Staying on Interferon

" And I was diagnosed the first thing until my doctor was not that's -- I'm not given up the mountain biking you figure out a way for this to happen which was a really fair to him -- I I think it actually. Maintaining activity in maintaining. The lifestyle. And really focusing on the quality of life. For yourself is the best thing you."

" Do yourself Lisa pack is a lawyer a professional cyclist and a woman with MS. It was a frightening diagnosis for an athlete like Lisa especially since years ago she had grown up with a man suffering from the same disease."

" She had a very serious form of -- and she was in a wheelchair and that was -- exposure as a young child and crying out to add -- that there wasn't a whole lot of progress at least and that some day and age."

" That could be done about it today however new medications called interferon has changed the outlook for some people with -- MS. People like Lisa and -- a nurse and mother."

" And the answer is. I'm not curable yet. Bill I have hopes. I would -- But there are injectable therapies. That can control the -- con -- disability. As well loans -- frequency and severity of attacks -- interferon therapy for me has been a real confident. Because in first year after my diagnosis. My -- was very active there aggressive I think five. I mean not since. -- needs time. -- I started in here on your. A few I didn't recruit can actually in my abilities as opposed to the first year human announced. So and I'm very very least."

" But for people within the -- coping with the disease means more than just dealing with symptoms."

" I think it's really important that people who are diagnosed without masks that they do reach out. Two family friends personally speaking that was hard at first because I'm very independent doing yourself kind of person. I didn't like the idea of having to ask for help. But what I've learned is. That MS doesn't affect just me -- actually does effect of people around me and the more I can bring them in and actually allow them to help. The better off we all are because then they don't feel so helpless and they don't feel."

" Like it's a battle for them sometimes it's important to reach out to the people who best understand. Other people with them yes."

" I think that it is really important to connect with PMS community and rather than being freighter -- from what you like seeing. And I think we'll give -- strength. -- to have to keep in mind I think everybody's experience but then announced he is very unique. And what you've -- one person sitting next to this not necessarily what your future's going to be."

" I know that for me it the most frustrating thing is for anyone to feel pity. I mean that would veterans and crazy. Because I don't feel victimized but frequently I feel extremely frustrated. And sometimes it's nice to talk to someone who knows that you go through when -- gets more severe nursing support may be necessary. It is out there and there are ways to do it so that you can stand her home. Now we're not -- two to go to run nursing care facility. To get the kind of that you -- what's key is keeping life as normal as possible. Even if adjustments have to be made there are days I can't ride the bike outside because I'm having seizures are problems. I get on a stationary bike and I ranked between a door frame so that they don't fall over -- where any other. But I do something to China keep going and then there days you just. You know gonna say oh well maybe -- at times taken a moving."

" I was a runner. Prior to my diagnosis. Long -- still kind of a little tough for me so I want and depending on the day I can. Who walk and unlimited. Distances. Another day is I'm lucky if I can go around the block twice and trying. Can do that's what I do and -- select a garden but my hand sometimes get to teach quickly. And so what I do listen just for count in the garden for short periods of time more frequently."

" New treatments are changing the outlook for people with MS making it possible for them to maintain an active life doing the things they love. I really think that when you treated disease chronic disease such as MS it's gotta be a real whole body experience and there's something to be said for. But the positive aspect that you get when you just go outside and are active in some way shape or form. It it keeps you alive and so at whatever level whether it's being professional cyclists like -- Or whether it's taken a walk around the block with your kids or pushing a stroller or jumping in the pool once in awhile I think you gotta do it."