MS UPDATE
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Lethbridge & District Chapter
February 2009
Relief from Pain
Most people living with MS will experience some type of pain during their
illness, such as burning nerve pain, electric-shock sensations or painful muscle
spasms. Indeed, an estimated 72% of people will experience two or more distinct
types of acute or chronic MS pain (Osterberg and colleagues. Eur J Pain 2005;
9:531-542). Several studies have shown that most people with MS live with pain
on a daily basis (Osterberg and colleagues. Eur J Pain 2005;9:531-542;
Svendsen and colleagues. Pain 2005;114: 473-481).
Inside this Issue
Making Life Easier
pg. 2
Ask the Expert
pg. 3
The Fatigue Ultimatum
pg. 4
5 Steps to a Happier Life
pg. 5
Turning Off Before Turning
In
pg. 6
Creating Your Sleep
Sanctuary
pg. 6
Client Services Update
pg. 7
Brown Bag Lunch
pg. 7
Young Adult’s with MS
Group
pg. 7
Fundraising Update
pg. 8
Calendar of Events
pg. 9
What is endMS.ca?
pg. 10
Much of this suffering can be alleviated by the numerous treatments that are used
to treat pain, so it is important to talk to your family doctor or neurologist about
the options available to you. One of the keys to receiving the right pain relief is
to describe your pain as accurately as possible because different types of
medications are used to treat different types of pain. Before we discuss
treatments, it’s important to note that few large, scientific studies have
investigated medications for MS pain. Many of the medications are normally
used to treat other conditions (e.g. clinical depression or epilepsy). This doesn’t
mean that you have depression or epilepsy—these drugs are also effective in
relieving pain.
The following is a list of some of the more common medications used to treat
MS pain. If one approach is not effective, another medication should be tried.
The choice of the most effective treatment and the doses needed should be
determined by you and your doctor.
Nerve pain
Neuropathic (or neurogenic) pain includes dysesthesias (e.g. electric shocks,
burning, squeezing or “pins and needles”), and pain that radiates along a nerve. It
also includes specific pain-related syndromes, such as optic neuritis, trigeminal
neuralgia and Lhermitte’s sign.
Anticonvulsants are often the first choice of paroxysmal pain (i.e. brief, recurrent
attacks of pain), such as trigeminal neuralgia (facial pain). Carbamazepine is
frequently used first, with phenytoin (Dilantin) added if a single drug isn’t fully
effective. Side effects, such as drowsiness, coordination problems and blurred
vision, can limit the use of both drugs (Solara and colleagues. Neurol Sci 2005;
25;307-310. Medications that block nerve conduction (e.g. lidocaine and
mexiletine [Mexitil]) can also be effective (Sakurai and Kanazawa. J Neurol Sci
1999;162:162-168).
For other types of neuropathic pain, gabapentin and pregabalin are often the first
choice. A small study of 25 people with MS found that gabapentin was more
(continued on page 2)
Relief from Pain
(continued from page 1)
effective in relieving throbbing pains, pins, and needles
and cramping pain rather than other types of pain
(Houtchens and colleagues. Mult Scler 1997;3:250-253).
Pregabalin has recently been studied in 81 people (not
with MS) with nerve pain that didn’t respond to other
treatments, such as a tricyclic antidepressant or other
anticonvulsants (Stacey and colleagues. Pain Med,
epublished March 11, 2008). Pregabalin produced
sustained pain relief during the 15-month trial.
There are mixed reports on the effectiveness of
lamotrigine. This medication appears to be effective for
paroxysmal or burning nerve pain (McCleane and
colleagues. Clin J Pain 1998;14:269-270). Other studies
of the drug alone or in combination with gabapentin
reported that it was not especially effective (Breuer and
colleagues. Clin Ther 2007;29:2022-2030; Silver and
colleagues. J Pain Symptom Manage 2007;34:446-454).
Potent pain relievers, such as the opioids (e.g.
morphine), are generally kept as a last resort. These
drugs have the potential to be habit-forming, although
they are effective for central neuropathic pain in MS.
Cannabis (marijuana) compounds have received a great
deal of attention recently as a possible treatment for
neuropathic pain. A number of small studies have
suggested that cannabis compounds (e.g. Sativex,
Marinol) can provide some degree of relief from nerve
pain (Iskedjian and colleagues. Curr Med Res Opin
2007;23:17-24). The most common side effect is
dizziness.
Painful muscle spasticity
The first approach for pain arising from muscle
spasticity is usually to treat the spasticity itself. Regular
physiotherapy and medications, such as baclofen
(Lioresal), tizandine (Zanaflex) or Botulinum injections
(Botox), can often relieve the problem. Nonprescription
pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or
ibuprofen (Motrin), may be helpful. Gabapentin has also
been reported to be effective for painful nocturnal
spasms in people with MS (Solera and colleagues. Mult
Scler 2000;6:192-193).
relieved muscle spasms and pain in people with MS,
but only after 8 hours of treatment (Miller and
colleagues. Mult Scler 2007;13:527-533). So this
strategy will not be practical for most people.
from MS Answers, MS Society of Canada, Fall 2008
Tips for Making Life Easier
Do you use a recliner for a bed or for long periods? To
keep the chair clean, cover it with a fitted twin bed
sheet. A contoured bed sheet fits perfectly over the
chair when it’s extended. Moreover, if the chair is
upholstered with velour or suede-like materials, the
sheet creates a smooth surface on the chair, which
makes changing positions much easier.
If you have trouble threading a needle, dip the tip of
the thread into a bottle of clear polish. The thread will
dry quickly and make it easier to get through the eye
of a needle. Also, keep a mini timer in your serving
basket or with your needlework to remind you to take
breaks, rest, or stretch.
by Shelley Peterman Schwarz
from Real Living with MS, Nov/Dec 2008
A non-drug approach is transcutaneous electrical nerve
stimulation (TENS) to relieve spasticity. TENS appears
to provide modest benefits in people with MS suffering
from low back pain (Warke and colleagues. Clin J Pain
2006;22:812-819). A separate study found that TENS
Page 2
ASK THE EXPERT
Q.
I have experienced symptoms that I know are not
attacks or serious enough to see my neurologist about. Such
as sharp pains in my legs or problems with my vision that
last for 2-3 days. I am not sure if these symptoms are
because I am lacking something or doing something wrong,
or that there is just no explanation for them. Besides rest, is
there something I should do when experiencing these
symptoms?
A. Transient neurologic symptoms in MS may be related
to symptom fluctuations, pseudo-relapses or true MS
relapses/attacks and sometimes it can be difficult to
differentiate them with certainty when they first appear.
Some non-specific symptoms, such as pain or periods of
fatigue may or may not even be directly related to MS, and
should be checked out by your family physician to rule out
other causes.
It is not uncommon for MS symptoms to fluctuate
somewhat in severity from day to day. Sometimes this is
because of fatigue, stress, or other factors, such as an
elevation of body temperature or with one’s worsening of
previous symptoms that then settle back down to their
baseline level. This does not mean that new damage is
occurring. Some people certainly do find that rest helps,
and this may be their body’s way of saying it needs to reenergize. No medical treatment is required for day to day
symptom fluctuations.
A more pronounced but transient worsening of
symptoms, called a “pseudo-relapse” can also occur in MS.
This can vary from a mild and transient worsening of
symptoms in someone with mild relapsing-remitting MS to
a more pronounced worsening of symptoms that can
temporarily alter function in those with more severe disease
or progressive MS. The most common cause is infection
(such as a bladder infection or cold) but it can also occur for
other reasons, such as a hot spell in summer. Again, this
does not mean that new damage is occurring. The
symptoms resolve back to baseline as the infection (or other
precipitant) resolves. If the worsening of symptoms occurs
in the one to two weeks after an infection however (rather
than only during it), then it is much more likely that the
symptoms represent a true relapse (especially common after
viral infections).
A distinct and persistent worsening of old symptoms can
represent a true relapse. The appearance of brand new
neurologic symptoms is also more likely to represent a true
relapse. To be considered a true relapse the symptoms must
be present on a continuous basis for at least 24 hours but
the truth is that most relapses last weeks. Disabling relapses
are frequently treated with corticosteroids whereas rest
alone may be used if the symptoms are milder and nondisabling. It is sometimes tough to be certain if symptoms
represent a true relapse if they are short-lived but it is very
important that you mention to your neurologist any new
symptoms that have occurred and lasted over 24 hours and
whether or not any potential cause for the transient
worsening could be identified (extra stress, poor sleep, etc).
Short-lived, self-limiting relapses would not be treated with
corticosteroids but the occurrence of multiple mild relapses
may prompt re-evaluation of your disease modifying
therapy. Your neurologist may be able to find subtle changes
on your examination even months later if the symptoms
were indeed related to true relapses. In some cases, if new
disease activity is suspected, but the examination cannot
determine whether or not there has been new damage, a
repeat MRI might even be considered. While it would not be
appropriate or helpful to switch therapy for symptom
fluctuations or pseudo-relapses, if there were ongoing mild
relapses and an accumulation of new lesions on MRI then a
change in therapy might reasonably be considered.
Dr. Myles, Associate Clinical Professor of Neurology at the University of
Alberta
Q.
I read recently about a Canadian study showing that
Rebif can be helpful for people with secondary progressive
MS. Since I am in that category and have exhausted most
other options, I wondered what you can tell me about this
study?
A. Indeed, interferons have been shown to be only modestly
effective in the later stages of MS, especially of patients that
are still having active relapses. None of the interferons are
felt to be effective once the slow progressive phase of
secondary progressive disease ensues. The “Spectrims”
study of Rebif in Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS) was
overall negative. However, a post-study re-analysis showed
that some of the patients still having relapses and taking
Rebif had slower progression. The effect was barely
significant. Most MS clinicians recognize the need to ‘move
on’ from interferons if indeed SPMS is evident and consider
other agents today, such as Mitoxantrone or even Tysabri.
However, if patients are still showing active “inflammation”
in their brain or spinal cord, as evidenced by either
experiencing more clinical relapses or developing a new
lesion on their MRI scans, then interferon might still be a
reasonable choice.
Dr. Freedman, Professor of Medicine in the field of Neurology at the
University of Ottawa, Ontario
Page 3
The Fatigue Ultimatum
“Reckless lifestyle habits” or “life-threatening laziness” causes fatigue...or multiple sclerosis?
When I was first diagnosed with multiple sclerosis some
years ago, I had a crazy combination of symptoms; tingling,
extreme skin sensitivity on my left side, and various gait
difficulties on my right side. I was determined to keep my
sense of humour about these developments; however, I was
still overjoyed when, after 4 days of intravenous prednisone,
treatments kicked in and my gait symptoms disappeared.
Believe it or not, I was actually relieved when I finally
learned that the debilitating fatigue I’d experienced for years
was connected to MS.
Burning the candle at both ends. . . or MS?
I’ve always burned the candle at both ends, and that suited me
just fine for a long time. With a satisfying, although hectic,
career as a teacher and with an 8-year-old child at home, there
was never enough hours in the day to accomplish all the
things I needed to do.
Then, for several years, I started waking up in the middle of
the night unable to get back to sleep or, worse, sleeping
through the night and waking up bone tired, as if I’d not slept
at all. I assumed that I was experiencing
postmenopausal insomnia, like so many other
woman in their 50’s. I wondered aloud
whether I should join an online chat room with
other nocturnal mommies I kept hearing about
the media.
I was 52 years old at the time of my diagnosis.
Although I knew that my body would be
slowing down during this decade, I was
unprepared for such a drastic change in the
landscape of my daily life. I had neither the time nor the
energy to reflect on this state of affairs. I simply couldn’t get
through my days without mountainous amounts of sleep. I felt
vindicated when I finally understood that I’d not caused my
fatigue as a result of any reckless lifestyle habits or lifethreatening laziness. I had MS. I’d unknowingly been cast as
a starring actor in “The Fatigue Ultimatum.”
Fatigue takes center stage
For a while, I thought I was making progress. During the first
few months after my diagnosis, my napping schedule
somewhat resembled that of a newborn. After years of
enjoying teachers’ hours—up very early, at my desk earlier
that most of my colleagues did—I suddenly needed extra
sleep each morning. It was imperative, not an option.
Fortunately, I was on short-term medical leave and then
summer vacation, so sleeping was not difficult to
accommodate. In the fall, I returned to work part time,
teaching only every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I
purposely stayed home on Tuesday and Thursday. During
most of the semester, I spent at least one Tuesday or
Thursday in bed reading, watching TV if I could focus, and
drifting off to sleep more than I’d like to admit. My life had
never been so out of control.
An energy spurt and then a crash
During that summer, we went on vacation and I did
exceptionally well. Our visiting relatives and friends allowed
me needed time to rest. The fall was full of promise. I’d been
granted a sabbatical from the college during the preceding
year.
For the first 2 months, I felt a spurt of energy, and I
accomplished a great deal on my research and writing. In
November, however, I suddenly crashed. My earlier nap
schedule became imperative again.
Fatigue—and depression—creep in on “little cat feet”
After the semester break, I was back to teaching threefourths of the time. I had high hopes for the spring semester;
however, fatigue, anxiety, and depression hit after only 4
weeks. By midterm, I was one of the walking wounded—
tired, damaged, and moody—staggering to the finish line.
I constantly worried that I’d disappoint my
family and my students. One class was
reading Let Your Life Speak by Parker
Palmer. Palmer speaks of his own
depression, and students always react
positively to his honesty and his insight. I’d
taught that class several times before but
never in the midst of my own depression.
However, rereading Palmer’s book didn’t
seem to help me. Paranoia settled in like Carl Sandburg’s
fog, creeping in “on little cat feet.” Knowing the poem, I
prayed for the day when it “moves on.” My depression is
now lifting, courtesy of a merciful antidepressant, but
fatigue, also in catlike fashion, has stretched out on a
favorite easy chair and made itself comfortable. It responds
to human pushing or prodding with a snarl, refusing to give
up its seat.
Identifying relapse
Although my depression has lightened, my balance is, once
again, an unwelcome challenge. Before my diagnosis, I’d
fall with alarming regularity, which upset my daughter. Now
I’m unpredictably unsteady, but I remain vertical, teetertottering to find my footing.
You’re probably asking why I didn’t immediately identify
these symptoms as a relapse. I was slow to internalize that if
you’ve been diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS, you’ll
experience symptoms again. Although I knew this, I’d hoped
for an extended period of remission (say, 50 years?).
(continued on page 10)
Page 4
5 Steps to Finding a Happier Life
by Elizabeth Miles, MSc, Registered Psychologist
STEP 1 SELF ACCEPTANCE
At the beginning of each year, we resolve to make changes
armed with a renewed sense of commitment toward reaching
our goals and dreams. Some, however, are motivated by a sense
of not being good enough. Driven by a sense of inadequacy, we
feel a need to try and reinvent ourselves, pushing to be
different, becoming discouraged, and putting ourselves down if
we fail.
It may be that we fail to make the changes because we’re
missing an important first step: accepting ourselves the way we
are. Unfortunately, many of us try to make changes with
constant reminders of all the things that are wrong, how we’re
not good enough, or how we’ve failed. In doing so, we become
our own worst enemy, demoralizing and discouraging ourselves
before we even start, not realizing that negativity and self
recrimination don’t lead to positive change.
But, if we honor and accept who we are now we’ll know that
we deserve to feel good and to have the benefits of positive
change. We’ll see that we may have talents and strength to
reach our goals. Wanting better health, better habits, a better life
in the future doesn’t mean we can’t accept ourselves the way
we are today—complete with the imperfections that make us
perfectly human.
SELF ACCEPTANCE LEADS TO POSITIVE CHANGE:
Self acceptance is not resignation or stagnation. It doesn’t mean
that we’re condoning hurtful habits, giving up our dreams, or
giving in to despair. Self acceptance doesn’t mean that we don’t
continue to grow, or that we’re stuck where we are. Rather, self
acceptance is letting go of all the “shoulds” and facing who we
are today without judgment. We’re all on a journey toward our
goals, dreams, and potential. Self acceptance allows us to
accept where we are at this point. We’re growing, learning,
changing; we’re on our way and we can accept that it’s ok that
we haven’t yet arrived at our final destination.
•
•
Try to suspend any judgment or criticism, and just
observe your struggles and reactions.
Instead of putting yourself down when you notice
something you don’t like, say “That’s interesting, look
what I just did. I wonder why?”
Make positive choices about what to say to yourself:
• Self-talk that’s accepting and encouraging leads to
feelings of self acceptance and empowerment while
self-recrimination leads to feelings of self alienation
and unworthiness.
• Choose statements like “I can learn to accept myself as
I am” or “I don’t have to be perfect to be a good
person.”
• Look for the positive truth about yourself and repeat it
back to yourself as often as you can.
• Try visualizing yourself as being accepted by yourself
and by other people.
Back up your self-talk with self-affirming behavior:
• Protect yourself, nurture yourself, care for yourself.
• Even if it feels strange at first, you can “fake it ‘til you
make it” and learn to be comfortable with treating
yourself in a kind, accepting, and nurturing way.
It can be difficult, even frightening, to leave behind a life
time habit of pushing or berating yourself and set out on a
new road. But, self-acceptance can be your first step to a
happier year and a happier life.
IN OUR NEXT MS UPDATE —STEP 2: GRATITUDE
from Bloom, Jan/Feb 2009, Women’s Health Resources, Calgary
SELF ACCEPTANCE LEADS TO GREATER
HAPPINESS AND WELL-BEING BECAUSE:
1. It frees up the energy we waste pushing ourselves into
being something other than we are.
2. Self acceptance allows us to own our humanity. All humans
are imperfect—wounded in some way. We can let go of the
burden of denial and pretense and be who we are.
3. It helps us see our positives more clearly since the focus is
no longer on what’s lacking. We can acknowledge our
shortcomings without rejecting ourselves.
4. Self Acceptance allows us to move forward from a position
of strength and choice rather than being stuck in a position
of self recrimination and discouragement.
TO PROMOTE SELF ACCEPTANCE:
The path to self acceptance starts with awareness:
• Take notice and observe your behavior and thoughts
Page 5
Turning Off
Before Turning In
by Dr. Neil Gottheil
We all live with some degree of stress. And when it
interferes with sleep, it only makes the problem worse.
“When you’re sleep deprived, your thinking is not as
clear and you have difficulty problem solving,” points out
Ottawa clinical psychologist Dr. Neil Gottheil.
So what can help us bring anxiety levels down a notch or
two?
♦ Anxiety triggers a physical response that includes
tense muscles and elevated blood pressure. So try
relaxing the body with techniques like progressive
muscle relaxation: Take turns tensing or stretching
different muscle groups, and then releasing them.
Creating your Sleep
Sanctuary
by Dr. Rachel Morehouse
♦
Focus on slowing your breathing. Take deep breaths.
The look, sound, and feel of the room around you
play a key role in how well you rest. Deep, restorative
sleep happens in the right environment. So what sort
of setting will give you optimal rest and relaxation?
♦
Try massage or gentle yoga stretches.
♦
Distract yourself. Listen to music, go for a walk, read.
♦
Wind down before bed. Dim the lights and only do
activities that are calm and quiet. “Try to tone down
the sensory input in your environment,” says Dr.
Gottheil. In other words, it’s not the time to rush out
the report you need for work tomorrow.
♦
Total darkness. Install heavy blinds over
bedroom windows to block light.
♦
Total quiet. Turn off that stereo. If you can’t
control all ambient sound, wear ear plugs.
Remember that not all techniques will work in all
situations. Deep breathing may not be distracting
enough, for example, if your mind is racing. If you
learn several different relaxation techniques, you’ll
have a range of tools to try.
♦
The right room temperature. You’re more
likely to wake up if you’re too hot or too cold.
♦
The right bed. What matters is not whether your
mattress is soft or firm, but whether it feels
comfortable to you.
♦
A room that is dedicated to sleeping. That
means no television, computer, video game
console, or work files. “If your room is going to
be for sleep, you should ban everything that is
counter to sleep,” says Dr. Rachel Morehouse at
the Atlantic Sleep Centre in Saint John, New
Brunswick.
♦
A bedtime routine. If you always do the same
things before bed—brush teeth, brush your hair,
read in a cozy chair—your body will recognize
these cues and start preparing for sleep.
♦
from Rendezvous, Fall 2008, Volume 8, Issue 3
from Rendezvous, Fall 2008, Volume 8, Issue 3
Page 6
Client Services Update
PAL (Program for Active Living) - The brainstorm
for this program was from the MS ACTIVENOW
program that was developed in Edmonton. With
collaboration with other organizations in the
community, mostly the YWCA, the Parkinson’s
Society, David Gibson from Turiya Yoga and us, we
were able to launch a six week program, 2 days per
week, at the YWCA starting January 13th. The plan is
to have a 2 week break and then start the program
again. This program will change from time to time
and evolve around persons attending and adaptations
from the fitness instructors at the YWCA. The
program costs $40 for the 6 weeks. Subsidies are
available.
Young Adult’s with
MS Group
FOR: Young Adult’s with MS & their significant other
(spouse, friend, etc.)
WHEN: Wednesday, February 18, 2009
TIME: 6:00pm
WHERE: MS Society Office, 724 13th St North
GUEST SPEAKER: David Gibson, Med, RYT, from
Turiya Yoga. David specializes in
practices of Deep Relaxation,
Stress Management, and Yoga of
the Heart.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
call Ann at 403-328-7002 or
email [email protected]
YADS (Young Adults Group) - This program started
last Fall and again was an idea started in Edmonton
and refined with the assistance of some of our
members to meet the needs for our Community. We
have met 4 times, 3 times at the office and once for
dinner at a local restaurant. Our next meeting is
February 18 at the office. David Gibson, Med, RYT
from Turiya Yoga will be a guest speaker. This group
is very casual and informal.
BROWN BAG LUNCH GROUP – This group meets
the 3rd Thursday of the month, usually featuring a
speaker from the community talking on health and
wellness issues. This spring we are planning on going
out to lunch.
Coming Soon! - FRIENDLY VISITING – This
program is yet to be developed but will entail visiting
person with MS in long term care facilities.
For information regarding any of these programs you
can phone Ann Stewart at the Chapter office, 403-3287002.
Everyone Welcome
Brown Bag Lunch
Thursday, February 19
Noon-1pm
MS Society Office
724 13 St N
Guest Speaker—Amber Kubos
YWCA Health & Wellness Manager
Speaking on PAL (Program for Active
Living) and other fitness options.
Everyone Welcome
Page 7
Fundraising Update
Come join us for breakfast to learn more about our
fabulous TeamMS Program!!!
TeamMS
Corporate Breakfast
Create a team!
Create a future FREE of MS!
2009 Enerflex MS Walk – April 25, 2009
Fort Whoop-Up, Indian Battle Park
Check-in at 8:30am, Walk starts at 10:00am
For more information please check out our website at:
www.mswalks.ca
The MS Walk is fast approaching us and we are well on
our way to making it one of our best Walks ever! Keep
your eyes peeled for exciting new initiatives for this
year’s fundraising season!!!
We wouldn’t be able to put on such a successful event
without the support of our volunteers, participants,
donors and sponsors. Please support our sponsors and
say thanks to them for all that they do!
Buffet Breakfast sponsored by
Shark Club Sports Bar & Grill
Thursday, March 5, 2009 - 7:15-8:15am
1814 Mayor Magrath Dr S, Lethbridge
RSVP by February 27, 2009
403-328-7002 or [email protected]
Learn more at www.mssociety.ca/en/events/teamms
Come out and support the MS Society
at Winner’s Bingo!!!
3307 3rd Ave South (behind Bridge City Chrysler)
Meet our 2009 Enerflex MS Walk Sponsors
Provincial Title Sponsor
Enerflex (Cash)
National Sponsors
Brinks
Chatelaine (Advertising)
Student Works
TeamMS Sponsor
The Lounge (Media)
Gold Sponsors
CTV (Media)
B-93 (Media)
Country 95.5 (Media)
Shark Club Sports Bar & Grill (Corporate Breakfast)
Moxie’s Classic Grill (Cash)
PixelWorks (Signage)
Mocha Cabana (Elite Feet Gala)
Domino’s Pizza (Food)
Shoppers HomeHealthCare (Cash)
Silver Sponsors
Lethbridge Lodge (Prizes)
Cinnzeo (Food)
Pyramid Entertainment (DJ/Host)
Runner’s Soul (Prizes)
Shutterbug Photography (Walk Day Photography)
Culligan (Beverage)
Grouse Mountain Lodge (Prizes)
Fort Whoop-Up Historic Site (Walk Site)
Future MS Bingo events:
February 11th, March 9th, April 8th, May 13th
Interested in volunteering???
The MS Society is always looking for people to help
us with general office duties and/or with our special
events. Please contact me by phone at 403-3287002 or by email at [email protected] if
you’re interested in helping out.
We’re looking for people who would be interested
in becoming a ‘Face of MS’ for the MS Walk and
other special events. We would like to take photos
of people living with MS so we can show people
who they are sponsoring, raising money for,
volunteering for and helping to find a cure for.
Please contact me if you’re interested in becoming
a Face of MS.
Page 8
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
February 16, Monday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Family Day Holiday, Office Closed
February 18, Wednesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Young Adult’s with MS Group, 6pm
MS Office. Guest Speaker: David Gibson from Turiya Yoga
February 19, Thursday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brown Bag Lunch, Noon to 1pm, MS
Society Office. Guest Speaker: Amber Kubos, YWCA Health & Wellness Manager
March 5, Thursday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TeamMS Corporate Breakfast, call
Leanne for details
March 7, Saturday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Big Band Boogie, El Rancho
Convention Centre. This is a fundraiser organized by the Kinsmen
Club, with proceeds to the MS Society. Details to be confirmed.
March 9, Monday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bingo at Winner’s Bingo Hall, 5:15pm
March 16, Monday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Board Meeting, 5:15pm, MS Society Office
March 18, Wednesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Young Adults with MS Group, 6pm,
MS Society Office
March 19, Thursday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brown Bag Lunch, Noon to 1pm, MS
Society Office. Guest Speaker: TBA
April 8, Wednesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bingo at Winner’s Bingo Hall, 5:15pm
April 10, Good Friday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Holiday, Office Closed
April 13, Easter Monday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Holiday, Office Closed
April 15, Wednesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Young Adults with MS Group, 6pm
MS Society Office, Topic: TBA
April 16, Thursday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brown Bag Lunch, Noon to 1pm, MS
Society Office, Guest Speaker: TBA
April 25, Saturday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS WALK, 10am, Fort Whoop-Up,
Indian Battle Park, for details go online at www.mswalks.ca
May 8 & 9, Friday & Saturday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carnation Campaign. Buy some
flower’s at various venues around Lethbridge & District to support MS Research
May 13, Wednesday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bingo at Winner’s Bingo Hall, 5:15pm
May 18, Monday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Victoria Day Holiday, Office Closed
Page 9
The Fatigue Ultimatum
(continued from page 4)
OUR MISSION
To be a leader in finding a cure
for Multiple Sclerosis and enabling people
affected by MS to enhance their quality of life.
The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
Lethbridge & District Chapter
724 13 Street North
Lethbridge, AB T1H 2T1
Phone: 328-7002 Fax: 328-7027
e-mail: [email protected]
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2008-2009
Cathy Campbell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President
Bob Holmes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Vice-President
Amberly Vaughan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasurer
Maria Mantello . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary
Members at Large:
Jeanene Casson
Murray Smith
Pat Spencer
Mike Durrant
The fatigue ultimatum demands respect
I need to remember that I didn’t choose MS fatigue as the
undertow of my life in my 50’s; it chose me. I do what I
can each day and try not to blame myself. Guilt can be
counterproductive. “The Fatigue Ultimatum” will always
demand my respect. All the important things in my life
will get done but maybe not today and maybe not by me. If
I move at a snail’s pace these days and catch an abundance
of z’s, I can still do them with humour, style, and
occasional grace.
by Jeanine M Dell’Olio who is a professor of education at Hope
College, Holland, Michigan
from Real Living with MS, Nov/Dec 2008
What is endMS.ca?
The endMS.ca campaign is raising $60 million
over 5 years to support MS research in Canada. Its
flagship investment is a new $20 million entity called
the endMS Research and Training Network, which is
intended to recruit, train, support, and retain the next
generation of MS researchers in Canada.
The first of its kind in the world, the endMS
Research and Training Network is designed to
increase the pace of discovery so that a cure can be
found in the shortest time possible.
Funds raised through the endMS.ca campaign
represent an immediate, dedicated investment to
advance Canada’s leadership positioning MS
research. The premises of the campaign uses a simple
formula:
The best MS researchers + more MS research =
an accelerated end to MS + better quality of life
Newsletter by email
Dory Rossiter
Melissa Wilde
Karolyn Harker
Staff:
Ann Stewart . . . . . . . . . . Chapter Executive Director
Leanne Kindrat . . . . . . . . Development Coordinator
Alisa Laturnus . . . . . . . . . Administrative Assistant
MS UPDATE is published four times a year by the Multiple
Sclerosis Society of Canada, Lethbridge & District Chapter. MS
UPDATE complies with the confidentiality policy set by the MS
Society of Canada. The MS Society, Lethbridge & District
Chapter does not endorse products, services, views and opinions
expressed herein. We reserve the right to edit all submissions.
Would you like to receive this Newsletter
electronically? If you’re connected to the
internet, you can help save us postage
costs by requesting your newsletters be sent to you
by email.
Call our office or send an email to Alisa at
[email protected] to have your name
added to our electronic mailing list.
The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada is pleased to comply
with the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic
Documents Act. Please see the MS Society web site for the full
Privacy Statement:
www.mssociety.ca or call 1-800-268-7582.
Page 10