Living with Multiple Sclerosis

As with many people suffering from autoimmune diseases, Karen Stewart's early symptoms—numbness in her leg and vision loss—came and went for many years before she was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in 1996. "It was devastating," she says of her initial diagnosis. "For the first four years, I was really sick: one leg didn't work, I had to use a walker and I couldn't work anymore. I really had to fight the depression." Following a frustrating doctor's visit, Karen left with a new will, proclaiming, "This disease is not going to kill me, and I'm going to start walking again."

That's exactly what she did. To date, Karen has walked 30 full- and half-marathons and yearly 50-mile MS fund-raising walks. "I'm never satisfied. I always want to do something else," she says of her thirst for life. How does she do it? A strong will, a positive attitude and healthy habits. Keep reading to find out more about Karen and get her 10 suggestions for facing a diagnosis and creating a fulfilling life.

Wisdom from Karen:

Get educated: After a diagnosis, you're bombarded by information and confused by what's out there on the Internet, says Karen. She recommends that patients and their families get as well educated as possible. "If you can slowly start learning about it, it doesn't seem so overwhelming," she says, suggesting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Web site as a good place to start: www.nationalmssociety.org. "The information is reliable, positive and easy to understand."

Get inspired: "You never know who or what will touch your life and change you; you may never even ever know the person that does," says Karen, whose life was changed by the story of a stranger. "I was reading a magazine, and this woman who weighed 250 pounds said she wanted to walk the Portland marathon." After seeing that article, Karen was inspired to make her own marathon goals. "I called my husband and said, 'Honey, I am going to walk the Portland marathon this year.'"

Build a foundation: "I have a foundation, a rock that I stand on," says Karen. This includes her daily medication injection, a healthy diet and a regular fitness routine. "I nourish my body," she says.