TLC for MS Caregivers

Every twenty minutes, someone, somewhere in the world, is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Little is known about this devastating disease and how it affects the family and friends surrounding the stricken one. Finally we have a book directed to and addressing the concerns of these silent sufferers. They are entitled to the gamut of emotions because they are also afflicted.

Each new MS attack brings forth Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s five stages of grieving defined in Death and Dying. These stages are denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. The chapters in this book will deal with these emotions, as well as others encountered when coping with MS. The readers will be shown how people meet the various stages and successfully work through them.

Family and friends tend to become complacent when the MS remissions continue for months, even years. The roller coaster disease may strike again with no warning and devastate everyone involved. MS is described, and shows how each person afflicted has similar yet a unique set of symptoms. It depends on where in the central nervous system the MS strikes, and which of the four identified types of the disease is involved.

Both authors have a particular interest in this endeavor. One has a daughter with MS, and the other has had the disease for over 30 years. In the process of dealing with our own personal grief and acceptance, we’ve realized how much is lacking in terms of current information.

Within these pages, the reader will meet people just like themselves: husbands and wives, children and parents, brothers and sisters and friends of people with MS who speak frankly from their own experiences. Problems are explored, and methods described, showing how others have handled the many hurdles encountered. As experience of MS varies from person to person, so do the relationships, concerns and emotions.

TLC for MS Caregivers can help the readers get through the first uncertain and difficult days of adjustment, as well as ease the frustration through the various stages of multiple sclerosis and possible future exacerbations as time goes on. The book has been written for the sole purpose of renewing or instilling hope for a better day, a better understanding of the disease and a better method of living with the ups and downs that are typical with MS. There is insight into the feelings, coping skills and means of dealing with a loved one’s chronic disease.

Specifically, the chapters deal with: What Is MS? Diagnosis, The Initial Shock, After the Diagnosis, Helplessness, Anger, Depression and Hopelessness, Fear, Nurturing Yourself, Medical Information and Ongoing Research and Understanding and Renewal. The Medical and Research chapter is undergoing reconstruction in order to present more current information. The appendices contain a) Benefits Available for MS Patients (undergoing reconstruction), b) Glossary of Terms, c) Bibliography and d) Anthology of Essay Contributions from both Family/Caregivers and MS patients.