My MS Diagnosis Sent Me Down a Rabbit Hole of Miracle Cure-alls” by Dr. William Sears is another in the long line of “cures” that guarantee no cures at all, but rather a life of amnesia and disinterest. Following a devastating car accident, Sears, a Chicago-based orthodontist, develops an intense interest in a young woman who has recently been paralyzed from neck cancer. His fascination with this girl and his desire to help her reclaim her life leads him into a veritable treasure trove of information that will help him discover the secrets to curing MS. But is his obsessive focus on her truly honest or is he also fooling himself? I guess only you can decide.
One of the strengths of this book is that it is driven by the author’s passion for his patients and for helping them reclaim their lives. The descriptions of all the visits he makes to the doctor’s office are colorful and entertaining and the stories themselves are a joy to read about. And, of course, some of the information is disturbing. A close friend who has had a child develop a form of MS and went into a coma was told that he would not survive. This horrifying news sent Sears to the front lines of research in an effort to find a cure for this progressive disease.
If only this story were true…wouldn’t we have seen more of it in the news if it were? What we do know is that there is no known cure for MS, but that the medications that are being used to treat the symptoms can extend the patient’s life for a number of years. As an example, while most people afflicted with MS complain of joint pain, there are some who have no physical symptoms at all. These patients would benefit greatly from using a combination of medications to relieve pain and strengthen the muscles of the body so that they can better withstand the stress of daily life. A book such as this one could be a valuable addition to the bookshelves of any doctor who treats MS patients.
I have read other books that have addressed the topic of living with MS. In these books, other authors have suggested ways that the diagnosis sent me on a wild goose chase. The author of one book suggested that a patient can live with MS for five to seven years if they can discover “the power of positive thinking.” Another author claimed, “Anybody can get rid of MS if they chose.” And, she continued, “if they chose, I am happy to tell you they can.”
It was these things that made me begin to search for answers and ultimately discover the real cause of MS. It wasn’t a fever or a shot of any type; it was something else. When I looked further into it, I discovered that there are several different types of MS and that they each manifest differently in various people. In my case, the cause of my MS was found in a group of proteins – a protein called ankyrons that my body doesn’t produce. When I began reading about this protein and how it affects my MS, I began to understand what my body was really dealing with.
It became clearer that I didn’t have to simply accept my MS diagnosis. There were other ways of looking at life that would help me deal with my disease and live a better quality of life. When I began to search the books out there and looked for helpful tips, I found some things that changed my life – and the lives of the people who are affected by MS.
One of the first things that I learned from the books was how to create new habits that would make living with MS easier. For example, instead of sitting at a desk all day long, I found myself walking, jogging, swimming, and biking daily. Instead of having a cup of coffee at my desk at night, I would have a mug of herbal tea waiting for me when I walked in the door in the morning. And, instead of pouring myself coffee when I had a craving for it, I would consume the herb-filled hot teas instead.
Once I began using these things in a consistent manner, it became obvious to me that I had to do something to reverse my MS diagnosis and get back to living a normal life. If I didn’t change my diet, I knew I would not be able to control the progression of my MS. As it is, I am a very active person and a great fan of healthy living. So, now I know that I can keep my body healthy and prevent my disease from getting worse, and I can also do things like enjoy a hobby or volunteer my time, which has helped me tremendously in my recovery.
