Comments for Sunshine and Moonlight -- A Journey with Multiple Sclerosis http://sunshineandmoonlight.wordpress.com Everyone has Sunshine and Moonlight in their lives. It's just that my sunshine and moonlight has come in the form of Multiple Sclerosis. So, why the name "Sunshine and Moonlight"? When I was diagnosed, I was amazed by the negative terms that were tossed around --bad days, MS days, remission, relapses, episodes, disease progression. All scary. All negative. I've chosen to focus on the positive instead, as I search to find the "new normal" in my life. "Sunshine" (my husband's nickname for me) -- represents my post MS-diagnosis day-to-day life. And, "Moonlight" -- represents everything else. I consider myself to be a Patient-Educator, here to help others newly diagnosed and those continuing their battles with M.S. And, this, my friends, brings us to "Sunshine and Moonlight -- A Journey with Multiple Sclerosis." Welcome! Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:44:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU Comment on Trying to Solve Some of the Mysteries of M.S. by Carol K http://sunshineandmoonlight.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/trying-to-solve-some-of-the-mysteries-of-ms/#comment-2073 Carol K Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:24:36 +0000 http://sunshineandmoonlight.wordpress.com/?p=381#comment-2073 Kim, Thank you so much for this information. I have something to add that's pretty interesting. Here is the link... http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/news/20080630/could-caffeine-stop-ms-in-its-tracks?ecd=wnl_mls_070408&spon=912345_0 Kim,
Thank you so much for this information.
I have something to add that’s pretty interesting. Here is the link…

http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/news/20080630/could-caffeine-stop-ms-in-its-tracks?ecd=wnl_mls_070408&spon=912345_0

]]> Comment on The World is Conspiring in My Favor by Carol K http://sunshineandmoonlight.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/the-world-is-conspiring-in-my-favor/#comment-2072 Carol K Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:18:09 +0000 http://sunshineandmoonlight.wordpress.com/?p=375#comment-2072 I agree that positive thinking is a wonderful thing. "You are what you think", and negative thoughts bring nagative results. I have a couple of books to recommend that have helped me change my thought process as I go through this life with MS. "Anatomy of the Spirit" by Carolyn Myss "Love Medicine & Miracles by Bernie Siegel M.D. "Peace Love & Healing by Bernie Siegal M.D. These books have changed my life considerably. I agree that positive thinking is a wonderful thing.
“You are what you think”, and negative thoughts bring nagative results.

I have a couple of books to recommend that have helped me change my thought process as I go through this life with MS.

“Anatomy of the Spirit” by Carolyn Myss
“Love Medicine & Miracles by Bernie Siegel M.D.
“Peace Love & Healing by Bernie Siegal M.D.

These books have changed my life considerably.

]]> Comment on Insure Your Future by Julie http://sunshineandmoonlight.wordpress.com/2008/07/02/insure-your-future/#comment-2071 Julie Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:46:56 +0000 http://sunshineandmoonlight.wordpress.com/?p=379#comment-2071 Also have her look into long-term care insurance before she gets the MRI. I'm a civil servant who was denied long term care insurance after my first attack of optic neuritis (and dx of "probable" MS. The insurance company suggested I re-apply in 60 months! if I had no more attacks. How I wish I had the forethought to apply earlier! Also have her look into long-term care insurance before she gets the MRI. I’m a civil servant who was denied long term care insurance after my first attack of optic neuritis (and dx of “probable” MS. The insurance company suggested I re-apply in 60 months! if I had no more attacks. How I wish I had the forethought to apply earlier!

]]> Comment on Insure Your Future by Sheryl http://sunshineandmoonlight.wordpress.com/2008/07/02/insure-your-future/#comment-2070 Sheryl Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:10:37 +0000 http://sunshineandmoonlight.wordpress.com/?p=379#comment-2070 The health insurance situation is even worse than the life insurance, IMO. I had been close to early retirement and a "life of leisure" before I was diagnosed with a condition similar to MS. I had blanned to just buy a catastrophic health plan because I was so healthy I rarely used my health insurance. Now, I would (thanks to Washington state's laws) at least be able to port my coverage from my own company to a private policy if I were to become unemployed. But I could never change to a different policy because I am "uninsurable." Talk about getting on the soapbox -this absolutely drives me to distraction sometimes. I (or my employer) paid for insurance for me for 20 years, but now that I actually need to use it, they are looking for every possible reason to dump me. Grrrrr! (Sorry for the rant!) The health insurance situation is even worse than the life insurance, IMO. I had been close to early retirement and a “life of leisure” before I was diagnosed with a condition similar to MS. I had blanned to just buy a catastrophic health plan because I was so healthy I rarely used my health insurance. Now, I would (thanks to Washington state’s laws) at least be able to port my coverage from my own company to a private policy if I were to become unemployed. But I could never change to a different policy because I am “uninsurable.” Talk about getting on the soapbox -this absolutely drives me to distraction sometimes. I (or my employer) paid for insurance for me for 20 years, but now that I actually need to use it, they are looking for every possible reason to dump me. Grrrrr! (Sorry for the rant!)

]]> Comment on Insure Your Future by denverrefashionista http://sunshineandmoonlight.wordpress.com/2008/07/02/insure-your-future/#comment-2069 denverrefashionista Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:20:25 +0000 http://sunshineandmoonlight.wordpress.com/?p=379#comment-2069 Wow, I didn't know this. I have ok health insurance through work but no life insurance. I hope I'm not completely screwed... Wow, I didn’t know this. I have ok health insurance through work but no life insurance. I hope I’m not completely screwed…

]]> Comment on Insure Your Future by buy to let insurance http://sunshineandmoonlight.wordpress.com/2008/07/02/insure-your-future/#comment-2068 buy to let insurance Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:35:05 +0000 http://sunshineandmoonlight.wordpress.com/?p=379#comment-2068 i don't do life/health insurance but i do think that people with certain medical conditions get treated unfairly in the insurance industry. i understand they monitor "risk" but all they use is statistics instead of using their brains (if they have any). i don’t do life/health insurance but i do think that people with certain medical conditions get treated unfairly in the insurance industry. i understand they monitor “risk” but all they use is statistics instead of using their brains (if they have any).

]]> Comment on Insure Your Future by Your MS Friend http://sunshineandmoonlight.wordpress.com/2008/07/02/insure-your-future/#comment-2067 Your MS Friend Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:47:07 +0000 http://sunshineandmoonlight.wordpress.com/?p=379#comment-2067 I learned this lesson the hard way. Was dx after we filed our adoption papers for Anna. Was finally in a financial situation where we could afford the life/disability insurance and understood the need. We applied, they would not process my application because once you are denied you are scarred for life. I have since found out the AIG will review and insure you at a high rate if you have MS and have not had a relapse in two plus years. I unfortunately still do not qualify. In closing I agree with your advice to your co-worker, in the long run you are helping her in ways she would have no idea she would need help if dx with MS or any other life altering disease. I learned this lesson the hard way. Was dx after we filed our adoption papers for Anna. Was finally in a financial situation where we could afford the life/disability insurance and understood the need. We applied, they would not process my application because once you are denied you are scarred for life.

I have since found out the AIG will review and insure you at a high rate if you have MS and have not had a relapse in two plus years. I unfortunately still do not qualify.

In closing I agree with your advice to your co-worker, in the long run you are helping her in ways she would have no idea she would need help if dx with MS or any other life altering disease.

]]> Comment on Insure Your Future by Lisa Emrich http://sunshineandmoonlight.wordpress.com/2008/07/02/insure-your-future/#comment-2066 Lisa Emrich Thu, 03 Jul 2008 05:19:04 +0000 http://sunshineandmoonlight.wordpress.com/?p=379#comment-2066 I had an eerily similar discussion today. Being self-employed, before and after diagnosis, has made me a pseudo expert on the individual insurance market. The bottom line advice I gave today was that EVERYBODY should purchase group policies when offered, especially the young and healthy. If you wait until you NEED the insurance, it's already too late. Never let policies lapse and never lie on your application. Do not automatically go with the policy which has the lowest premiums, or bypass the employer-sponsored plan in an attempt to save money with an underwritten individual policy. Once you have MS or any other chronic illness, you become uninsurable and branded for life. I had an eerily similar discussion today. Being self-employed, before and after diagnosis, has made me a pseudo expert on the individual insurance market.

The bottom line advice I gave today was that EVERYBODY should purchase group policies when offered, especially the young and healthy. If you wait until you NEED the insurance, it’s already too late. Never let policies lapse and never lie on your application. Do not automatically go with the policy which has the lowest premiums, or bypass the employer-sponsored plan in an attempt to save money with an underwritten individual policy.

Once you have MS or any other chronic illness, you become uninsurable and branded for life.

]]> Comment on The Dr. Kavorkian of M.S. by kfabrizio http://sunshineandmoonlight.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/the-dr-kavorkian-of-ms/#comment-2062 kfabrizio Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:10:49 +0000 http://sunshineandmoonlight.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/the-dr-kavorkian-of-ms/#comment-2062 Hi Paulette, welcome to the Sunshine. Remember -- you asked for it, here I go: STOPPPPPPPP!!!! Even if just for today. Give me five GREAT things that have happened in your world in the last 30 days. Just five. Go ahead :-) (I say this all the time -- you can CHOOSE to he happy or not. I don't know much about Progressive MS since I have Relapsing Remitting, but I'd love to learn and I bet my readers would too. Is it really too late for any help for you medically? If nothing else, can you look inside and see if it's really too late to find any positivity or happiness? You're not alone any longer). Kim Hi Paulette, welcome to the Sunshine. Remember — you asked for it, here I go:

STOPPPPPPPP!!!! Even if just for today.

Give me five GREAT things that have happened in your world in the last 30 days. Just five. Go ahead :-)

(I say this all the time — you can CHOOSE to he happy or not. I don’t know much about Progressive MS since I have Relapsing Remitting, but I’d love to learn and I bet my readers would too. Is it really too late for any help for you medically? If nothing else, can you look inside and see if it’s really too late to find any positivity or happiness? You’re not alone any longer).

Kim

]]> Comment on The Dr. Kavorkian of M.S. by PAULETTE http://sunshineandmoonlight.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/the-dr-kavorkian-of-ms/#comment-2061 PAULETTE Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:04:32 +0000 http://sunshineandmoonlight.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/the-dr-kavorkian-of-ms/#comment-2061 NICE TO HEAR FROM POSITIVE PEOPLE,,,I USED TO BE. I HAVE PROGRESSIVE M.S., 12 YEARS NOW, AND I AM PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY WIPED OUT. TIRED AND SO SCARED, AND SO ALONE, SOMEONE STOP ME? DID NOT TAKE CARE OF MYSELF THESE PAST 12 YEARS, DID NOT TAKE THIS SICK ASS DISEASE SERIOUSLY, NOW IT'S TOO LATE! AGAIN,,, SOMEONE STOP ME NICE TO HEAR FROM POSITIVE PEOPLE,,,I USED TO BE. I HAVE PROGRESSIVE M.S., 12 YEARS NOW, AND I AM PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY WIPED OUT. TIRED AND SO SCARED, AND SO ALONE, SOMEONE STOP ME? DID NOT TAKE CARE OF MYSELF THESE PAST 12 YEARS, DID NOT TAKE THIS SICK ASS DISEASE SERIOUSLY, NOW IT’S TOO LATE! AGAIN,,, SOMEONE STOP ME

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