My MS Journey Over the Past 10 Years


When I think back on my life pre-MS, pre-autoimmunity, I was sick or hurt a decent amount of the time. Not like 24/7 or anything like that, but something always hurt, or I was sick. This increased as I got older, and especially through high school. I used to joke that my body was revolting and that it was attacking itself.

Damn. How spot on I was.

Little did I know that I was foreshadowing something epic. My little joke would become not so funny in the not so distant future. And that future? Would be changed forever.

Diagnosis

Thankfully, I was diagnosed rather quickly. I started experiencing weird symptoms at the beginning of the summer of 2009 and by the end of August, I had a diagnosis of Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS). The first stage of an MS diagnosis; when you’ve only had 1 episode of symptoms, and your doc isn’t quite sure yet of how you’ll progress. So you get thrown into no-mans-land. A waiting game of will I or won’t I. Will this be the appointment where it all comes crashing down? Or will I squeak by until next time.

I didn’t make it that far into no-mans-land.

I got the “official” MS diagnosis soon after. To make things easier, I just count the original CIS diagnosis date as my MS diagnosis date. It was already happening, already set in motion, why confuse things even further.

I had my medication chosen. Reluctantly I began to learn how to inject myself daily. This was the new normal, I guess.

I’m Fine

Over the next few years, I went along with life as “normal”. Or as normally as any young 20-something could, while shooting myself in various parts of my body daily. Dealing with the lumps, divots, aches and pains that it brought. Whenever anyone asked how I was doing, I gave the standard answer: I’m Fine. With and emphasis on fine. Almost like an annoyed teenager talking to their parents.

I was angry. I wasn’t letting the gravity of the situation sink in. I didn’t want to. I hated anything orange and any mention of chronic disease or autoimmunity. I felt like it was a direct attack on me. I didn’t want help (do I ever?) and I didn’t want this disease.

Thankfully, I was still able to do all of the activities I was previously doing. Including running. I enjoyed running races and ran several half marathons. This led to a few run ins with blisters, which led to a few infections. You can’t really be on immunosuppressant medications while fighting infections I suppose. Gladly, I took a break from my MS meds while clearing the pesky infections.

The rub? I never really went back.

Relapse(s)

I was rather inconsistent with Copaxone after that. I had stock piles in my fridge, only injecting on the rare occasion. It wasn’t until I met my then boyfriend, now husband that I went back to a more consistent schedule. However, as before, the damage and inflammation were already set in motion.

My neurologist doesn’t blame MS for my first relapse, he blames me. Which, to be honest, is totally fair. I stopped taking my medication cold turkey with no other interventions in place. What was I really expecting? To be magically cured by stubbornness alone?

This set off an almost 2 year period of relapses, symptoms and uncertainty. I went from being symptom free, being able to live life relatively normally to not feeling an entire side of my body overnight. Yikes. Talk about scary and life being flipped upside down.

It took me a long time to get back to where I was. And even then, I’m not sure if I was ever 100% “back”. Heat now affected me, I got fatigued easier, I felt numb/tingly/burny at random times. I started to feel like I actually had MS.

Enough

I’m not sure how exactly, but at some point after all of these relapses, I found a few articles about the Autoimmune Protocol. I remember reading about it for the first time and having mixed feelings:

  1. Being excited that maybe I could do something other than medication to help myself and
  2. I have to eat WHAT?

The struggle was real.

I shared my newfound wisdom with a few people, who immediately called me crazy. Part of me agreed with them, TBH. But after enough time, I said enough.

I have to feel better, and medication alone ain’t cutting it.

I embarked on my AIP journey in January of 2016. Fueled with the frustrations of incredible pain, overwhelming fatigue and uncomfortable sensory symptoms.

It was not easy. But nothing that is worth it ever is.

I struggled without my chocolate and coffee, like whoa. I found out that nightshades (includes tomatoes), that I practically lived on as a kid, were one of my biggest offenders. And I realized, that yes, I can learn to like veggies. So sorry mom, for all the pain I put you through.

Eventually the pain subsided, the fatigue lifted and the sensory symptoms calmed. Was I “back to my normal, pre-relapse self?” Not really. But was I better? Hell yea.

I slowly crawled out of my relapse hole. I started being more active. Bringing back more foods as my symptoms calmed. I started living life again.

Was it scary? Absolutely. I felt like at any moment I could wake up and not feel a part of my body, or move a part of my body. But that’s how this goes. At any point, anything could happen. To any of us, really. But I try not to live there. In the “unknown”. Because that’s all it is, unknown. If I know that I’m doing as much as I can for myself, then that’s all I need. The rest will shake itself out.

The Present

How am I doing now? I’m doing pretty damn good for someone who has had MS for 10 years, if I do say so myself. I’m proud of everything I have done, everything I have accomplished. All the work I have put in to improve my health.

My MS has changed over the years, for sure. It’s gone from almost silent, to frickin LOUD, back down to a dull murmur. A question I get frequently is: Am I totally 100% symptom free? As improved as I am, I’d have to answer that with a big Nope.

I still have trouble with the heat, I feel weird sensory symptoms now and again and my bladder? Oy vey. That’s a story for another day. But, I’m able to mostly get through a day without being derailed by MS. And that’s a big Win, in my book.

Sometimes my brain gets the better of me when I think about the future and what it holds. But I remind myself all I can do, is what I’m doing. The rest is up to God.

If you’re into healing lifestyles like I am, I’d love for you to join my new FB group, The LissMS Healing Lounge. We talk about all things healing lifestyle, from nutrition, to sleep, to stress, even pet friendly indoor plants. I’d love it if you came over and joined the discussion. Join here.

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:

I think 90% of my clients have talked about already feeling the shift to Fall and Winter hardddd.

They are worried about seasonal depression coming back with a vengeance, feeling sad summer is gone and so many other things.

I know when so many feel the same way, you might too.
I know I feel this way too.

I’m working with them to put habits in place NOW that will support them through the winter months.

Here are 2 small shifts we talked about this week:

1. Get sunlight into your eyeballs as soon as you can in the morning.☀️☀️

Ideally this is outside, there will be many science bro’s out there telling you that anything else “doesn’t count” but I say that’s BS.
Yes, the sunlight will have a greater impact if you’re viewing outside, but even if you’re behind a window it will do something.

2. Move your body!! 💃🏃‍♀️

The change in seasons to colder weather makes it super easy to hibernate and move wayyy less than we were in the summer.
I know I’ve been guilty of that this week and it’s showing in my sleep.
But moving our bodies can be so helpful for regulating so many things in our bodies.
Ideally you’re moving in the morning, but again- any time of day will do. 

These are 2 small shifts that can make it easier for your body to transition to, and live with the Winter months.

Let’s crowdsource… what else helps you in winter?? 
I know there are many other things that can!!

I think 90% of my clients have talked about already feeling the shift to Fall and Winter hardddd.

They are worried about seasonal depression coming back with a vengeance, feeling sad summer is gone and so many other things.

I know when so many feel the same way, you might too.
I know I feel this way too.

I’m working with them to put habits in place NOW that will support them through the winter months.

Here are 2 small shifts we talked about this week:

1. Get sunlight into your eyeballs as soon as you can in the morning.☀️☀️

Ideally this is outside, there will be many science bro’s out there telling you that anything else “doesn’t count” but I say that’s BS.
Yes, the sunlight will have a greater impact if you’re viewing outside, but even if you’re behind a window it will do something.

2. Move your body!! 💃🏃‍♀️

The change in seasons to colder weather makes it super easy to hibernate and move wayyy less than we were in the summer.
I know I’ve been guilty of that this week and it’s showing in my sleep.
But moving our bodies can be so helpful for regulating so many things in our bodies.
Ideally you’re moving in the morning, but again- any time of day will do.

These are 2 small shifts that can make it easier for your body to transition to, and live with the Winter months.

Let’s crowdsource… what else helps you in winter??
I know there are many other things that can!!
...

8 4
All the tools that are inside Holistically Healing MS I’ve used myself to decrease my MS symptoms and significantly feel better in my body.

Over the next 8 weeks, let me be your guide on how to make this a reality for yourself.

We start tomorrow at 5:30pm eastern, you coming?

All the tools that are inside Holistically Healing MS I’ve used myself to decrease my MS symptoms and significantly feel better in my body.

Over the next 8 weeks, let me be your guide on how to make this a reality for yourself.

We start tomorrow at 5:30pm eastern, you coming?
...

9 3
I think I’ve said this in every group I’ve run and with every client I meet with.

(A gross oversimplification disclaimer)
But this: 
people pleasing, being all or nothing, perfectionist (I could go on) 

Is (part of) why we got MS.

These patterns we play out each day are the hardest thing to change- and they also keep us with high stress, high MS symptoms and feeling like crap in our bodies.

Changing these patterns takes awareness, focus and support- all of which you get in Holistically Healing MS.

•If you want the ability to say NO when you’d usually just say yes.. (stop overriding yourself)
•If you want to be ok with putting your needs first (cause I know you’re not lol)
•If you want to finally feel like you’re good enough and doing enough (cause you are)

Join us in HHMS. Along with lifestyle strategies, we go process the emotional burden all those patterns have- which helps to move through them.

Comment HHMS below and I’ll send you the link.

I think I’ve said this in every group I’ve run and with every client I meet with.

(A gross oversimplification disclaimer)
But this:
people pleasing, being all or nothing, perfectionist (I could go on)

Is (part of) why we got MS.

These patterns we play out each day are the hardest thing to change- and they also keep us with high stress, high MS symptoms and feeling like crap in our bodies.

Changing these patterns takes awareness, focus and support- all of which you get in Holistically Healing MS.

•If you want the ability to say NO when you’d usually just say yes.. (stop overriding yourself)
•If you want to be ok with putting your needs first (cause I know you’re not lol)
•If you want to finally feel like you’re good enough and doing enough (cause you are)

Join us in HHMS. Along with lifestyle strategies, we go process the emotional burden all those patterns have- which helps to move through them.

Comment HHMS below and I’ll send you the link.
...

28 10
At some point you have to start trusting the things you’re doing will help and stop jumping to a new thing each week.

Giving up gluten one week?
Then dairy the next?
Maybe jumping into an exercise class a week later?

At some point you gotta pick 1-3 things and stick with them long enough to give them time to make changes in your body!!

Not just a day or week either.

Yes change can happen fast, but usually not that fast. You need to stick with things for long enough to see if they’ll help.

Often you give up before it has a chance to shift anything.

If you’ve been bouncing from thing to thing, throwing random things at the wall and hoping they stick, hoping something will move the needle an inch so you feel even a little bit better.. 

My course Holistically Healing MS is for you.

This is the place to find what works for you, to decrease your MS symptoms.

Comment HHMS below and I’ll send you details.

At some point you have to start trusting the things you’re doing will help and stop jumping to a new thing each week.

Giving up gluten one week?
Then dairy the next?
Maybe jumping into an exercise class a week later?

At some point you gotta pick 1-3 things and stick with them long enough to give them time to make changes in your body!!

Not just a day or week either.

Yes change can happen fast, but usually not that fast. You need to stick with things for long enough to see if they’ll help.

Often you give up before it has a chance to shift anything.

If you’ve been bouncing from thing to thing, throwing random things at the wall and hoping they stick, hoping something will move the needle an inch so you feel even a little bit better..

My course Holistically Healing MS is for you.

This is the place to find what works for you, to decrease your MS symptoms.

Comment HHMS below and I’ll send you details.
...

6 2
At one point I wanted:

•To be able to comfortably go on a walk again with my boyfriend (now husband)

•To not feel like an anxious mess every time I thought about the future (and potential disability)

• To not have waves of pain coursing throughout my body 

I don’t want those things anymore,
because I have them all.

No, I’m not totally cured of feeling anxious about the future, and I still have days (like today tbh) where I feel like a load of 💩

The difference is: 
I can manage all the symptoms
and anxiety
and feeling like 💩
better and differently than I did before, using all the tools I have accumulated over the 15(!!) years I’ve lived with MS as a patient and practitioner.

And these are the tools I share with my clients.

And the tools I share with you inside my Holistically Healing MS course.

This course is an 8 week journey into supporting your MS body so that it can begin to heal.

I know you have the same dreams as I did, 
I know because you’ve told me we’ve talked about them 🤩

I want you to have those things too.

Holistically Healing MS waitlist is closing tomorrow, comment HEALING and I’ll add you to the list.

At one point I wanted:

•To be able to comfortably go on a walk again with my boyfriend (now husband)

•To not feel like an anxious mess every time I thought about the future (and potential disability)

• To not have waves of pain coursing throughout my body

I don’t want those things anymore,
because I have them all.

No, I’m not totally cured of feeling anxious about the future, and I still have days (like today tbh) where I feel like a load of 💩

The difference is:
I can manage all the symptoms
and anxiety
and feeling like 💩
better and differently than I did before, using all the tools I have accumulated over the 15(!!) years I’ve lived with MS as a patient and practitioner.

And these are the tools I share with my clients.

And the tools I share with you inside my Holistically Healing MS course.

This course is an 8 week journey into supporting your MS body so that it can begin to heal.

I know you have the same dreams as I did,
I know because you’ve told me we’ve talked about them 🤩

I want you to have those things too.

Holistically Healing MS waitlist is closing tomorrow, comment HEALING and I’ll add you to the list.
...

14 6
I was talking to a client this week and she talked about how mad she was that she has a chronic illness.

How frustrated she was that she has to “manage this dumb disease” and “has to pay attention to everything she does”.

She also went onto say that she really wants to do all the helpful things, but just can’t get out of these stuck and frustrated feelings.

I get it- I definitely remember feeling similar feelings years ago. And I’m sure you’ve been here as well and might still be there at times.

I wanted to share the reframe that really helped her:

I told her, instead of focusing on “managing your disease”,
what if you thought about how you can set your future self up for feeling better/success/health.

Take the disease totally out of it.
What is 1 thing you can do to help your future self today?

She paused for a moment and I could almost see the light bulb go off in real time (one of my fav moments lol).

She said: that feels so much better and more doable.

If you’ve also been struggling with frustrated feelings about “managing your disease” these are the types of conversations we’ll have in Holistically Healing MS.

Yes I’ll be sharing about diet strategies, movement to help symptoms and stress management techniques, but we’ll also dive deeper into your feelings about it all.

Over the many years I’ve been working with clients, I’ve discovered that these thoughts, feelings and beliefs you have about yourself and your health are the biggest thing to stand in your way.

And when you have support to work through these feelings, you’re able to feel so much better faster.

Only those on the HHMS waitlist will get the presale price, and the opportunity to join the waitlist is dwindling (waitlist gets access next weekend!).

Comment WAITLIST below and I’ll add you to the list!!

I was talking to a client this week and she talked about how mad she was that she has a chronic illness.

How frustrated she was that she has to “manage this dumb disease” and “has to pay attention to everything she does”.

She also went onto say that she really wants to do all the helpful things, but just can’t get out of these stuck and frustrated feelings.

I get it- I definitely remember feeling similar feelings years ago. And I’m sure you’ve been here as well and might still be there at times.

I wanted to share the reframe that really helped her:

I told her, instead of focusing on “managing your disease”,
what if you thought about how you can set your future self up for feeling better/success/health.

Take the disease totally out of it.
What is 1 thing you can do to help your future self today?

She paused for a moment and I could almost see the light bulb go off in real time (one of my fav moments lol).

She said: that feels so much better and more doable.

If you’ve also been struggling with frustrated feelings about “managing your disease” these are the types of conversations we’ll have in Holistically Healing MS.

Yes I’ll be sharing about diet strategies, movement to help symptoms and stress management techniques, but we’ll also dive deeper into your feelings about it all.

Over the many years I’ve been working with clients, I’ve discovered that these thoughts, feelings and beliefs you have about yourself and your health are the biggest thing to stand in your way.

And when you have support to work through these feelings, you’re able to feel so much better faster.

Only those on the HHMS waitlist will get the presale price, and the opportunity to join the waitlist is dwindling (waitlist gets access next weekend!).

Comment WAITLIST below and I’ll add you to the list!!
...

11 2
My reality has changed a whole bunch over the years.

I started out with only a few symptoms. But I could get through the day.

Until all of a sudden I couldn’t.

All within a few years I went from “fine” to:
Having horrible symptoms, had 3 relapses and found myself with “aggressive MS”

This was not ok with me.

Eventually, I took my life into my own hands and rethought how I did most things.
I realized I had to make some changes, or else idk what else was gonna happen to me.

So I did.

I changed my diet.
I changed how I worked out.
I changed my job in the name of stress management.

This is just the tip of the iceberg.

If you want this transformation for you too (I know it’s possible) I’m launching my signature course: Holistically Healing MS in a few weeks. 

This is the course you need to get started on this path for yourself.

Only the waitlist is gonna get the pre sale price… 
Comment WAITLIST below and I’ll add you to it!!

My reality has changed a whole bunch over the years.

I started out with only a few symptoms. But I could get through the day.

Until all of a sudden I couldn’t.

All within a few years I went from “fine” to:
Having horrible symptoms, had 3 relapses and found myself with “aggressive MS”

This was not ok with me.

Eventually, I took my life into my own hands and rethought how I did most things.
I realized I had to make some changes, or else idk what else was gonna happen to me.

So I did.

I changed my diet.
I changed how I worked out.
I changed my job in the name of stress management.

This is just the tip of the iceberg.

If you want this transformation for you too (I know it’s possible) I’m launching my signature course: Holistically Healing MS in a few weeks.

This is the course you need to get started on this path for yourself.

Only the waitlist is gonna get the pre sale price…
Comment WAITLIST below and I’ll add you to it!!
...

49 9

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