Jessica's Journey with MS

Jessica's Journey with a NEW DIET!! Day ONE

2012-01-23T17:01:00.000-08:00

Well hi there everyone!

Over the weekend I was able to go grocery shopping and set a goal to get all healthy foods...and I did it!!!

The trick I've established, is to only buy a weeks worth of groceries at one time.

Here's what I got

1 zucchini
1 squash
2 tomatoes
1 bell pepper
1 orange bell pepper
1 round of asparagus
2 apples
1 package of strawberries
1 can of mandarin oranges (In light syrup since I couldn't find them in water)
1 can peaches (in water I think)
Cottage cheese
Sliced chicken breast (the only kind I could find that was processed!)
REAL cheese block (Its not processed cheese, it's MUCH better for you)
Chicken breast
thinly sliced pork cuts (Perfect portion size)
Whole wheat chibatta bread

My whole deal is to eat healthy and eat REAL food. My neurologist made a really good suggestion when I saw her the other week. She suggested if I couldn't read the ingredients, then I probably shouldn't be eating it. So anything that had fancy scientific names, I didn't buy. You'd be surprised how many things I couldn't get!

My goals are to eat more fruit and veggies, less fats and sweets and fried foods, and always eat breakfast.

My menu for today was

Strawberries with cottage cheese for breakfast
Sandwich with chicken breast, cheese, mayo, and 2 big slices of tomato for lunch with half an apple
and pork, squash, zucchini, tomato sauteed together...with the other half of my apple, a couple cuts of cheddar, and half a piece of bread. PERFECT...I'm not too full and I don't feel empty...later on I will have some strawberries =)

I'm only drinking water, lemonade, or unsweetened tea...

I'm hoping and praying I can stick to this!!

"Go Buy Milk!"

2012-01-07T08:27:00.000-08:00

So far, college is a little boring...but then again, it was the first week.

Biology is OK, I think I'll do good as long as I study the definitions.

English is hilarious. The teacher is..."interesting" and I should get through it with an A as long as I revised the lard out of my essays.

College Algebra is going to be a piece of cake. Not only is it all stuff I know from basic and intermediate algebra, but the teacher explains EVERY detail that I am yawning by the end of class.

I have yet to start Spanish because it won't begin until Tuesday evening. The class is from 5:30-8:30pm.

I was able to get a work study job at a local private school! This will look great on my resume after I'm certified to be a teacher.

In other news, my lovely clean house isn't so lovely anymore...college changes everything!

Now I need to read Biology, study the words, and do some English homework...

~Jessica Karin Best

So Far So Good

2012-01-02T13:52:00.000-08:00

So far, nothing has made my tummy hurt, so we're good! I've had peaches, and some cheese it's. Tonight I'm eating my moms though, so we will see how THAT goes.

On other news, my mom took the DVR so now I have NO tv and my slow internet isn't helping me out very much. I suppose more cleaning is in order...and I think I'm going to re-arrange the furniture in the living room.

I have a list of items I need for the house, that I will work on getting after I get my school check. OH and tomorrow I call Stone Bridge Academy about a work study job.

List

Light Bulbs (Let's pray no more go out between now and when I get my check)

Pot Holders (My mom's need to be retired)

Dish Towels (I'm growing my "hope chest" for when I move into a house of my own)

Pots and Pans (Once again, "hope chest")

REAL curtains (The living room has fabric that I put on hook clamps and a cheesy pole. They're always falling off. "Hope Chest" also.)

Tool Box (This one will be a slow build for my "Hope Chest" but it will help me out a lot with home repairs.)

Glue gun refills (My wonderful boyfriend let me borrow his glue gun, but he didn't have any refills left...and I've been trying to decorate the house in a creative way to make it more of a home.)

Computer Desk (Right now I have a plastic folding table to set my computer. I would like a nice one that has drawers!)

Vent Covers (Yes, I'm afraid that one of these days, the squirrels in the chimney are going to chew through the wood, venture into our attack, and down the open vents. PLUS...it looks lazy without them on there.)

My very own vacuum cleaner! (THIS ONE is the one I want. It's bag less which means no spending money on bags, AND it looks really cool! "Hope Chest")

It's a lot for met to get, but it's all items that I need, and will help me when I move out completely on my own. Right now I'm in my moms house, while she lives with her fiance. It's rough, and lonely, but I will prevail!

~Jessica Karin Best

A New Journey Begins

2012-01-02T09:36:00.000-08:00

Today is the start I cut everything from my diet, and start slowly by eating 1-2 different foods a day in an attempt to figure out what hurts my stomach and what doesn't!

So far I know milk KILLS me...but I'm going to make sure it wasn't something I was mixing with it...

Today, I start by eating mandarin oranges. If all goes well, in between dinner and lunch I shall have some green beans, if I don't feel sick, I shall saute them in oil and herbs for dinner and see if it affects me.

Wish me luck on day #1!!

~Jessica Karin Best

Happy New Years!

2012-01-01T12:44:00.000-08:00

Happy New Years!!

I was able to spend Saturday with my boyfriend and his family, and was home by 10:30pm. The sad thing? I've been waiting forever to be able to kiss someone as that clock strikes midnight, but even since I've been in a relationship, I've yet to be around him at midnight! Perhaps next year will be the year. Another sad thing? I'm 18 years old, and when midnight came around, I was in bed, alone in my empty house...

But alas, it is a new year and I have a lot of things to look forward to!

Wednesday the 4th, my spring semester at college starts! I'm taking biology, comp 2, college algebra, AND Spanish 1! I am SO excited to finally learn another language. I'm going to prove that just because you have MS, it doesn't mean you can't do everything!

Also, next week on the 12th I will see my neurologist. I'm pretty sure he's not going to be too happy with me since I've stopped taking my Copaxone, but the truth is, I feel so much better! I haven't been as depressed, my bladder seems to be working better, AND I think I even have more energy! I just feel better overall.

Now, so many things to do, and so little time!

Happy New Years everyone =)

~Jessica Karin Best

New Acquaintances

2011-12-30T20:08:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy, interesting week. I was able to meet my boyfriend's brother from California. It's a rare visit from him and his wife, son, and newborn baby girl, so I was glad to meet him while I could.

I've been working hard on the house, and it looks AMAZING! The back porch, which has never been clean, is now nearly spotless, and the work doesn't stop there! I'm going to put plywood over some holes in the wall, and move a few things around, and finish getting rid of trash, then I will paint it at some time. Lastly, I'm going to move our second fridge out there.

The room that joins with my kitchen is just plain and dirty, so after I move the second fridge out of it, I'm going to tile the floor, and expand my kitchen!!

I think I'll move the living room around a bit tonight...IF I can push the furniture without hurting myself lol that could be my only problem =P

Tomorrow, my mom and grama might come over to have coffee with me and see my lovely little house. Then around 11 I will be leaving for my friend's brother's wedding. YAY!

Now I'm off, I hope ya'll have a wonderful Saturday!

Happy New Years!!

~Jessica Karin Best

Wrappers Thumb

2011-12-23T13:48:00.000-08:00

Well, this Christmas season I've been wrapping and cooking and wrapping some more. I must've wrapped over 30 gifts this year. (My mom has me wrap her gifts also)

Today, all my wrapping is done, and I'm finishing up some cooking. I've been making batches of chocolate covered pretzels. MMMMmm delicious!

I'll start adding photos in with my blog as soon as my boyfriend gives me back my memory card =P he took it to confiscate pictures for a Christmas present he has for me ^_^

I LOVE Christmas because I loving giving and seeing the smiles on peoples faces!

Merry Christmas everyone =)

~Jessica Karin Best

What Break?

2011-12-22T10:05:00.000-08:00

I'm on a 2 week break from college, but it hardly seems like a break at all! The past 3 days I've been watching my mom's fiance's son while he is on break from school and both his dad and my mom have been working. On top of that, I've been buying Christmas gifts, and trying to get my house nice and clean. Money is tight and the fridge is looking a little bare, hopefully today I'll be able to do some grocery shopping since my mom gets paid. School has completely bogged my creative writing, and now I'm working on flushing it from my system until school starts back up. I've found a new website called Spotify. I've been using it to find music to spark inspiration. So far it's worked, last night I wrote 2 poems, lyrics for one song, and partial lyrics to another. I was also able to create some new guitar stuff, which is nice because I've been trying to further my guitar skills, and it's seems to be paying off.

Upon other things, my MS seems to be doing very well since I've stopped taking my Copaxone. Actually, I came down with a cold last week, and usually I would have a cold for 2 weeks, get a terrible sore throat, fever, the who shabang. But this time it was much different. I got the sniffles, and was fatigued, and had a slight sore throat that didn't even last 24 hours. Now, 1 week later, I'm completely better! I didn't even have to go to the doctor!!! This, my friends, is amazing for me...I wonder if my immune system is getting back on track and fighting the real problems instead of my brain...it's a miracle, God can heal anything, I pray He's healed me! If not, I am thankful for the health I have now, because I can't complain when other people have it so much worse.

Praise the Lord! It's almost Christmas! I never celebrated Christmas until last year because my mother never celebrated it. This year is my first real Christmas because I've actually been able to purchase presents for almost everybody including my mother =)
(INTERRUPTION: My cat has decided to sit RIGHT in front of my computer screen -_-)
My Christmas weekend is soooo busy! On Saturday I will go to my Grandmas in the morning, then at 3 I will go to my boyfriends house and have Christmas eve with his family. That night, I will go to my second mommies house and spend the night and have Christmas morning with them, and then I will go to church with them, that evening I will have Christmas dinner with my boyfriend and his family, and I will either stay the night or go home Monday morning.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it to Christmas eve with my mom and her fiances family, but I will send my love in the form of food!

Praise God for the life He's given me, because He and I both know I'm not worthy of such wonderful friends and family!

Merry Christmas to everyone, ~Jessica Karin Best

Wolves and Does

2011-12-21T22:42:00.000-08:00

The wolf waits in silence For his little Jane DoeHe hides in the quiteHoping she doesn't knowHe thinks he see's her futureBut doesn't know her thoughtsThat's where she's got himThe wolf is caughtIn his own gnarly snareHe's trapped by a strand of his hairSo close to freedomBut still unawareThat deep within the thoughtsOf his own shattered mindLies the remnants of a worldFrom a whole other timeBefore he fell from the starsBefore his wounds and scarsWhen he ran beside little Jane DoeNow the wolf waits in silenceFor his little Jane DoeHe hides in the quietHoping she doesn't know

First Semester OVER

2011-12-21T22:07:00.000-08:00

Well everyone, I've made it through my first semester of college!!!Yes, this girl with multiple sclerosis has made it through with a 4.0!!My disability can't slow me down, watch me smile, watch it frown!I'm now trying to wash school out of my system during break so I can truly relax, and get into touch with my musical side once again. LIVE LAUGH LOVE!~Jessica Karin Best

Moment of Silence

2011-12-21T22:00:00.000-08:00

I need an inspiration to show me life
Teach me to stand tall, be strong, and wise
Don't let me fall into the hands of the wicked
Lift me up, let me live and show me what faith is

I need a moment of silence
Hear me speak, hear me try this
This living to love, this love for life and all that is within
I need a moment of silence
Hear my heart, hear my triumph
Each step I take is a memory made, that shapes me in every way

Guide my eyes to see the truth
Help my feet to follow you
Let my arms reach out to those
Who are left in the cold to hurt alone

Don't let me be just another person
Who forgets their one and only purpose
To go out into the world speak your word show your love
Tell them how you heal the lame, hold the weak, and guide us from above

I need a moment of silence
Hear me speak, hear me try this
This living to love, this love for life and all that is within
I need a moment of silence
Hear my heart, hear my triumph
Each step I take is a memory made, that shapes me in every way

I want to tell them of the empty grave
and every life you have saved
When you sent your one and only son
To die on the cross our sins to pay

There is no greater love than this
Sing Hallelujah, praise the Lord
There is no greater love than this
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Christ the Savior was born

~Written by Jessica Karin Best

MS and College

2011-11-27T10:52:00.001-08:00

So far I've been feeling good. My only problem? Paying for expenses while going to college. I'm working full time at school and can't find a part time job in my small town. I'm using my little brain cells to try and start my own part time business. We will have to find out how this works. Trying hard to eat more veggies and fruit, but I've been gaining weight for the past 4 months! It's insane...I looked it up and anti-depressants are known to have the side effect of weight gain. (I take Lexapro) I'm trying to buy a Wii (electric blue =D) and Just Dance so I can start exercising. When my room mate lived with my mom and I she had a Wii, and Just Dance, and I had started losing weight. I want to start doing that again! When I first started college I had a few bad headaches, but after getting used to everything they stopped. I've gotten all A's so far, and my only issue has been paying attention on an empty stomach lol. Fall semester ends in about 3 weeks. I will have about 2 weeks of rest =) I had Thanksgiving week off also and it was a great relaxing time. My energy has been great, and I'm able to sleep well at night now! My insomnia has weakened, and I'm sleeping like a rock. I'll keep you updated after finals =) ~Jessica Karin Best

Holistic Health

2011-11-11T10:00:00.000-08:00

Visit THIS LINK to see an article about Holistic Health

My List of NO's

2011-11-07T10:00:00.000-08:00

After reading about hydrogenated/trans fats I've been able to start making my list of foods to stop eating.
I'm going to start slow by stopping one on my list a month, if that works I'll try to go to one every 2 weeks.

Here's my list!

Cake mixes
Store bought frosting
Crackers
Peanut Butter
Frozen meals (There goes quick dinners lol)
French fries (Sigh...I love Mc Donalds French fries!)
Whipped Toppings (Meh, I only used these on occasion anyways)
Microwave Popcorn (I'm going to see if I can still make popcorn in a pan.)
Chips
Certain Frozen Pizzas
Bread (I think I will be fine if I have fresh baked bread)

First one to go are crackers. I don't eat these all that often so I think I will be fine with cutting these first. As for the others I will cut down substantially.

Let's see how this goes!

Good Fats, Saturate, Monounsaturated and Polysaturated

2011-11-04T10:00:00.000-07:00

The following is a list of good fats from http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu

Saturated Fats
These fats have all of their carbon atoms filled (saturated) with hydrogen. Saturated fat is primarily found in high-fat cuts of meat, poultry with the skin, whole and 2 percent dairy products, butter, cheese, and tropical oils: coconut, palm, and palm kernel. Our body needs a small amount (about 20 grams) of saturated fat each day, but the typical American diet usually exceeds that amount. Too much saturated fat may cause a person's bad cholesterol (LDL) to rise and may also increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer. You can look for the amount of saturated fats in a serving of food on the nutrition label, under the heading "Saturated Fat" below the larger heading of "Total Fat."

Monounsaturated Fats
These fats have one space missing a hydrogen atom, instead containing a double bond between two adjacent carbon atoms. Monounsaturated fat is found in olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil, and in most nuts and nut butters. This type of fat does not cause cholesterol to increase. When a person substitutes monounsaturated fat for saturated fat, it helps to lower the bad cholesterol and protects the good cholesterol (HDL) from going down. The amount of monosaturated fats (and polyunsaturated fats, see below) is not listed separately on the food label, but it can be calculated by subtracting the saturated and trans fats (see below) from the total fat.

Polyunsaturated Fats
These fats have more than one hydrogen atom missing in the carbon chain and therefore contain more than one double bond. The two major categories of polyunsaturated fats are Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3 means there is a double bond in the third space from the end of the carbon chain. These fats are extremely healthful in that they protect against sudden death from heart attack. They can also help people lower their triglycerides. Omega-3s are used by the body to produce hormone-like substances with anti-inflammatory effects. The best sources of Omega-3s are fatty fish, such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, and rainbow trout, among others. Canola oil, walnuts, and flaxseed also contain some Omega-3s.

Omega-6 fats have a double bond in the sixth space from the end of the carbon chain. These fats are found in oils such as corn, soybean, cottonseed, sunflower, and safflower. Omega-6 fatty acids are used in hormone-like substances that promote inflammation. Replacing saturated fats with Omega-6 fats may reduce levels of total, bad, and good cholesterol. Many health experts suggest that the ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acids should be 4:1 for optimal health. (Most Americans get 14 - 20:1 — a lot more than needed!) These fats are not listed separately on the food label.

The other type of fat that is found in food, but isn't natural, is:

Hydrogenated Fats (also known as Trans Fats)

How do you Find Foods Without Hydrogenated/Trans Fats?

2011-10-31T10:00:00.000-07:00

The following is a list from http://www.sustainableenterprises.com that shows how to find foods without Hydrogenated fats.

Breads: Fresh local sourdough is usually a safe bet. Locally produced, organic, wheat or gluten free health-food-store-type breads are good. Rolls and buns are almost a lost cause, as are flour tortillas. Try pocket bread, fresh bagels or corn tortillas.

Cookies: 100-percent butter always works. Fat-free cookies held together and sweetened with juice are another good substitute.

Cakes and confections: Look for all-butter cakes. Flaky pastries like croissants should be safe. More and more, you can find muffins made with oil. Donuts are fried in hydrogenated fat; commercial pie crusts almost always are made with shorterning.

Chocolates: Good chocolate contains cocoa fat, not hydro. I have never seen hydro in See's Candy, but Whitman's and Godiva is loaded with it. Snickers candy bars can be either. Reese's cups are reliably clean. Hershey regular and almond bars are always hydro-free.

Candy: Things like sweet tarts, candy corn (my personal favorite), gum, hard candy and jujubes are mostly ok. Avoid caramels, tootsie rolls, Starbursts, chews, or filled candy bars like 3 Musketeers or Milky Way. If you must have a candy bar, 5th Avenue, Baby Ruth or Mounds are better bets, but by all means read the label.

Chips: Old fashioned kettle potato chips and regular Lay's are usually ok, most other potato chips are loaded with it. Tortilla chips vary tremendously. Again, health food stores, and occasionally aftermarket food outlets, will have acceptable non-hydrogenated and sometimes organic alternatives. Pretzels are more reliable, but must be watched. Corn chips, Sun chips, bagel chips, sourdough chips and corn nuts are all hydrogenated.

Crackers: It is almost impossible to purchase crackers without hydrogenated oils. Some plain water crackers may be clean. Rykrisp are clean. Health food stores are your best bet.

Ice Cream: Haagen Dazs is the only totally clean product line. Portofino is very good. Sorbets is a safe bet. Ben and Jerry's, which claims to be all natural, has hydrogenated fats in most flavors. Godiva and Starbucks are equally bad. Small, organic brands are a much better bet. Mass-produced stuff is totally unpredictable.

Breakfast cereal: Your basic corn flakes, bran flakes, cheerios, and rice krispies are typically fine. Life is fine. Kiddie cereals, unfortunately, are nearly all hydrogenated. Granola needs to be watched carefully. Instant oats are an excellent replacement, but watch out for pre-fab flavored oatmeals.

Granola bars. Your basic rolled oats and honey is usually safe. Anything chewy or coated is going to be a hydro bomb. Kiddie granola bars are the worst offenders.

Peanut butter: Go as basic and natural as you can get. Johnson's Old Fashioned, sold in many discount chains, is straight peanuts and salt, which is all you need. Some stores offer a "grind your own" service; this is highly recommended. The major national brands are all hydrogenated.

Dips and spreads: This is a very wide open category. Anything non-dairy is hydrogenated, so look for a "real" diary label. Some of the new fresh or frozen guacamole products are not bad, and avocados are an excellent substitute for hydro. Beware bean dips and other fancy spreads. Pate is a much better choice, if you can handle it.

What Foods have Hydrogenated Fats?

2011-10-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

First off, I want to include that hydrogenated fats, and trans fats are the same thing.

The following is a list from www.purica.com

Foods Almost Always Made With Partially Hydrogenated Oils

Cake mixes, biscuit, pancake and cornbread mixes, frostings
Cakes, cookies, muffins, pies, donuts
Crackers
Peanut butter (except fresh-ground)
Frozen entrees and meals
Frozen bakery products, toaster pastries, waffles, pancakes
Most prepared frozen meats and fish (such as fish sticks)
French fries
Whipped toppings
Margarines, shortening
Instant mashed potatoes
Taco shells
Cocoa mix
Microwave popcorn

Many Brands of these Foods are Made with Partially Hydrogenated Oils

(Check the list of ingredients!)

Breakfast cereals
Corn chips, potato chips
Frozen pizza, frozen burritos, most frozen snack foods
Low-fat ice creams
Noodle soup cups
Bread
Pasta mixes
Sauce mixes

Foods that usually do not contain Partially Hydrogenated Oils

(This is not a list of "good" or recommended foods – some are full of sugar, white flour, or saturated fats. It's just a list of types of foods that usually are not made with Partially Hydrogenated Oils.)

All fruits and vegetables
Dairy products (milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt)
Meat, poultry, fish
Sugar, flour
Spices, condiments, pickles, salad dressings and mayonnaise
Jams and jellies
Beans, grains, nuts and seeds
Plain popcorn (not microwave)
Pretzels, rice crackers
Candies and chocolate (except cocoa mixes)
Cooking oils
Most soups and instant soups (except noodle soup cups)
Coffee, tea, soft drinks, juices
Frozen fruits & vegetables
Canned fruits & vegetables

Also from www.purica.com

Fast food restaurants and chains use a lot of pre-prepared foods. These are usually loaded with hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fats.

Restaurants that prepare your food from scratch are much less likely to have foods containing hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils.

Asian restaurants are generally good - they may not be low-fat, but they use oils, not partially-hydrogenated containing margarine or shortening.

Most French or continental restaurants may use large amounts of butter, better than trans fats, but not very good if you're trying to lose weight.

Italian, Greek, Spanish and other Mediterranean restaurants tend to use health-promoting olive oil.

Obvious

2011-10-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

It seems obvious to me why humans today are so unhealthy and have so many diseases and birth defects. Have you seen how much our food has changed? You always hear people saying hydrogenated fats are bad, but do you even know what hydrogenated fats are? http://www.natural-health-information-centre.com states this in one of their articles.

Hydrogenation is the chemical name for the addition of hydrogen to an existing molecule, usually an organic molecule which has a doubl-bond between two carbon atoms. That bond is broken and a hydrogen atom binds to each of the free bonds on adjacent carbon atoms.H2C=CH2 becomes H3C-CH3
This is achieved by forcing hydrogen, at high temperature (250-400C) and pressure into the liquid oil, usually in the presence of a catalyst such as nickel or platinum, over several hours. Unfortunately, the process can't control where the hydrogen atoms are added to the molecule, resulting in a mixture of totally unnatural fats, many of which aretrans fatty acids. Fatty acids are the "building blocks" of fats, in much the same way as amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. The resulting fats are totally unnatural hydrogenated fats.
The consequences of of creating hydrogenated fats are:
The melting point of the oil is raised, turning many previously liquid oils into solids.
Shelf-life is increased, as the resulting oil is less susceptible to degrading over time (maybe bacteria have a difficult time eating it too!).
All nutritional value in the original oil is lost.
The texture of the resultant solid can be made to resemble that of natural, animal fats.
The previously perfectly natural oil becomes a totally unnatural, dangerous, relatively undigestable "plastic".
Tissues made with the "false" fat cannot function properly, as thousands of enzymes can't bind to them, giving rise to a host of disease states.

More talk on good fats and bad in my next post.

2011-10-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

MS Awareness Team

2011-10-21T15:18:00.000-07:00

Please visit my friends at www.facebook.com/MSAwarenessTeam

They're working to raise awareness and help make the world MS free. Please "like" their page, and support them on a journey of their own!

You can also find their blog at ms-awareness.blogspot.com

Together we Stand

Apart we Stand Alone

Change

2011-10-21T09:35:00.000-07:00

As of now I am taking Copaxone. A daily injection to halt the growth of lesions on my brain cause by my MS. I earlier this year I made the decision to try taking Copaxone every other day as it was getting very hard to do. I started an anti depressant to counteract the affects of the medicine and also the symptoms of my MS. I am still having a hard time taking my shots because my body is just getting too sensitive. I'm running out of spots to take my shots! I am now experimenting with a whole new idea of medicine. I am going to take my shots every 2 days so I can just take them in my back. (I can't feel it much back there.) Slowly, I am going to ween myself onto a holistic diet in hopes of naturally fighting my MS, and becoming healthy also. My goal is to stop taking Copaxone and wait until a safe oral medicine comes out. This blog is the start to helping me stay on track and also keeping all of you updated and posting my process so if anybody else wants to try this, they can it with me =)

I've made a list that I am adding to as the days go by, that show what I hope to change.

Changing from

Unhealthy to Healthy
Tired to Energized
Confused to Cognitive
Shots to Shining
Fluffy to Fit

I will try to start a weekly video blog to track my journey also.

~Jessica Karin Best

Music of the Soul

2011-02-28T09:54:00.001-08:00

All across the globe music is in the air. Every culture has their own unique sound, and their own interpretation of music. What kind of emotions can music provoke?

It's hard to go even a day without hearing some sort of music. From the start up sound on your computer, to the music playing in grocery stores. Music is all around us. It can be a song you hear on the radio, or simply a bird saying hello outside. It could be the steady, deep beat of a war drum, or the celebratory call of a trumpet. A slow soft ballad, with sudden crescendos, tugs at the hearts of people watching a classical ballet. Teens in a rock concert let all their emotions go as the building is filled with fast beats of drums, heavy strumming of guitars, and multiple other instruments. Emotions are on a heightened frenzy.

It's amazing how music can affect peoples emotions, and their overall attitudes. Some songs have a happy sound with a variety of different major chords and scales. They make people feel good, and are very uplifting. Others have a sad sound with minor chords and scales. They can make people very upset, or down, or maybe even heartbroken. Sometimes music can be so emotionally provocative it brings smiles, or tears to the eyes of listeners.

Music can be happy or sad, but it can also be very unsettling. Some music can have a variety of majors, minors and diminished chords and scales, that can provoke an uneasy spirit in some people. Harsh tones can set off a whole other emotion, anger. To some people, harsh musical tones followed by hard beats and sound, stirs their emotions in a bad way, while some it doesn't effect. But to the people it does effect, it can stir their anger, and hate, and other emotions that are not healthy for anyone to have.

Immediately, when learning music theory, you are taught major, minor, diminished, and augmented chords. Major chords sound happy, minor chords sound sad, diminished chords sound eerie, and augmented chords just sound odd all together. Already when learning about music, you can see the emotions in play.

While some music can make your emotions very tense, most are not that way. Music can be very motivating and uplifting, as well as thought provoking. We may not know the exact reason music effects us so much, or how sound itself can effect our brains, but music is something every country in the world has in common. Even if we can't agree on certain political issues, or even normal everyday problems, we can all come together with music.

This is Who We Are

2011-02-27T08:29:00.000-08:00

To a lot of people we seem drunk when we walk off balance. We seem dumb when we stumble over our words and can't remember simple things. We may even seem like we're druggies when we have dark circles under our eyes for a large majority of the time because we are just so exhausted. But indeed we may not be any of these at all. We are normal human beings with not so normal lives. We have multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that mainly affects women ages 20-40. It can affect men also, in rare cases, and younger people on rare occasion also. For me, I am that rare occasion. I was diagnosed with MS when I was 16 with over 15 lesions on my brain. The doctors said I had most likely had it for years, and just now had a symptom scary enough to send me to the doctor. I am now almost 18 and have been using this disease to my advantage.

Multiple sclerosis is an auto-immune disease. Your immune system is confused and attacks the myelin sheath covering your nerve cells. When that sheath is gone, the nerve cells have nothing to protect them so they misfire causing multiple symptoms. Symptoms can vary from memory issues, to as far as paralysis, and most definitely depression.

Currently there is not a cure for multiple sclerosis, but many people are working hard on finding one. Until the end of last year, the only medication was in the form of shots with multiple side affects. There is now an oral form of medication that is risky to take, but for some people it can possibly be the end of taking shots that can range from daily shots, to an IV infusion every few months.

Living with multiple sclerosis is a challenge for anybody with the disease. While there are multiple support groups, there is never enough that can be done to ease the mind of someone with the disease. It is an emotional and physically tiring struggle that no one is prepared to take on.

No More Neuritis

2010-12-29T12:14:00.000-08:00

Well, as I told you in my last post, optic neuritis was what got me diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
I was told optic neuritis would take a few months to start getting better, and that I may never have perfect vision.
Well I've learned not to believe doctors right away. My eye problem came and went within a week and my vision has been perfect ever since!
God is awesome!

How it all Came to Be

2010-12-20T19:34:00.000-08:00

It all started earlier this year on a January Sunday morning.
I had gotten up and decided to turn on the TV to watch the news, but for some reason my vision was blurry in my right eye, and I could see the TV guide all that well.
This continued through the day.
Later that evening I went to church and noticed that when I looked at the floor, it seemed like part of it was missing. I immediately thought I was going to get a migraine, but no migraine came.
The next morning, (Monday) I went to get my driving permit after months and months of waiting. I stepped up to the eye test and much to my dismay I couldn't make out any letters on the right side. My left side was still perfect luckily. The lady said the side that mattered was my left side, and since it was fine she wasn't going to put a restriction on. Thank God!
My right eye continued to get worse throughout the day. I tried driving but my vision was getting so bad I couldn't stay in the middle of the road. I told my mom I was starting to get worried and I wanted to go to the eye doctor.
About a month earlier I went to the eye doctor for the first time in my life. The doctor said I had perfectly healthy eyes, and told me the inside was even perfectly healthy. Now all of a sudden things started going wrong.
I went to the eye doctor on Tuesday, and he said the nerves in my right eye were swollen. I went to multiple eye doctors that week. I must've had my eyes dilated 6 times that week!
The last doctor I went to told me I should have an MRI. He was the kindest eye doctor of them all! I hadn't gotten health insurance yet so everything was having to be paid for out of pocket. But the last eye doctor I went to was extremely kind, and waived the fee! A true blessing from God indeed. He told us I had optic neuritis in my right eye and told us some of the possible cause. Two of them were a brain tumor, and multiple sclerosis.
I went and got an MRI I believe a week or so later.
I first went to a pediatric neurologist. He told me I had over 15 lesions on my brain. He wasn't specialized in multiple sclerosis so the sent me to an adult neurologist, which is the one I have now.
My neurologist started me on Copaxone in the end of April early May.
On my second MRI the doctor told us he saw a spot on my brain that looked like it was getting bigger, so he sent me to get a third one to make sure it wasn't a glitch.
After finding out the news, I was so blessed to know that all of my friends and family were sending up prayers asking for the best in Gods will in my life.
After my 3rd MRI the doctor said the lesions were indeed looking much better!
I see my neurologist again in January and I am very happy to have good news, and very anxious to talk with my doctor!
God is truly amazing. He has kept up my strength to get through this. Now a year later, I see this "disability" as a true ability to see life through different eyes. I am actually thankful to be able to relate to so many people, and to be able to help them!

Hello Fellow Peoples!

2010-12-19T08:38:00.000-08:00

My name is Jessica Karin Best, and I was diagnosed when I 16 with Multiple Sclerosis. I am now 17 and finding my dreams coming true. I most certainly did not let this nasty MS ruin my dreams. If anything it made me more determine to follow my dreams.
I was diagnosed in January of this year, 2010, with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. After my MRI my doctor found over 15 lesions on my brain. I just had my 3rd MRI and am very thankful to say my doctors said my lesions are looking much better! God is amazing, and I can't stress how much prayer is extremely important.
I am currently taking Copaxone everyday. Copaxone is a daily injection. Thankfully unlike all other MS medications, it has very few side affects, none of which are very bad. I had one bad reaction a month or so ago, but since then I have been fine.
I keep every single MS paper I have. I am planning ahead, so that when there is a cure I will be able to have a celebratory bonfire and burn everything that reminds me of the dirty old MS. I am already planning it out, because I believe it will happen!
I have amazing friends and family who support me with my MS, and I couldn't ask for more.
God has been amazing in my life. Now almost a year after being diagnosed, my life has gone from sadness and confusion to amazing opportunities that I can use to help other people who are struggling, or just need someone to relate to or just talk to, or anything.

Keep on living!

~Jessica Karin Best