Health and Wellness Coaching for those living with Autoimmune Diseases

I have two autoimmune diseases myself. I also have a couple other chronic diseases, but I’d like to talk about Multiple Sclerosis here, about how it’s impacted my life, and how what I’ve learned can improve the lives of other MS patients and anyone else with an autoimmune disease, or other chronic illness. I was diagnosed with MS in 1987 after the birth of my second child and I had two more children after that. There were no drugs for MS back then, only cortisone for acute relapses to counteract inflammation. But cortisone has many terrible side effects. I started with Relapsing-Remitting MS, which converted to Secondary Progressive MS after 20 years, as this disease usually does. Since my diagnosis all those years ago, I’ve experienced many of the typical MS symptoms — visual problems, strange sensations throughout my body, pain, dizziness and balance problems, major fatigue, brain fog, muscle spasms and excruciating contractions. Now, it’s the continuing and progressive weakness of my legs that has really changed my life. I used to go creek-walking, hiking, and exploring with my 4 kids in streams and forests around our house. Our favorite family vacations were spent downhill skiing every winter in the Rocky Mountains. I did vigorous workouts, lifting free weights 4-5 times a week. I loved to ride the Life Cycle and use our rowing machine. Now, I walk with a cane, and I recently bought a rolling walker. I also use a wheelchair for trips to places where distances are more than I can handle. But there are still plenty of things I can do, and I'm finding different ways to do the things I love.

Which brings me to health and wellness.   I’ve been a Registered Nurse since 1975 and I retired after more than 4 decades of work. My career focus has been all about health and wellness. My clinical specialty areas are orthopaedics, pain management, and rehab. I’ve worked in clinical nursing care, healthcare administration, academic research, and university teaching. Before I was diagnosed with MS, I provided nursing care for hospitalized patients with advanced MS. I saw the world of MS from the “outside looking in”, taking care of these patients and families as they faced many challenges and issues.

Since my MS diagnosis, I see the world of MS from the “inside looking out,” and that perspective has brought both challenges and insights. As a health & wellness/life & career coach, my specialty is working with MS patients and others who have an autoimmune disease or other chronic illness. I will help you clarify the problems and issues that impact you most — and help you explore approaches and solutions that best fit your needs. You will become the champion of your own journey, inspired to take on challenges that push you outside of your comfort zone and help you grow. Whether it's following a new exercise routine, taking on a new project at work or home, trying a new diet, pursuing a new hobby, or other new adventures, this process will lead to transformational changes in your life. Together, we will develop a goal-focused plan to maximize your health, wellness, and greatly enhance your quality of life. Let’s take this journey together.