Multiple Sclerosis: Tips and Strategies for Making Life Easier

by Shelley Peterman Schwarz

An MS diagnosis presents many unanswered How is this diagnosis going to change my life? Where do I begin? How will I manage to take care of my family, work, and travel? No one knows the answers to these questions better than Shelley Peterman Schwarz, who has lived nearly forty years with multiple sclerosis. Schwarz imbues her updated collection of practical tips and short cuts with personal stories that highlight her trials and triumphs. Shelley shares her real-life experiences as a wife, mother, friend, and employee/employer coping, managing, and growing with MS with a humorous warmth and unflinching honesty. This extensively revised and updated third edition is packed with helpful information and now includes over 800 tips and new solutions and strategies for confronting the challenges of living a full life with a debilitating chronic illness. With Shelley’s guidance, readers will learn to conserve valuable time and energy, develop techniques for making everyday tasks easier, manage symptoms, maintain positive relationships, stay motivated, and bounce back when MS knocks you down. Expanded chapters cover medical issues, home safety and accessibility, dressing and looking your best, and travel. NEW sections With hundreds of new tips and tools, and practical wisdom for meeting challenges large and small, this book continues to inform, encourage, validate, and empower individuals and families living with multiple sclerosis.

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Ashley Monastra]

I’m not sure how to rate this book, so I’m not going to. I think if you have any physical disabilities or extreme fatigue this book offers a lot of useful tips. However, for someone who was just diagnosed with MS and is feeling really optimistic about treatment and lifestyle change keeping me relatively disability free for as long as possible, this book really shook me. I don’t necessarily want a look into my possible terrifying future and I kind of wish I hadn’t read this book at this phase in my journey.

I did get a good tip about packing a change of clothes in my travel companion’s bag though just in case my bag gets lost! That’s a great tip for anyone, hah.

[L E]

I am not going to rate this book but I do want to share my thoughts on it. I think there is a lot of value here, but I do want to caution as well. If you have early/mild MS, I would hesitate to read this just yet. Perhaps you'd find the tips inspiring, for me it was a terrifying glimpse into my future. I appreciate the author sharing what has made her life work, but I wish I'd waited to read it.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is excellent for anyone and not just people with multiple sclerosis. Also, this book is not just for people with illnesses but anyone who is looking for more effective ways to deal with every day issues; kind of like a guide to simplify your life. I highly recommend it.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a niche book and for me, but not always for other reviewers, it was very helpful. One of my family members has lived with MS for about as long as the author has, and as they age, I thought it would be helpful to see if I could pick up any tips. This is a personal book, primarily drawing on the author's experience, along with lots of resources. I liked the numbered lists and the practical approach. The book is mostly about everyday experience, not the evaluation of any origins of the disease or treatments. Most of these things my family member has most likely already figured out (they are smart, positive, fiercely independent, and have had several periods of lessening of symptoms). It would have been probably more helpful for me to have read maybe 30 years ago when MS was newer to us but some of the ideas are also applicable for anyone aging or with another chronic disease (see especially ch. 2, "The Thriver's Guide" about dealing emotionally with diagnosis and living with).

[Travis Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was living a normal life with my family when, at 52, I began experiencing muscle stiffness and twitching. After seeing a neurologist, I was diagnosed with ALS. It was a tough reality, and as the disease progressed, I eventually lost the ability to walk and relied on a wheelchair. A friend recommended EarthCure Herbal Clinic (www. earthcureherbalclinic .com), where I began treatment under Dr. Madida Sam. After about three months, I noticed significant improvements, less stiffness, fewer symptoms, and I was able to walk distances again.

[Stella Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was on MS-4 Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis from Uine Health Centre for 6 months. The treatment relieved symptoms significantly, even better than the medications I was given. Reach them at uinehealthcentre. com

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the Third Edition of this book and found it useful. I like how it is organized in lists. Many of the tips could apply to anyone, disabled or not.

[Angtburg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great resource for person diagnosed with MS and those who love & support the person. Tips on talking to kids as well as how to navigate the mundane like changing sheets on your bed.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! As someone with multiple sclerosis (MS), this little book is packed with information, and lots of ideas for more efficient and organized living. The author has MS herself and has used her experience through the years and has shared all that information with us.

A lot of these helpful ideas can be used by people who don't have MS since a lot of the information has to do with saving time and energy, and who doesn't need that today?

I highly recommend it. The first time I read it, I had checked it out of the library and I liked it so much I bought it!

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because I'm trying to learn more about MS so I can be supportive of people in my life. Much of this book was intended, I think, for people who are much more severely disabled (i.e., partial paralysis, wheelchair tips, etc.) than my friend, but it was honestly written, practical in focus, and enlightening. Broke my heart in some places, but I need to be able to get through that and learn :)

[Carey Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a lot of good tips, however most are geared towards those who are very disabled (i.e. wheelchair blind) and don’t apply to people with less severe forms of the disease.