‘If you or someone that you love is impacted by MS this book is a

must read. The seven-step process for self-management presented

in the Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis Handbook is a compre-
hensive and thoughtful approach to living your best life despite
having this disease.’
Dr Aaron Boster, The Boster Center for Multiple Sclerosis,
Columbus, Ohio 

‘This highly recommended book highlights the importance of a

holistic approach to MS management, offering a path to achieve
the best possible outcome in this potentially devastating condition.’
Professor Richard Nicholas, Imperial College London

‘A deeply insightful account and instructive guide for adopting

healthy lifestyle behaviors and thriving while living with MS.’
Dr Sarah Mulukutla, Founding Chairperson of the Section
on Neurohealth and Integrative Neurology at the American
Academy of Neurology, New York

‘Written specifically for people who have MS, this inspirational

book provides a comprehensive, practicable program for living a
full life with this disease.’
Dr Alessandra Solari, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico
Carlo Besta, Italy

‘Overcoming MS is now the essential mainstay of MS manage-

ment, before or alongside drug therapy, offering the best chance
of a full and healthy life for people with MS.’ 
Dr Peter Silbert, Clinical Professor of Neurology, University
of Western Australia Medical School

‘A wonderful resource for people living with MS.’

Dr Ilana Katz Sand, Associate Professor of Neurology, Icahn
School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York

Overcoming MS Handbook_TXT.indd 1 12/8/21 11:11 am

 About the Book

A long, healthy, happy life is possible after a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

Around the world, thousands of people are living active and fulfilling lives on
the Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis Program.

The Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis Handbook explains what MS is, and

outlines the scientifically credible and evidence-based 7 step self-management
program originally devised by Professor George Jelinek. It covers all aspects of
living on the program, from first diagnosis to later life, with chapters from
medical specialists and other experts on choosing your healthcare team,
improving resilience, work, pregnancy and progressive MS. The book taps into
the wealth of knowledge and experience in the community of people following
the Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis Program, with personal stories from across
the world.

If you have recently been diagnosed with MS, if you have been living with MS
for years, or if have a family member with MS, the Overcoming Multiple
Sclerosis Handbook is your best companion. It is also an invaluable resource for
doctors treating people with MS.

About the Editors

Professor George Jelinek MBBS, MD developed the OMS 7-Step Recovery

Program and founded the Neuroepidemiology Unit at the University of
Melbourne. An international leader in research and treatment of multiple
sclerosis, he is the author of Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis. Dr Sandra Neate
MBBS, FACEM is an emergency physician, and Senior Research Fellow and
Head of the Neuroepidemiology Unit at the University of Melbourne. Dr
Michelle O’Donoghue MD MPH, is Associate Professor of Medicine at
Harvard Medical School and a cardiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital
in Boston.
 Overcoming
Multiple
Sclerosis
Handbook
ROADMAP TO GOOD HEALTH
Edited by George Jelinek MD
Sandra Neate FACEM and
Michelle O’Donoghue MD MPH

OvercomingMultipleSclerosisHandbook_COVER_MV7.indd 7 10/08/21 1:36 PM

Overcoming MS Handbook_TXT.indd 3 12/8/21 11:11 am

 Where can I get the book?

Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis Handbook edited by George Jelinek MD,

Sandra Neate FACEM and Michelle O’Donoghue MD MPH is published by
Allen & Unwin February 2022 and is available from booksellers around the
world here: hyperurl.co/oms
 Chapter Sample

2
Overview of the
OMS Program
Dr Virginia Billson

It feels like I have found a new friend in the OMS

Program, allowing me to take control and lead a more
healthy and positive life. Bravo!
Clare McKenzie, Burnham-­on-­Crouch, UK, OMSer

My diagnosis of MS was a mixed blessing in 1996, confirmed as it

was by an MRI scan and spinal fluid, blood and visual field tests
on my 47th birthday. At least my visual and physical symptoms
were not those of a malignant brain tumour, a stroke or any of the
other ghastly conditions that I, as a medical specialist pathologist,
was aware of and feared. At the same time, so many unexpected
and potentially life-­changing questions leaped into my rather
shocked and addled brain. Were there any successful treatments
for MS? Would I be disabled soon? Would I have to cease my
dearly loved career? What would become of my active family and
social lives?
I developed a bleak outlook after spending two intense months
reading a mountain of medical texts and journals. I decided then
to pretty much give up researching the topic. I was feeling quite
well after a heavy course of prednisone, which, apart from a few
slight sensory symptoms, resolved my double vision and leg
weakness. I resolved to forget about MS, ignore the reality of my

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 32 Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis Handbook

diagnosis and get on with my busy life. However, the reality of

MS wouldn’t be suppressed or ignored. What followed were four
years of a wild roller-­coaster of attacks, which included weird
symptoms, and increasing fatigue and depression, all of which
viciously interrupted many aspects of my previously rewarding
and rich family, social and professional lives.
And then, at a People with MS Christmas party, I was recom-
mended a book to read that was written by an Australian doctor
with MS. It was the very first edition of Taking Control of Multiple
Sclerosis by Professor George Jelinek. It was a revelation. The
book described things I could do for myself to regain control over
the disease and improve all aspects of my health and life, which
I had felt I was losing a grip on every day. The book outlined
a lifestyle program that was based on very ­convincing ­scientific
evidence and principles that I could buy into, no airy-­ fairy,
hippy-­trippy ideas but hard data. And so started my twenty-­year
adventure slowly incorporating the methods and principles of
Taking Control of Multiple Sclerosis, which eventually developed
into the OMS Program.

What is the OMS Program and where does it fit

into our day-­to-­day lives?
The 21st century is a time of wondrous advances in our daily
lives. We can travel to the other side of the world in a day or two
(pandemics permitting), we can get into our cars and travel for
hundreds of kilometres in a few hours, we can use technology to
interact with friends and colleagues around the globe in a matter
of minutes, we live longer than our forebears, and medical treat-
ments can cure or alleviate many infectious and other diseases.
It has long been said, initially by Sir Isaac Newton in his laws
of motion in 1686, that ‘for every action there is an equal and
opposite reaction’ and along with our incredible advances we
unfortunately have had to deal with many negative environmen-
tal, social, physical and mental effects.
In the developed world, the fast-­paced lives we lead make get­
ting enough exercise and quiet contemplation quite a challenge.

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 Overview of the OMS Program  33

The busy days seduce us with easily obtained and highly processed
fast foods and make us seek ‘instant’ gratification through sweets
and salty snacks. Eating out frequently at cafes and restaurants
enables us to overeat too many rich meals to ‘get our money’s
worth’. Excessive alcohol intake, overuse of prescription and
illegal drugs and cigarette smoking are also easily indulged in.
Increased stress as a result of our high-­pressure jobs and rapidly
changing environment adds to the burden of illness.
We often neglect our wellbeing and consume too much of the
wrong foods, are lax about exercising and disregard the value of
quiet pondering or just thinking and appreciating what we have,
not what we could purchase if we
earned more money. It is getting harder
As a consequence of these habits and harder to
that we have so readily incorporated stay well in the
into our daily lives, there has been
21st century,
an epidemic of lifestyle-­related health
problems, such as type 2 diabetes,
despite, or
­cardiovascular disease, some common sometimes because
cancers, respiratory impairment and of, all the advances
obesity, to name just a few. We know we have made
that these ailments are major risk
factors for a host of further disorders, such as sleep disturbances
including sleep apnoea, muscle and joint problems and, as shown
by recent research, a higher incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and
other dementias.
Each of the lifestyle diseases mentioned can spiral into further
complications requiring medical or even surgical intervention and
their often-­intrusive side effects. MS, which is increasing in inci-
dence, has been identified as being one such disorder on the long
and growing list of lifestyle-­related diseases.
The OMS Program is based on sound scientific principles and
research and is able to be accessed by anyone with MS. This com-
bination of lifestyle adjustments, when embraced as a whole, has
been shown to complement or, in some people, replace the need
for medications, and to vastly improve the condition or even

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 34 Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis Handbook

reverse some of the symptoms. Adopting and persisting with the

recommended lifestyle changes as part of a healthy approach to
the rest of your life certainly requires active engagement with
the philosophy and details of OMS.
Incorporating the OMS recommen-
The OMS Program dations into a daily routine requires
is based on sound some research, understanding, trust
scientific principles and belief, and only when it becomes
and research part of daily life can you slowly but
surely feel the benefits to MS and
general health.
I will give a very brief overview of what the OMS Program is
about—more detail on each aspect and other relevant issues will
be expanded in the following chapters.

Let’s start with diet

Research has consistently shown that the modern Western diet
contains large quantities of saturated fats, which come mainly
from animal sources, and relatively low quantities of fibre and
nutrients, especially the B group vitamins and omega-­3 fatty acids.
This type of diet promotes the hardening of arteries, with the con-
sequence of an increasing incidence of heart disease and stroke.
Saturated fats stimulate inflammation throughout the body and
increase the chances of getting various types of cancer, among
a host of other diseases.
As described by Dr Beaber in Chapter 1, MS is largely a disorder
of an overactive immune system, also known as an autoimmune
disorder, which leads to inflammation in the brain and spinal cord
that in turn causes the many and varied symptoms with which
we are all familiar: loss or blurring of vision, weakness in parts
of the muscular system such as your legs, sensations of numbness
or tingling, and nerve pain are fairly common. These can to a
large extent be improved by the OMS Program, which includes
a change in diet that eliminates as much saturated fat as possible.
Eating a mainly plant-­based and high-­fibre range of fresh foods
is both nourishing and, using the many cooking resources now

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 Overview of the OMS Program  35

available, can be delicious. Supplementing the diet with foods rich

in omega-­3 fatty acids, as found in fish, seafood and flaxseeds
and their oils, has been also associated with better outcomes for
people with MS. Supplementation with B group vitamins may
also be beneficial in some circumstances.
A major change of diet involving restriction or elimination of
many of the foods we previously considered normal can be quite
daunting and sadly can turn many people off the Program. Some
people find that modifying aspects of their dietary regime fairly
gradually, and approaching the whole task with curiosity and
interest, can make the changes a satisfying objective, especially
since they have been proven to have huge benefits. Other people
find they are more successful when they actively and rapidly
embrace all aspects of modifying their diet.
How we manage the changes depends on each individual’s per-
sonality and their approach to major life hurdles. It can, however,
be a real adventure to experiment
with new ways of preparing our food
and research new recipes to produce Changing to an
delicious, satisfying and wholesome ultra-­healthy
meals. diet can be a
Encouraging your nearest and really enjoyable
dearest to join in the food adventure
adventure
can have fantastic health benefits for
you and everyone in the family, as the
dietary recommendations have been shown to reduce many of our
Western ailments and potentially reduce the possibility of your
genetically related family members from developing MS (see Jack
McNulty’s views on diet in Chapter 3 and read more detail about
family issues in Chapter 9).
Another important aspect of the OMS diet is the avoidance of
dairy products. There are two major reasons to avoid the breast
milk of other animals such as cows: the fat is largely saturated
and therefore unhealthy, and proteins in milk may also cause
problems for people with MS or with a predisposition to devel-
oping MS. The structure of cow’s milk protein is very similar to

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 36 Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis Handbook

human myelin, the fatty insulating coating of our nerves, which

is the target of the inflammatory attack in MS. Consuming dairy
products may cause the body to react to this milk protein—
the effect can then spill over and become part of the damaging
auto­immune reaction to our own myelin. Elimination of dairy
products is strongly recommended and we are fortunate today
that there are many plant-­based alternatives that are as nutrition-
ally wholesome as cow’s milk and quite delicious too.
On a more positive note, alcohol in moderation does not seem
to be harmful for people with MS and a glass of wine with our
thoughtfully cooked meal can be enjoyed as a real reward for
a job well done.

Sunshine and its vitamin—vitamin D

Epidemiological studies over many decades and in numerous
countries have pointed to the fact that low sun exposure can
predispose the population to an increase in the incidence of MS.
In Chapter 4, Dr Conor Kerley outlines how the sun reacts with
chemicals in the skin to produce vitamin D3. This vitamin has
many vital roles in the body, including the maintenance of strong
bones and muscles and preventing the disabling bone disease
called rickets. How vitamin D reacts with the immune system is of
crucial importance to those of us with MS. Appropriate vitamin D
blood levels can moderate or balance the immune system so that it
reduces a hyperactive immune system
without suppressing it.
Both sunshine and Sun exposure, and in particular the
the vitamin D it UVB rays of the sun, has also been
produces in the shown to act as an immune modulator
body are helpful independent of the vitamin D effects,
so direct sunlight is thought to be use­
for people with MS
ful in combination with vitamin D.
and their families, Of course, we have to be mindful of
but be mindful of the harmful effects of too much sun in
getting too much any sunny environment. Skin cancer is
sun exposure a lethal consequence that we all want

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 Overview of the OMS Program  37

to strenuously avoid. How to get just the right and safe amount is
described in detail in Chapter 4.

Get enough of the right sort of exercise

In past decades, exercise was not considered an important part
of the management of MS. In many cases it was actively discour-
aged and people with MS became increasingly weak and disabled.
There is now abundant evidence that regular aerobic exercise to
build cardiovascular fitness and strength-­building exercises are of
utmost importance for people living with many chronic diseases,
including MS.
Research into the effects of exercise on diabetes, cardiovascular
disease, high blood pressure and many cancers has shown clear-­
cut benefits. The research has also shown that regular exercise in
people who are living with these conditions results in improve-
ments in many aspects of their quality of life, in particular their
mental health. They are happier, have better cognitive abilities
such as memory, and often have much improved outcomes for
their underlying disease.
Exercise is important in a number of ways. The prospect of
losing mobility is one of the most painful fears that people with
MS live with every day. Exercise together with the other compo-
nents of the OMS Program can slow or even reverse a person’s
physical limitations. Exercise is well known to make people
feel better and ‘runner’s high’ is a recognised characteristic that
many vigorous exercisers experience. Moderate exercise can also
make you feel more optimistic and joyful, which can improve
your mental outlook. In many people
exercise can lift a person’s mood and Exercise is
decrease the frequency and severity of beneficial for
depression. Dr Stuart White goes into
people with MS in
this in a lot more detail in Chapter 5.
Physical exercise can also decrease
a host of different
the incidence of a number of the other ways; it is an
Western scourges obesity, diabetes, essential part of the
osteoporosis and cancer. OMS Program

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 38 Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis Handbook

Fatigue is a very common, disabling and often invisible

symptom in people with MS. It can reduce one’s enjoyment of
daily life and is known to be an influencing factor for many of us
deciding to limit or stop paid or voluntary work and curtail social
and family activities. Exercise in MS has been shown to allevi-
ate fatigue and increase endurance and this ‘side effect’ can be
extremely powerful.
Exercise can also improve our balance, strength and stability,
and in turn reduce the incidence of falls. Even small falls can lead
to significant injuries that can severely impact on the ability to
manage at home or at work. Exercises building muscular strength
can also decrease the development of osteoporosis or ‘brittle
bones’. Together with general bodily weakness and impaired
balance, osteoporosis can lead to bone fragility and fractures.
Loss of function and movement is to be strenuously avoided if
possible.

And remember the mind–body connection

The mind is a powerful thing. For millennia the impact of the
mind on bodily functions and ailments has been increasingly rec-
ognised. The mind is known to be responsible for both positive
and negative aspects of health, physical as well as mental. External
influences like the loss of loved ones or even worldwide disasters,
such as pandemics, can lead to severe stress reactions. Even the
anticipation of having to sit for an exam, give a speech, perform
in front of a crowd or attend an interview can be so stressful as to
reduce some of us to the point of tears and even total shutdown.
Research has shown that for those living with MS, stress can have
profound effects and can trigger an MS attack or relapse.
Many physicians recommend their patients ‘de-­ stress’ their
lives to assist them in recovering from a range of physical and
mental disorders. Unfortunately, advice on how to develop the
tools to undertake this often complex task is often lacking.
Although psychologists and counsellors skilled in assisting people
with chronic diseases can be a valuable aid in helping someone
to de-­stress, being in control of your own mental strength and

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 Overview of the OMS Program  39

having the ability to manage your stress levels with the regular
practice of meditation or other mindfulness-­ based strategies
can be empowering and can build self-­recovery. Internationally
renowned mindfulness expert Associate Professor Craig Hassed
goes into this in detail in Chapter 6. Don’t under­estimate the
power of the simple techniques he outlines.
I have had many discussions with people with MS over the
years in my role as a peer support worker and MS Ambassador,
and meditation appears to be one of the OMS strategies that
many of us find the most difficult to incorporate into daily life.
It is not a natural action to withdraw from often busy lives and
actively focus attention elsewhere for a period of time. There are,
however, many techniques and online resources available to help
people learn to meditate and that can be gradually introduced
into day-­to-­day life. Once I absorbed the large evidence base that
describes the profound positive effects that regular meditation can
provide, it was much easier to accept some techniques that I could
practise regularly and even to enjoy regular meditation. This is
a form of therapy with only positive side effects and is one we can
implement without a prescription or a pill.

And finally, what part does medication play?

The OMS Program is one that can and does work well together
with any prescribed medications from your doctor. Some of the
new raft of medicines that have become available to treat mainly
the relapsing and remitting forms of MS unfortunately can have
many disturbing side effects. Many people with MS have been able
to successfully reduce their dependence on medications, under
the supervision of their supportive medical practitioner, away
from requiring medication to stay well just by strictly adhering
to the OMS lifestyle recommendations. Others such as myself
choose the ‘belt and braces’ approach: I have continued with my
relatively low-­impact medication for over twenty years while fol-
lowing the OMS Program. Still others looking to do whatever it
takes to minimise the effects of MS in their lives opt for one of the
more recently released potent medications. The OMS approach

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 40 Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis Handbook

works very well as a complement to other treatments and does

not interfere with or complicate them. Dr Jonathan White goes
into the issues involved in choosing a disease-­modifying therapy
in Chapter 7.

Other considerations
Starting a new way of approaching a chronic condition that is
going to impact health and daily life can be an initially unset-
tling prospect, especially for those recently diagnosed and trying
to navigate a storm of scary emotions. This book and a couple
of other OMS-­themed books can set you on a positive road to
healing and recovery. Even more powerful is a group retreat or
workshop that promotes the lifestyle recommendations discussed
above. This may be especially useful early in your travels along this
sometimes bumpy highway. The group settings are unfortunately
not widely available around the world but researching your own
locale to see if one is in reach is strongly encouraged. Two retreats
I attended a few years apart were a revelation for me and made
the recommendations in the book so much more approachable
and understandable. Meeting together with other people with MS
who were dealing with the wide range of issues that I was dealing
with myself was both reassuring and comforting, and having direct
access to the professionals running the course was incredible. Being
able to question any and every aspect of the OMS Program was
motivating and engaging, so I urge you to do it if you can.
Stop smoking if you are a smoker and avoid a second-­
hand smoke environment if your household has smokers in it.
Extensive research has shown that the contents of tobacco
smoke are especially toxic to people with MS and can predispose
individuals to initially developing
MS and its subsequent progression.
There are many
There are no positive side effects of
resources available
smoking and it should be strongly dis-
to help people with couraged, especially in the household
MS adopt the and around genetically related family
OMS Program members.

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 Overview of the OMS Program  41

Dealing with all aspects of health and management of MS

requires a team of both professionals and personal contacts to
whom you can easily relate. The team needs to include people who
can understand your needs and assist you in being your best self.
Some doctors have been quite dismissive of the benefits of the OMS
approach. They may not have carefully researched the mountains
of evidence that are accumulating on the benefits of the individual
components of the Program.
Combining all the aspects of the OMS Program discussed
earlier is both powerful and achievable and within your control.
So select your team well (Dr Heather King talks about this in detail
in Chapter 11) and you may have to educate them too, as I had to.
Even some senior professors either hadn’t heard of the Program or
were quite negative about its potential benefits. I distributed the
first book quite widely among my medical colleagues and I think
I converted many of them, especially when they took the trouble to
absorb all the current scientific data that is accumulating.
It is probably even more important to have a small, easily
accessed support group on your team that may be family, friends
or people with MS who are peers and who also follow the OMS
Program. These people need to be aware of how you are going,
able to support you emotionally, and willing to join you on this
long adventurous road to being your best self. The internet can
be a valuable part of your support but be aware of the various
traps and destructive aspects of this source of information. I have
accessed a number of sites but have found some to be quite dis-
tressing and even dangerous, with dubious (and often expensive)
advice sometimes being promoted. Starting with the OMS website
(overcomingms.org) is a great way to learn about the wide world
of possibilities with this Program and the group of wise and dedi-
cated people who have developed and disseminated it. The website
can help with new cooking techniques and tasty recipes, general
lifestyle information and inspirational stories of how people with
MS manage MS.
Staying motivated and engaged with the OMS philosophy for
the long haul is vitally important to sustain commitment to all

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 42 Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis Handbook

the aspects of the OMS Program. Doing so with a positive, active

and conscious mindset will help you to continuously improve
yourself, maintain independence and above all enjoy the adven-
ture of transforming your health.
MS is a disorder that is very poorly understood by the com-
munity, not to mention many in the medical profession. I was
often asked by people who knew my diagnosis when I was first
diagnosed if it was contagious. This unnecessary fear could really
harm close personal friendships and I had to be very cautious
about who I disclosed to. I was and am very open to discussing
MS, but it is a complex condition that cannot be easily explained
in a few short sentences. It was quite difficult not to start giving
a long lecture about what MS is, who gets it and why, especially
to casual acquaintances, so I often found it was easier not to bring
the subject up if they didn’t know me well. Irish lawyer Gregory
Hendron gives specific advice about disclosure in Chapter 15.
Clear communication with close family members, particularly
blood relatives, remains vital to not only assist you on your MS
path but also to educate them about how they can help reduce the
likelihood of developing MS themselves. As a positive side effect,
overall improvement in their general physical and mental health
is a likely consequence.
In summary, the OMS road to recovery is backed by powerful
and compelling scientific evidence. The Program also provides
a life-­changing promise of hope, which is what we crave when
coping with the challenges of managing this complex, often fright-
ening and unpredictable condition.

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 Overview of the OMS Program  43

Ground covered
The OMS Program is a comprehensive suite of lifestyle
modifications that, when combined together and integrated
into a daily routine, have been shown to reduce the impact
of MS. In many people the OMS lifestyle approach can stop
or greatly reduce episodes or attacks and reverse some
symptoms and adverse effects, although these changes may
take some time to fully evolve.
OMS is a sound, scientifically based and researched
program, the elements of which have been slowly accepted
by a sceptical medical establishment. For many decades the
Swank regimen, which has some similar aspects to the OMS
Program, has generally not been embraced by neurologists.
However, the participants who followed the regimen carefully
lived long and healthy lives not limited by their MS. Recent
research has verified the value of the primary elements of
the Swank program, especially the need to reduce as much
saturated fat in the diet as possible. The OMS Program has
refined the dietary principles and introduced other changes
to further enhance the beneficial effects.
OMS is a self-­directed and strongly empowering strategy
to improve wellness. Having the tools and knowledge of what
we can do for ourselves gives us the hope and the strength to
take control of a frightening and often bewildering condition.
We can actively work towards and look forward to a better
future rather than be burdened by the dismal prospects we
faced when first diagnosed.
The OMS Program can not only improve the course of MS
but also has the added bonus of counteracting many of the
health problems that are a result of our Western lifestyle. The
combination of a low-­saturated-­fat diet, optimal omega-­3
and vitamin D levels, exercise, de-­stressing and social inclusion
can improve mental and physical wellness for anyone,
especially those of us dealing with a chronic disease.

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 44 Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis Handbook

My Story: Phil King

I was diagnosed with MS following a
bout of optic neuritis in October 2012.
Hot on the heels of the optic neuritis
came several, previously unknown
symptoms: unusual sensations in both
of my legs, as if they were unable to
carry me; burning all over my body
very similar to acute sunburn; dizzi-
ness, fatigue and deafness; and strange numbness, particularly in
my fingers. I felt very scared as I had always been highly fit and
active. I didn’t want my wife Lizzie or my children Laurence and
Lottie to become my caregivers.
I was lucky as I had heard about the book Overcoming Multiple
Sclerosis by Professor George Jelinek just before I was diagnosed.
I immediately ordered the book and read it cover to cover.
I found the program proposed by the book very compelling and
straight to the point. I switched very quickly to a wholefood diet sup-
plemented with seafood; I knew I had to ‘dump the junk’. I had always
enjoyed seafood so that wasn’t a problem. I was so desperate for good
health that a diet rich in nutrients didn’t seem like an effort.
I had started running for exercise many years ago as an aid to
stopping smoking; running had become another addiction for me
and one that I wasn’t going to relinquish easily. To read that running
in sunshine could be beneficial for the production of vitamin D was
an added benefit; however, getting lots of sun exposure in England
can prove difficult so I also supplement daily with vitamin D3.
I have always been a person who can become easily anxious.
In other words, I worry a lot! I downloaded albums by Deepak
Chopra and Professor Mark Williams (from Oxford University) onto
Spotify and these have helped my mindfulness journey a great deal.
I was determined that all this change would be for life. I wasn’t
going to let the odd unhealthy snack anywhere near my program,
or occasionally skip my meditation—I wanted to remain as healthy
as I could possibly be.

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 Overview of the OMS Program  45

I decided that I didn’t want to take any disease-­modifying med-

ications. This was my own personal choice. I took the view that if
after a year of following the OMS Program I deteriorated further,
I would then review my decision.
I have been following the OMS principles for eight years now
and I am happy to report that I have not relapsed in all this time.
I get occasional ‘ghosts of symptoms past’ but nothing more than
that. I exercise six days a week, either running a 6-­mile circuit or
doing weight training. I am fitter now than I was before I was diag-
nosed with MS. The disease doesn’t worry me anymore and I feel
that my overall outlook is good. I have now become an MS nurse in
a bid to help others diagnosed with MS. My good health is all thanks
to the OMS Program. I am eternally grateful.

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