I'm Thankful For The MS

Today was a rough one physically. The MS symptoms are worse than usual. My legs and hips are in great pain, they're very stiff, and my knees and calves are extremely numb. Even still, I got out of bed (way too early thanks to you know who), we ate and stayed clean all day long. I even managed to do some laundry and cook dinner.

There are many out there with disabilities that can't say the same. There are many single moms out there who face more challenges than I. Can't we all say that? There's always someone out there who has it worse. That rings more positive than saying there's always someone out there who has it better. It's all about knowing how to count our blessings and being able to accept God's will for our lives.

With that said, here's why I'm thankful I have MS:

1. I get to stay at home with my little boy every day. This would not have been possible for us without my disability benefits.
2. I get handicapped parking spots - Legitimately!
3. Handicapped parking is FREE at airports no matter how long you park in short term. (Did you know that? Yes, it rocks.)
4. It's forcing me to eat supremely healthy right now which may very well prevent cancer later on.

With all the pain and challenges in my life, I wouldn't trade it for another. That's a good feeling.

DAY SEVEN - One Week (Minus Thanksgiving)

I don't know if Dr. Andrew would count this week since I had two huge cheating days but I think I'm going to count it regardless. I'm feeling better today than I was yesterday. I have a good feeling that I'll be even better tomorrow. The worst symptom today has been the icy cold nerve pain going on in my feet. It feels like I've been walking barefoot on ice.

My overall physical temperature today:
Fatigue - 3
Numbness - 7
Pain - 4
TOTAL = 14

DAY FIVE - Back on the wagon

Day 5: November 24, 2007

Happy Happy Thanksgiving! God bless scones, turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, pie and sweet cheesecake. I cheated not one day but TWO!! Everyone knows that Thanksgiving food tastes even better the day after. I had an amazing day with my family eating loads of food and lazing around. Not good for the body but oh so good for the soul. I paid for it, however. Today when I woke up, I felt worse than I'd felt in a long time. I was incredibly numb and stiff. Therefore, it feels really good to be back on the program.

First thing: green drink and probiotic
Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs, strawberries and goats milk yogurt
Lunch: turkey soup, cashews
Dinner: all natural chicken hot dog, turkey soup w/ carrots, onion, red pepper

DAY THREE - There's An Absence

Day Three: November 21, 2007

I encourage everyone to visit www.upbuttcoconut.com

I shopped at Whole Foods yesterday so I was able to stock up on some "Level One-Appropriate" foods for a little more variety. My palette gets bored easily. Having few new things to eat in this daily routine has made it a little easier today. (I was also able to pick up some Two Bite cranberry-orange scones at Whole Foods for Thanksgiving. Try these. They are little triangles of Heaven.)

First thing: 10 oz green drink and probiotic
Breakfast: goats milk yogurt berry smoothie, fried egg
Lunch: carrots and red pepper with Goddess dressing, chicken hot dog (nope, not sick of them yet), raw cashews
Snack: raw cashews, boiled egg
Dinner:Annie's Organic Tomato Soup (I cheated a little, this has organic cream in it), all natural turkey slices

This is day 3 for me on a pretty strict diet. I'm thinking a lot today about how much importance i place on food each day. Before three days ago, I ate what sounds good, I ate what makes me feel good, and I really looked forward to meals and snacks. Generally, I ate whenever I felt hungry. Now I'm very aware of this absence in my day. The absence of being satisfied by food.

Thanksgiving is tomorrow. I realize a little more right now just how very spoiled I am. I have access to so much food. I have access to Whole Foods! My cupboards and fridge are stocked. Now I'm experiencing an absence in my diet and it's throwing me off. But what about the millions and millions of people in this world who live with that absence? There are children who live with this absence. God have mercy on them and show us all how we can help more.

Tomorrow my house will be full of friends celebrating our gratitude together. I believe God does want us to enjoy what we do have. But we must do so with grateful hearts. Thank you, thank you and thank you. Amen.

DAY TWO - Onward

Day Two: November 20, 2007

Made it through day one! Now how many more days until I can eat waffles for breakfast again?

Overall, I'm feeling pretty decent today. Just knowing that I'm doing something positive for my health can really affect how I feel. Attitude is so important. But having the positive attitude and the healthy confidence that can beat disease is easier said than done. I've spent too many years fretting over my pain and worrying about the future. I can give myself a solid pep talk because I know how important our mind's role is in our overall health. But convincing our soul is another story. And that's the part that matters! I need to know and believe deep down that I'm going to get better and I know I will. But sometimes I doubt. Too often I doubt. So how do I go about making that internal shift? I believe the only answer is prayer. My own prayer and the prayers of so many others. I know so many people pray for me. That's a beautiful thing.

Here's the diet for day two:

First thing: 10 oz. green drink and a probiotic
Breakfast: hard boiled eggs, grapefruit, water
Lunch: all natural chicken hot dogs (these things are so good - I hope I don't get sick of them), avocado, peas, kefir drink and water
Snacks: raw cashews, 10 oz green drink
Dinner: all natural chicken-apple sausage and spinach salad

Through it all, lots and lots of water.

The doctor gave me the go ahead to eat freely on Thanksgiving and for this I am very grateful. I am already dreaming of the stuffing, the potatoes, the pie. Ah, sweet pie.

Overall physical temperature:
Fatigue - 5
Numbness - 5
Pain - 4
TOTAL + 14 (One degree better already! Woo hoo!!)

DAY ONE - The Diet Has Begun

Day One: November 19, 2007

I'm Dawn Gusty and I have MS. December, 2007 will mark my 10th anniversary of being diagnosed. I live just outside Nashville with my wonderful husband, John, my sweet little boy Reagan (2), and my way cool step-son, Vann (10).

My condition has steadily declined over the past 2-3 years. It's time to turn that around. I'm ready to make some serious changes and see some improvement. I'm tired of feeling blechy. There's too much left in this life to do and it's not an option for me to be disabled. I've got two little boys to watch grow and I want to be a part of it!

The purpose of this blog is to keep me accountable on my journey to health. I don't presume that everyone out there cares what I eat each day and how I feel. However, I'm going to use my imaginary HUGE audience to keep me on track. I'm going to imagine that there are thousands of you reading my page each day to see how well I'm doing. Maybe someone out there with MS has found my page. If so, then maybe this information will help you in some way.

So what am I doing? I believe we are what we eat. I believe that my body can heal itself if it has the proper internal environment.

I start today, Monday, November 19 on a new program called "8 Weeks To Extraordinary Health" developed by Dr. Asa Andrew. Weeks 1-3 are Level One - The Anti-Inflammatory Level. It's easier to list the items I CAN eat rather than the items I can't since those are too many. I CAN eat: clean meat, goats milk dairy, eggs, almost all vegetables, a few fruits, and raw nuts. (More details on him and the program once I hear it's o.k. to deliver.)

That's pretty strict! Yikes. I have eaten very healthy in the past few years and have recently given up dairy and wheat but, gosh, this is healthy supreme. This is serious. And I like to eat and I love to snack. That will be the hardest part.

The comedian, Brian Reagan, said his doctor told him to give up dairy and he said, "why not just give up happiness?" Then he described his first trip to the grocery store going dairy free. He said everyone in the dairy section was wearing party hats as he sullenly walked by to the juice isle. Well, I feel that way about everyone in just about every section of the grocery store.

Obviously, attitude plays into our health just as much as what we eat. So, I guess I should stop moping about everyone wearing a party hat except me. Perhaps I should see it as ME wearing the party hat because I should celebrate the fact that I'm getting well.

So here's to my new journey and my new diary friends. I know you care a great deal about what I'm eating on my first day so here's the diet: (You have to care, otherwise the accountability thing doesn't work.)

First thing: 10 oz green powder juice and probiotic
Breakfast: 2 eggs scrambled in organic butter with fresh spinach and goat cheese, green tea
Lunch: all natural chicken hot dog, broccoli, crispy kale (recipe to follow), tomatoes, water and green tea
Reagan and I had frozen blueberries for dessert (if you've got a good enough imagination, it's almost like eating a popsicle)
Snacks: raw almonds, avocado
Dinner: tuna steak, tomatoes, butternut squash and more water

My first day wasn't so bad. The only hard part was that I never felt full! Around dinner time, I started snacking on anything I was allowed to eat and never really felt satisfied. But this is just day one. I'm hoping my body will adjust as the days pass.

Overall physical "temperature": (Out of ten, ten being the worst or strongest feeling)
Fatigue - 6
Numbness - 5
Pain - 4
TOTAL= 15