Multiple Sclerosis For Dummies (2^nd Ed.)

Being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) doesn't mean your life is over. Everyone's MS is different and no one can predict exactly what yours will be like. The fact is, lots of people live their lives with MS without making a full-time job of it.

Multiple Sclerosis For Dummies gives you accessible, easy-to-understand information about what happens with MS?what kinds of symptoms it can cause, how it can affect your life at home and at work, what you can do to feel and function better, and how you can protect yourself and your family against the long-term unpredictability of the disease. You'll learn how to make treatment and lifestyle choices that work for you, what qualities to look for in a neurologist and the rest of your healthcare team, how to manage fatigue, the pros and cons of alternative medicine, why and how to talk to your kids about MS, stress management strategies, your rights under the Americans with Disabilities act, and so much more.

• Covers major medical breakthroughs that slow the progression of the disease and improve quality of life for those living with MS
• Helps those affected by MS and their family members understand the disease and the latest treatment options
• Helpful and trusted advice on coping with physical, mental, emotional, and financial aspects of MS

Complete with listings of valuable resources such as other books, websites, and community agencies and organizations that you can tap for information or assistance, Multiple Sclerosis For Dummies gives you everything you need to make educated choices and comfortable decisions about living with MS.

Foreword xxi

Introduction 1

Part I: When MS Becomes Part of Your Life 7

Chapter 1: Meeting MS Face to Face 9

Chapter 2: So, Doc, What Do I Have? Getting a Diagnosis 25

Chapter 3: You Have MS — So Now What? 37

Chapter 4: Getting the Right Players on Your Healthcare Team 53

Part II: Taking Charge of Your MS 67

Chapter 5: Developing a Plan to Take Charge of Your MS69

Chapter 6: Managing the Disease Course and Treating Relapses 77

Chapter 7: Managing Fatigue, Walking Problems, Visual Changes, and Tremor 99

Chapter 8: Handling Problems with Bladder and Bowel Function, Pain, Speech and Swallowing, and Sex 119

Chapter 9: Getting Your Head around Problems with Mood and Thinking 141

Chapter 10: Considering Complementary and Alternative Medicine157

Part III: Staying Healthy and Feeling Well 171

Chapter 11: Paying Attention to Your Health — It's Not All about MS 173

Chapter 12: Handling Stress without Giving Up Your Life 185

Chapter 13: Coping with Progressive Forms of MS 197

Part IV: Managing Lifestyle Issues 213

Chapter 14: Presenting Your MS Face to the World 215

Chapter 15: Making MS a Part of the Family 227

Chapter 16: And Baby Makes Three, Four, or More: Planning a Family around Your MS 247

Chapter 17: Parenting: It Wasn’t Easy Before You Had MS! 257

Part V: Creating Your Safety Nets 273

Chapter 18: Keeping Your Place in the Workforce 275

Chapter 19: Getting a Grip on Insurance 289

Chapter 20: Planning for a Future with MS 303

Part VI: The Part of Tens 315

Chapter 21: Ten MS Myths Debunked 317

Chapter 22: Ten Questions about Exciting Leads in MS Research 321

Chapter 23: Ten Tips for Trouble-Free Travel 325

Glossary 329

Index 343

Rosalind Kalb, Ph.D., Barbara Giesser, MD, and Kathleen Costello, ANP-BC, have over 80 years' combined professional experience in working with people living with multiple sclerosis. For each of them, MS was, is, and will be their chosen career.