Discussion Board

Is Deb Tasic still on here? I didn't see her on the list, but that just might be me. I was wondering how she was doing now and if she still didn't take the MS drugs.

I want to go off MS meds and talked to my neurologist about it. I believe that she is a good person that really wants to do the very best for her patients and to give them any chance that there is out there to halt progression of the disease, etc. The thing is I am really torn about the drugs. I told her that I didn't want to stay on copaxone as the side effects make me miserable every day. She got upset and asked that I at least just take them twice a week so that at least some will be in my system. If the injections make me miserable EVERY day and there is only a chance that they will help me in the future it seems like a no brainer to me, but I have been wrong.

I know that she can't MAKE me take them. It's not that. It is just the not KNOWING if I am making the right decision that I am having trouble dealing with. The "What if's" are driving me nuts!! I have too many things wrong with me that have similar symptoms and I can't figure out where one thing leaves off and another begins.

Like this: I was in real physical pain for the first 3 plus months of this year (and other things) and I don't know if it was the Crohns, MS or something else that caused it. One doctor said what difference did it make, in my case, to put a name to it as there is not much I can do but treat symptoms. If that is really the case then maybe I just need to find another way to cope??? I just don't know.

I know that in the end I need to make the decision myself, but I am so overwhelmed. I need to pick up test results today to see if I need even more tests to see if the cancer is back again.

I just so want to wash my hands of it all and go eat vegetables.

Sorry, really needed to vent.

I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Deb Tassic and I am unfamiliar with her having a presence on these forums. If she is I welcome her to make herself known and jump in. She has a remarkable story and it's a motivating one for so many. I would drop a note to Dr. McDougall as he may have updates on her.
I do hope this way of eating impacts your issues. I'll be looking to see if you make progress.
Good luck.
f1jim

f1jim Thank you for your reply. I thought because she was on the Star McDougaller page that she might have been on here. You are so right in that she has a remarkable and inspiring story!

I don't know how to contact him, will see if I can figure it out. Also thank you for the encouragement.

Use "drmcdougall@drmcdougall.com"
f1jim

Thank you again f1jim. Will give that a shot.

I am in shock f1jim. I wrote to him and got answers to my questions right away and I am not even a patient of his!!!!!

I couldn't even get my oncologist or PCP to call me when I had cancer and the test results were on their desks for over a week! Nurses told me so!

A comparison I won't soon forget! Wish he was my doctor

Made up my mind to stop copaxone and do the diet. I don't want to put that crap in my body anymore. Have spent a fair amount of time looking and reading Dr Swanks info and study results too.

Going to eat my vegetables and turn the rest over to God.

I think we ALL wish Dr. McD was our doctor! Good luck and keep us posted!

Thank you ETeSelle.

I've had a lot to think about since I first posted this. Someone I went to school with (just a few months older than me) died about a week ago after a long and courageous battle with MS. It hit me on so many levels! All of the obvious reasons of course. Thoughts of the toll this disease must have taken on him and on those that loved and cared for him. Too young to die. Too hard a way to die. What if? If only?

I'll admit that it also rattled my cage for my own selfish reasons too.

When I was a kid I was taught how to swim this way: After dog paddling around the pond, wearing my life preserver, it was decided that it was time for me to learn how to swim without it. My life preserver was taken off and I was thrown in the deep end and told to "sink or swim". I swam. (By the way I wouldn't recommend you teach a kid this way, but it did work in my case. I'm still here). What does this have to do with MS? I kind of felt the same way about the decision to stop copaxone. I really wondered if I was throwing myself in the deep end without a life preserver? Who knows? Maybe I am, but I am not going in with a cement block tied to my foot!

I go to my neurologist tomorrow and am telling her no more copaxone. We ARE going to discuss diet this time!

never give up

As far as I'm concerned Dr. McDougall IS my doctor, Jeff Novick is my nutritionist and Doug Lisle is my shrink. At $20 bucks a video, it's cheaper than the $25 doctor co-pay my insurance costs.

Kate

Have you ever thought about going to one of the 10-day programs? It's my understanding that once you do, Dr. McDougall WILL be your doctor and can treat you as a patient. Considering the severity of your issues, I think it would be worth the investment of both time and money! If I were in your situation, I'd fire my other doctors and invest the money I saved from stopping the potentially harmful medication and put it toward truly restoring my health!...Just my opinion! I wish you all the best!

I agree. W/ a problem that severe I would be making plans to attend the 10-day program to get some serious one-on-one time w/ Dr. McD.

Thank you kirstykay and ETeSelle for your suggestions. Trust me, I have looked at that option over and over again. I would absolutely LOVE to go and would gratefully do it in a second if I could.

We have looked at it from every angle and there is just no way to come up with the money to fly there, let alone pay for the 10 day program. I only have Drs/meds because we have medical insurance. If I did not have that, then I could quite possibly be dead or at least wish I was. (I will leave that there).

There's no cable/dish tv (we have an antenna), no vacations for years, my husband cuts my hair, our clothes are second hand from places like Good Will, our vehicles are old....

One of our big extravagances is having the internet. I think you probably see my drift.

I have what is more important though, a husband and family that loves me, a roof over my head, food for my table, medical insurance, so I am incredibly rich compared to many people I know.

There is just nothing to cut out to come up with that kind of money. It is what it is. You folks, the info from the good Drs you all speak of (that I can find on the internet) will have to be my "everyday program" and I am very grateful for finding you.

Just an update on my MS. All last spring/summer/fall I was trapped in my home when it was hot and or humid. I had to go from air conditioning to air conditioning or just stay home. I had 3 especially frightening episodes, when my DH wasn't home, that made me afraid to go outside alone for even a few minutes. That was even using a cooling vest! I got so weak, shakey and lightheaded that I felt like I was going to pass out. I had to pull myself up using the porch railing and lay on the floor inside before I had the strength to get myself to my bed. Yes it took 3 times to get it through my head to stop being so stubborn and try to learn to accept it. I was eating the SAD way at the time.

I also paid for trips to the store or where ever (even with airconditioning) with overwhelming exhaustion that would keep me in bed sometimes for more than a day.

This weekend I went to a family reunion. We sat in the shade outside for over 3 hours! The only thing that set me apart from the rest of the family was my cooling vest. I had a blast. I wasn't weak, shaky, light headed and it was hot! No one had to help me to do anything, including getting me to my car and home.

The only thing that I have changed is switching to this WOE. Is everything perfect? No, but last year I organized the reunion and couldn't even go. Just look what I did this summer! I even came home and just after a brief lay down had the energy to make supper! Vegetables of course.

For those reading this and needing personal encouragement, please check out Deb Tasic's story (Star McDougaller). Dr McDougall's MS study results are just around the corner.

That's wonderful!