So little time and so much to read.

 If you are like me, living with MS can take a lot of time, especially if you want to stay current on what is happening in the MS world.

 Recently I was contacted by Cathy Chester, a well-known writer in the MS world, who offered to write a guest blog. She has done a great job of writing about the many resources that we have available. I do hope that you enjoy reading this.

Guest post provided by Healthline

It was easier to keep up with news and information about Multiple Sclerosis twenty-five years ago.  There was none.  There was no Internet, no FDA approved medications and no complementary medicines being recommended by physicians.

Today there is a plethora of information about approved medications, clinical trials, therapeutic modalities, assistive technology, emotional support, employment opportunities and financial assistance.

Now, more than ever, it’s important to stay current with information that suits your needs. 

But who has time to work, take care of your family, tend to your MS needs and stay current with the latest news?

Here is how I try to keep up without having to spend a lot of time combing the Internet to find answers to my questions.

My first piece of advice is this: sign up for alerts: As a writer, health advocate and MS patient, this simple technique is one I rely on every day.  I use Google as my email program (Gmail).  In their settings, there is an area that allows you to type a phrase (or a website, blog, online magazine, etc.) and then specify how often you’d like to receive an alert (daily, weekly, monthly). 

For example, I typed in the words “Multiple Sclerosis”.  Every day I receive alerts for news or blogs appearing on the Internet that contain the words “Multiple Sclerosis”. 

If you don’t use Gmail, and are unsure how to set up your own alert, do a Google search on setting up alerts for your specific email program.

I also do alerts for news and information from reputable websites that I’ve come to trust for reliable information:

·      Healthline

·      The National Multiple Sclerosis Society

·      Multiple Sclerosis Association of America

·      MultipleSclerosis.net

·      Multiple Sclerosis Foundation

·      Medline

·      Health Central

·      Carnival of MS Bloggers

·      MS Views and News

·      Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers

·      CAN DO Multiple Sclerosis Center (formerly The Jimmie Heuga Center for MS)

·      Accelerated Cure Project

·      Myelin Repair Foundation

·      Disability.gov

·      ADA.gov

·      WebMD

I like to also keep up with complementary medicine, and how that can help me manage my MS in addition to the traditional medicine I follow.   Here are some sites I use:

·      Healthline

·      Dr. Andrew Weil

·      The Self-Healing Coach

·      Daily Yoga – My Yoga Online

·      Center for Mindfulness/Jon Kabat-Zinn

·      The Mayo Clinic

·      Psychology Today

·      Naturopathic Sleep Medicine Blog

This is a small sampling of what is available to keep you up-to-date on the news and information that matters to you.  Search for others.  Once you find something you like, set a bookmark, sign up for an alert or subscribe to them.

The Internet makes it easier for you to find answers to your MS questions, and to help you better manage your disease.  (Of course if you don’t own a computer, perhaps a visit to your local library will do the trick!)

Good luck and best of health.

About the Author: Cathy Chester is a writer for Healthline.  Diagnosed with MS in 1987, today her life is dedicated to two things: writing and paying it forward to others with MS.  Her blog, An Empowered Spirit, is dedicated to being healthy and vibrant over the age 50.  It is also to empower people with disabilities to live a joyful and healthy life.  She also writes for other health websites and is a blogger for The Huffington Post.  Her mantra is “Life is delicious, so seize each day by doing the best we can with the abilities we have.” 

Participate. Make a difference. Live a life that matters.