MS - The Early Years

When i was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in August 2007, i was completely devastated.  I was 28 years old and in my prime until suddenly I was hit with this nuclear bomb.  The previous 12 months were the hardest of my life and the next 12 months post diagnosis proved equally as difficult.

So many questions and just no answers is an extremely difficult position to find yourself in.  MS is one of those conditions whereby no 2 people are the same and there is a real lack of information around as to how it effects you and what the long term prognosis may be.

What i know now is YOU CAN BEAT MS.  I am beating it and many many more people all over the world are winning their battles.  One important point to note is the MS'er who runs the marathons and reaches the mountain peak is no better or braver than the MS'er who walks 10 metres on a cane one day when he couldnt do it the day before.  Any progress is great news and i would encourage all MS'ers or anyone who knows somone effected to get them to find people who have beat the condition and use them as an inspiration to help you with your fight. 

When I found out about Montel Williams and how he was fighting back to win the battle I immediatly had a spring in my step and starterd to plan my fightback.  I then came across other people with the disease who were equally as brave and equally as successful in winning the battle.

Its important that you kepe fighting as every day brings a new opportunityy.  Last week i was on the ropes for a few days as my symptoms decided to mess with my body but this week i have TKO'd the MS and am back winninng the battle. 

You do not drown if you fall in water, you only drown if you stay there...

and remember........... #AttitudeIsEverything and #NeverGiveUp

MS and the seven year rule theory

I made the decission to write my own book in 2011, as i was starting to realise that i could actually help people by me sharing my own story in relation to my positive MS experience.  I am nearly finished the manuscript and really looking forward to seeing the book in my hand come September/October later this year. 

As part of my research i have been studying other MS'ers and looking at how they have been fighting back against the disease.  One of my MS heros is the American talkshow host Montel Williams.  He was diagnosed with MS over 10 years ago and is now a very active MSAwareness campaigner.  He has written many best sellers on his own MS experience and i would encourage you to read his accounts and experiences as he makes some excellent points and shares lots of tips on how to beat this space invader. 

One theory he shares with his readers is in his book Climbing Higher is his experience when he had his first consultation with Dr Olson who was a director of the Department of Molecular Medicine at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.  Dr Olson explained to Montel the “seven year rule”, which was however you are for seven years, will be how you are for the next seven years.  If you have experienced any level of worsening or degradation over a seven year period, it is likely this will be repeated over the following seven year period.  If you stay flat you will likely stay flat.  If you have one episode in seven years you will likely have one episode in the next seven years .  Dr Olson advised Montel that this would likely be the rule of thumb to you reach a certain age, where it seems to be cancelled. 

I thought this was very interesting and when people like Dr Olson talk i would tend to listen.  have any of you cme across this theory and if so what are your views.  I am nearly 6 years into my MS situation and the first 2.5yrs were extremely difficult but thankfully the last few years i am winning the battle.  Lets hope the next seven years remain the same as the last few. 

No matter how you feel today people remember to #NeverGiveUp and #AttitudeIsEverything *_*

Business As Usual

When i got dx with MS in 2007, i thought that my career in business was pretty much over.  How was i going to be able to work and have a successful career, with the way i was feeling and the daily symptoms i was experiencing.  I have always been very entrepreneurial and from an early age i have been ambitious to do the best i can and be the best i can.  I qualified as a chartered surveyor in 2005 and was doing quite well in the property industry in Northern Ireland despite my young age when dissaster struck through my illness.  However the future didnt look too bright now and how was i going to support Kate going forward if i wasnt able to work and build my dreams.  A very difficult time and im sure other MS'ers reading this can relate to it. 

Once i started to turn the tables on the MS, i also started to believe in myself again, that i could be an entrepreneur and achieve in life whatever i put my mind to.  This is exactly what i did.  Through personal development i got my desire back and  belief in myself and started to set about putting the structures in place that would support me financially in later life.  I started to study successful people over the next 2 years to include Warren Buffett, Donald Trump, Robert Kiosaki, Jim Rohn, James Allen, Heny Ford etc etc...  I did this through reading and studying various pieces of literature and books.  I started to work out what i needed to do to have a chance of having a successful career.  In the past 24 months i have put alot of the material i learned through this period of personal development into play.  Today i am running a very successful Real Estate and Corporate Restructuring business in the form of The GDP Partnership.  I also own a Real Estate Consultancy business in form of Devine Commercial.  The business world is extremely difficult right now and my view is it will get tougher over the next few years.  Regardless of the terrain, if you want to start your your own businss you can despite the challenges you face.  MS will never dictate to me and stop me from doing business - that is one sure thing!!!  Whatever you are at today have a great day and remember #AttitudeIsEverything and #NeverGiveUp :))

Paul Mc Closkey - True Irish Warrior

Lat night Paul Mc Closkey lost a boxing match to a very dangerous and experienced opponent from USA in the fom of Demarcus Corley.  Yes thats what happened - he lost a boxing match.  The fight was stopped in the 10th round when Corley caught Mc Closkey with a right hook to the head.  The ref jumped in and stopped the fight which in my opinion was the right thing to do as Paul was clearly hurt and we have seen too many times the devastating effects boxing can have if fights are not stopped when the boxer cannot defend himself.  In terms of the fight itself, Paul was certainly not at his best but like alot of his bouts he grew stronger as the fight went on and if he had of kept out of trouble the liklihood was he would have won the fight on points.  Unfortunatley we will never know if that would have happened however what we do know is that Paul Mc Closkey is one of Irelands true warriors who like many boxers sacrificed almost everything for the sport and the family he loves.  Today Paul will be feeling pretty flat and dissapointed which is a normal reaction to the dissapointment of last night.  However Paul its not the falling down that counts but the staying down. Every boxer on earth gets beat, and the best get back up, dust themselves down and pushe on with their life.  No matter what Paul decides to do whether he boxes on or retires or whatever, the facts are that he has inspired thousands of Irish all over the world to chase their dreams.  Its people like Paul Mc Closkey who inspires me to keep fighting against MS and to never give up on my battle.  For that i an truly grateful and i havet met you in person yet Paul but i will some day and when i do i will thank you in person.  Fair play to you on your efforts so far and whatever you chose to do next, keep inspiring buddy.  Goodnite all and remember #AttitudeIsEverything and #NeverGiveUp

DMD's Yes or No? to help in Fight against MS

When i was dx in 2007 my neurologist advised me to start a course of disease modifying drugs immediately.  He explained that these drugs will not prevent MS from developing however he told me that they will help me and slow down the progression of the disease.  As i was not an expert in MS and neurology, i was happy to take the advice on board and started a course of Rebiff Interferon.  Very quickly i worked out that the Rebiff was not agreeing with my body and in fact i was getting sicker if anything, so i went back to my neuro and he told me to come off it and go on Copaxone.  That i did and to this day i inject every morning my daily dose of copaxone.  I meet some people who have MS and they are very against medication and i respecrt their views.  However there has been some incredible advances in medicine in the past 20 years and i would now clearly advise others to look into DMD's and in my experience i feel they may help with your fight against the MS.  Its important to get on the right drug though as in my experience i had to try another one first before i found one that suited my body.  I am now certain that Copaxone along with the other parts of my plan has helped me beat the MS and i will continue to take it to help me with my daily battle.  Have a great day all and remember #AttitudeIsEverything and #NeverGiveUp

My MS Story

When i started to turn the tables on the MS, i slowlyy but surely started to get my confidence back and believe in myself again.  Over the past 2 years since i took control, i have been setting goals and smashing personal goals which has been great.  For the first few years i didnt want people to know i had MS as i still had'nt accepted my condition and to be honest my head was in a spin.  However gradully i started to accept where i was and when i was ready i came out and started to talk to friends, family and strangers about what had happened to me.  I very quickly starterd to understand that the people i spoke to thought i had a great story to tell and epecially when i staretd to talk to other MS sufferers i could see that my positive experience was giving them some hope and bite back.  For this reason i decided last year to write a book of my MS experience knowing that through my recovery and positive outcome i can help others believe in themselves.  Can i say this is not limited to MS as i now believe that every illness is beatable with the one condition ---  you have to start with the belief that you can actually win the battle.  If you have the belief and build a plan around this, you can become unstoppable.  I am looking forward to releashing my book later this year and hope to finish the manuscript in the next few weeks before it hits the publishers.  When the book is out i will be officuially an "Author" --- i never thought i would have that in my CV... :) Have a great day all and remember #AttitudeIsEverything and #NeverGiveUp

Marathon Man - Running all over Multiple Sclerosis

Hi everyone - i have just been accepted today to take part in this years New York Marathon.  I want to share with you that i am very excited at this news and over the next couple of weeks i will be putting a plan in place which will get my body in the right condition to tackle and achieve my next big goal in November this year.

I am so grateful that my health is in such good shape that i am in a position to run the marathon later this year.  As i write this i am acutely aware of the hundreds of thousands of MS sufferers out there who even walking 10 metres is a major challenge.  When i am running through the streets of New York City with my Ipod bopping in my ears,  i will be running thinking of every single person with MS. I will be thinking of all the 2.5million or so people dx worldwide and i will be running with the hope that you all find some peace and improvement in your condition no matter how small that may be. I dreamt a few years ago that i would beat this space invader and i will continue to spread my positive message in the hope that it inspires even one person to start and fight back and beat MS.  Remember all *** #AttitudeIsEverything and #NeverGiveUp

Being hit by a Bus

One of the worst things about having this beast MS, is first thing in the mornings.  I have been dx now 5.5 years and every monring when i wake up i feel as if ive been hit by a London double decker bus.  I am sure many of you MS'ers out there can relate to this.  Thankfully though after some time my body comes round and i start to feel better.  I was up this morning at 6.05am, and went for my early bird 4 mile run, and although it was pretty tough, it aso felt great.  5.5 years ago i thought i was never going to be able to run again, but once i got my plan in place and started to beat the MS i am now running marathons, 1/2 marathons and participating in other events.  Have a great day all and remember #Atitudeiseverything and #NeverGiveUp

Hi everyone - i do a MS questions and answers on twitter once a week where i answer 10 questions on MS.  They can be anything at all, however the answers are all my own experiences.  Every single person who has MS is effected differently as there are over 50 symptoms.  Just be careful and keep fighting every single day. Never Give Up.  MS is beatable in my view and i continue to win the battle.  Have a great day :))