support to my free community.. comment below “interested” and we’ll chat about what would be right for you!
...

18 2
This is exactly why I do what I do.

Because when I was suffering and going through it, I had no one. 

No one in my corner who fully understood.

Sure I had some people around me who cared.. but that’s different than understanding and being supportive.

I don’t want that for you.

I want you to feel confident,
in control of your life,
like you have someone in your corner who understands on a completely different level than those around you.

This is why I do what I do.

Because I don’t want you to feel alone.

PS- My second book is available for pre-order!!
This is a book that I would have loved to read early on in my journey. 
I teamed up with 6 other authors to detail how we moved through our diagnosis and came out the other side for the better.
(Also, 5 of the 7 authors also have MS!!)

If you pre order your copy through me before October 24th you’ll also get:
• Signed copy of Resilience Redefined
• The MS Handbook E-book
• Resilience Bookmark
• LissMS Sticker Pack

Comment “book” below and I’ll send you the link!!

This is exactly why I do what I do.

Because when I was suffering and going through it, I had no one.

No one in my corner who fully understood.

Sure I had some people around me who cared.. but that’s different than understanding and being supportive.

I don’t want that for you.

I want you to feel confident,
in control of your life,
like you have someone in your corner who understands on a completely different level than those around you.

This is why I do what I do.

Because I don’t want you to feel alone.

PS- My second book is available for pre-order!!
This is a book that I would have loved to read early on in my journey.
I teamed up with 6 other authors to detail how we moved through our diagnosis and came out the other side for the better.
(Also, 5 of the 7 authors also have MS!!)

If you pre order your copy through me before October 24th you’ll also get:
• Signed copy of Resilience Redefined
• The MS Handbook E-book
• Resilience Bookmark
• LissMS Sticker Pack

Comment “book” below and I’ll send you the link!!
...

11 0
When this is a new habit.. it’s HARD!!

We encounter so many messages that say DONT take time for you, prioritize others, you must.

So.. what stands in your way of prioritizing you?

What is your hesitation when you go take a minute for yourself?

What is the guilt you feel after you actually do?

I’m planning something in a few weeks to help you with just these things.. stay tuned…

When this is a new habit.. it’s HARD!!

We encounter so many messages that say DONT take time for you, prioritize others, you must.

So.. what stands in your way of prioritizing you?

What is your hesitation when you go take a minute for yourself?

What is the guilt you feel after you actually do?

I’m planning something in a few weeks to help you with just these things.. stay tuned…
...

53 0
I’ve found that most all of my clients (and my past self too) would say NOPE, at least at first.

There are so many reasons we don’t value our own needs as much as others, but this is something that def has to be addressed if we want to continue to make progress with improving our health.

You matter.
Remember that.
🧡❤️

I’ve found that most all of my clients (and my past self too) would say NOPE, at least at first.

There are so many reasons we don’t value our own needs as much as others, but this is something that def has to be addressed if we want to continue to make progress with improving our health.

You matter.
Remember that.
🧡❤️
...

17 2
This is what came through during my meditation this morning.

I’ve been feeling so BEHIND lately..
That I’m not doing enough..
That progress isn’t happening fast enough..

But that’s a lie.
I’m right where I should be.

I needed this message today… maybe you do too?

This is what came through during my meditation this morning.

I’ve been feeling so BEHIND lately..
That I’m not doing enough..
That progress isn’t happening fast enough..

But that’s a lie.
I’m right where I should be.

I needed this message today… maybe you do too?
...

15 4
This is how I slowly helped myself the most:
Making small changes to my life,
* Intentional awareness to my morning
* Noticing when I’m being mean to myself 
* Noticing when I’m reactive or in a state of fight or flight..

Some “small” ideas for you too:
* don’t grab your phone first thing in the morning, take some deep breaths, think about how you want your day to go
* drink an extra glass of water (bonus if it’s in the morning too)
* get up and move every hour
* say something nice to yourself when you catch yourself being mean
* step outside for a few minutes a few times a day

Small changes add up to big steps forward,
don’t get fooled by these not being “enough”,
they absolutely are. 

Wanna hear more about how Ive helped myself and my clients to lessen our MS symptoms so we feel better in our bodies?

I detail it in my chapter in Resilience Redefined.. comment “Book” and I’ll send you the link!!

This is how I slowly helped myself the most:
Making small changes to my life,
* Intentional awareness to my morning
* Noticing when I’m being mean to myself
* Noticing when I’m reactive or in a state of fight or flight..

Some “small” ideas for you too:
* don’t grab your phone first thing in the morning, take some deep breaths, think about how you want your day to go
* drink an extra glass of water (bonus if it’s in the morning too)
* get up and move every hour
* say something nice to yourself when you catch yourself being mean
* step outside for a few minutes a few times a day

Small changes add up to big steps forward,
don’t get fooled by these not being “enough”,
they absolutely are.

Wanna hear more about how Ive helped myself and my clients to lessen our MS symptoms so we feel better in our bodies?

I detail it in my chapter in Resilience Redefined.. comment “Book” and I’ll send you the link!!
...

23 5

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