As the reality of my health and future well-being settled in, I dove headfirst into resurrecting old ideas on creating a plan for leading a healthy and active life with MS. “How to live a healthy and active life” became my mantra, sparking a journey into research and self-discovery.

First on my agenda was the ominous question: What if I opted for no treatment at all? The answer is direct – diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS), there is a 50% chance that the diagnosis will turn into a secondary progressive form of the disease within a decade. That is a direct descent toward the dreaded Wheelchair, a path I vowed not to tread.!

Next, how are the existing treatments, the disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) effective, really? Deciphering their true efficacy from clinical trial results proved challenging, especially when comparing different options.   In brief, I was able to find out the following:

• High-efficacy drugs are superior; the sooner the treatment starts with a high-efficacy drug, the better.
• The aggression of my MS was the wildcard, a variable I sought to understand amidst a myriad of individual stories, some dishearteningly aggressive, understandably gaining prominence. For example, I was struck by a story of Dave, who went from being very physically active to a wheelchair five years after his MS diagnosis.

On average, RR-MS hinted at an annual relapse, but these statistics rested on data from older treatments with less potency. How aggressive was my MS? A personal challenge emerged—three relapse-free years post-diagnosis, a cause for celebration, excluding the initial blip before treatment initiation.

To boost my chances, I charted a roadmap:

• Kesimpta – High efficacy DMT:
  • A formidable defense against MS progression by immune suppression in exchange for a higher risk of infection.
• Regular Exercise
  • Consistently three to five times a week – I already have a solid ongoing exercise and running program. I need a more robust plan with more depth to improve consistency and follow-through even if circumstances, such as weather or travel, do not allow all activities. Here is a link my detailed plan.

• Diet
  • I am a believer in the Mediterranean diet. I aim to reduce red meat and processed meat products such as sausages. I am unsure about the vegan diet, but I wanted to explore this post this revelation – The Game Changers. Here is a link to my current diet plan.
• Minimizing chances of additional health problems besides MS
  • Cardiovascular problems
    • Diet and Omega3 supplements should help to minimize the risk of cardiovascular problems.
  • Infection.
    • It appears that getting an infection, such as a cold or the flu, might be a trigger for MS relapse. I am immuno-compromised, which is a consequence of the Kesimpta treatment, after all. I need a balanced immune system, which is best achieved by not getting sick. I am considering dietary supplements here to keep the remainder of the functioning immune system as healthy as possible. Vitamin D, B complex, E, and perhaps Vitamin C cannot hurt. I will also take all vaccinations available, such as COVID-19 and seasonal Flu shots.
• Immunity Boosters
  • I was afraid that immune boosters might be counter-productive and may worsen the auto-immune reaction causing my MS.
  • However, in my job, I came across a supplement that appears to be an immune-modulating agent. It can suppress immune activity in some cases while strengthening it in others, which just might be exactly what I need. I will be cautiously testing this supplement and will share more details as I gain more experience and a track record.
• Mental Health
  • If I want to stay on top of everything and keep executing all of my plans, I have to feel good and steer clear of problems such as depression.
  • I consider family and friends to be the key to mental stability. Stress may negatively influence mental well-being, and socializing with family and friends offers a very convenient way to relax.
  • About half of MS warriors are experiencing cognitive problems. I think the best way to avoid or slow any possible cognitive decline is to be active and exercise with the brain. My job keeps my brain busy, but it also causes a lot of stress, and I need some mental activities outside of work. I declared I would be reading relaxing books every day. I will also be looking into brain-training games. I will post more details once I gain more experience.

To make sense of this labyrinth, I committed to recording my actions, acknowledging the unscientific nature of trying everything simultaneously. No chances taken, all bases covered. My plan for an active life with MS is a living document, evolving as I progress, with detailed updates focusing on medication, diet, and exercise.