Information and opinions on Multiple Sclerosis from Kristin at MultipleSclerosisCentral.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191 http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191 http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191/92636/inspira Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:45:44 -0400 Kristin As some of you have read in my past posts, I participate in the Bike MS here in DC which is a 100 mile 2-day ride in the foothills of the Shenandoahs. (O.K. so I haven't actually ridden 100 miles since 2000, but I usually eek out about 25 - 30 without training so I think that is pretty good)   My husband just forwarded me this link I thought was so inspirational in a matter of fact way that I wanted to share it with everyone. It is about... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191/92636/inspira http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191/89732/it-again Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:00:57 -0400 Kristin Last year, around this time I wrote about the MS Challenge Walk (2 days, 50K closer to a cure). Well I just completed my 4th Challenge Walk this past Sunday. I just re-read my post from last years walk and I realized that both people who I mentioned (Joy & Ann - not their real names) participated in the event again. There are SOOOO many repeat walkers in the event, it just amazes me.   The walk this year was as good as in the past. I... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191/89732/it-again http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191/42723/50k-wasn Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:40:59 -0400 Kristin I say that as my legs are aching as I sit on my couch writing this post. Well another Challenge Walk is over for me - my 3rd now. And it was a great experience - even with sore feet, sore legs and aching hips. And the reason why it was great is because I was once again able to do it all. And I was joined by probably over 30 others who have MS as well as 450 family & friends who don't have MS.   I have said this before to my support... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191/42723/50k-wasn http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191/41334/counting Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:58:35 -0400 Kristin I was asked today when the Challenge Walk -  MS was taking place and it dawned on me - OMG IT IS IN 10 DAYS! I can say that this is truly going to be a test of strength because I have not trained as much as I should have. But I have done a couple 8-milers, a 7-miler & 3-miler and will probably do another 6-7 miler tomorrow morning. It is going to hurt when I do the 50K though, I just know it because it hurts when I do the 8... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191/41334/counting http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191/40332/donve Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:14:06 -0400 Kristin Hi everyone, long time, no talk - at least from me. It was summer (that is my easy answer - I have another reason for not writing for so long, but I will discuss that in a future post). I have been reading some of the posts throughout the summer and I am glad to see so many new people are writing on the site. Merely Me talked about a song she couldn't get out of her head and one keeps going through mine since I heard it on the tv almost... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191/40332/donve http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191/30925/sexy Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:37:16 -0400 Kristin   They are gone! Not that I had sexy legs in the first place but now, they are splotchy. I know a woman who does the Challenge Walk-MS every year so that she doesn't have to get the shots anymore. I haven't written directly about the Rebif in a while and thought I'd write about the effects and see if anyone had any other suggestions beyond the ones I have already heard.   So far, I have only had one instance where I was embarrassed... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191/30925/sexy http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191/27408/5-shot Fri, 09 May 2008 00:31:47 -0400 Kristin No, I am not talking about a video game. Last week, after weeks of asking, I let my oldest "push the button" and give me my shot in my leg. Talk about being proud! She had asked to give me the shot when I was taking my Avonex. I told her that would be awhile but when I had to switch to Rebif, with the auto-inject, her wish became more realistic.   So last week, I set up the needle in the Rebiject, my younger daughter rubbed the alcohol on... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191/27408/5-shot http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191/25390/drugs Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:07:47 -0400 Kristin   Help for the cost of medicine. Lets face it, treating MS, and for that matter, any disease is not a cheap thing. And many people describe me as being cheap (I prefer thrifty) so paying for these medicines  "hurts" me especially when it changes cost after I made my FSA election. But in reality, it isn't that bad because we have insurance and my husband works. But for some people, the cost of the medicine is too much of a burden and... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191/25390/drugs http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191/21961/heat Tue, 18 Mar 2008 08:00:00 -0400 Kristin Ok, so this is not something you typically hear someone with MS say. However, in the case of Rebif, I wholeheartedly agree. A couple weeks ago, I mentioned that the Serono rep that called me to check in suggested that I bring the shot to body temperature to help ease the sting of the shot. And I mentioned that it did seem to decrease the length of the sting. However, the severity of the sting was still there. And it STUNG! A LOT! And as I said,... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191/21961/heat http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191/21348/crazy Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:16:00 -0400 Kristin It drives me crazy sometimes to hear expert doctors go on about being pregnant as being beneficial for MS. At a speech given by Dr. Caroline Whitacre, PhD at the National MS Society's national conference, she said, "Pregnancy is the best treatment for multiple sclerosis."(I read that in the most recent issue of Momentum, the National MS Society's magazine) For me, it was the WORST treatment for my MS. I have been pregnant... http://www.healthcentral.com/multiple-sclerosis/c/6191/21348/crazy