Six Questions with Brittany Tulaney

Happy Holidays to you! We're back with "Six Questions" and MSF Ambassador Brittany Tulaney. Brittany was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS in the winter of 2005. She is a New York Yankees fan who loves spending time with her husband and her two dogs.

 

1. How has MS changed your life? 

Having multiple sclerosis can really put a damper on things, but the way I see it is, it can only impact your life as much as you let it.  I was first diagnosed with MS even before I could walk into a bar and I have really only gotten upset about having the disease once.  I went from being a top female employee for the northeast region of a well-known company to being put on long-term disability at the ripe age of 25.  When I met my husband, I was only 22, but I was honest about having the disease and he doesn't hold it against me, and he never will.  He thinks I am the strongest person he has ever met.  That really gives me something to stand up to and I am very proud to hold that status. 

I might not be able to work or drive, but I am a wife and a proud mom of two adorable puppies.  Some people don't consider dogs children, but they are all that and more to me since having a child is too risky for me.  If I didn't have my "kids" to keep me focused on a daily basis and to keep me smiling, I don't know where I would be.  They can lick tears away and my yorkie even makes exercise on the treadmill fun. 

2. What is the most important thing you’ve learned since your diagnosis? 

People can be small-minded and think that having MS is the end of the world, but I have learned to only surround myself with the right people (and doctors) that want to see me succeed.  Not only in life, but with the disease.  I feel that it is very important to have supportive people in my life, not just behind me, but beside me as well. Also, I have learned that being honest with your MS doctor is the best thing to be.  I don't want someone telling me what they think I want to hear.  I want to be told what I need to hear, good or bad.

3. How have you found support?

I maintain good relationships with my doctors.  On top of that, being on Tysabri has really introduced me to a lot of people.  I don't get my infusion near my home town, so every month I have to be taken two hours away for it.  Every time I am getting treatment, I get to meet someone new.  Someone who has gone through what I have, someone who wants to know what they may experience, someone who is fearful of the disease, someone who needs me, or someone whom I need.  I met my "MS Sister" out at our treatment site.  I literally have only met her twice, but we talk every day!

4. What is the best coping tip you’ve picked up? 

Keep a positive attitude!

5. What is your favorite MS- or health-related website?

www.WebMD.com     

6. This is the bonus question! What question would you like to ask our readers?

Does always seeing and hearing about breast cancer anger you? 

Your answer?  I was told years ago that a cure for MS isn't advertised as well as breast cancer because 'MS isn't known as a deadly disease.'  What people don't know is that a lot of people with MS feel dead on the inside. Why don't we have MS charm bracelets? Why don't local TV stations hold benefit events? Why isn't there ever a commercial on TV for raising money towards a cure?

Six Questions with Jeanna Waldroup, ThD

Hey guys! Have you heard about our MSF Ambassador Program? If you have, then you know about the awesome benefits of it. If you haven’t, let us take a brief second to explain.  Every year, we chose 10 people with MS to become MSF Ambassadors. It is a volunteer-based program where we train those with MS to learn to be an advocate for themselves, the MS Community, as well as informing others about the services of the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. MSF Ambassadors hold fundraisers, distribute information to doctor’s offices, and participate in MSF Educational Programs in their area. We seriously have an awesome group of ambassadors, so we wanted to take the time on our blog to highlight them. Recently, we asked them six questions about themselves and throughout the weeks we will be presenting them. So without further adieu, please let us introduce Jeanna Waldroup, ThD from North Carolina.

  

Jeanne Waldroup is a MSF Ambassador who holds both a Master of Theology and a Doctorate of Theology. She lives in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina with her husband and two children.

1. How has MS changed your life?

Multiple sclerosis has given me the opportunity to see life in a new way. In other words, don’t sweat the small stuff! I have learned to face the challenges of the disease with the support and love of my family. I have two favorite sayings: ‘Attitude is Everything’ and ‘Never Give Up.’”

2. What is the most important thing you’ve learned since your diagnosis?

To hold each day as the special gift that it is.

3. How have you found support?

My family and friends at church are always there to help me. They offer me encouragement, prayers, and are always concerned for how I’m feeling. They are the greatest.

4. What is the best coping tip you’ve picked up?

Power naps!! If I need to rest, I do. When I wake up from a good nap I feel energized to continue on with my day and enjoy my family.

5. What is your favorite MS-or health related website?

Msfocus.org, of course!

6. This is the bonus question! What question would you like to ask our readers?

What is the most bothersome symptom related to your MS?

Your answer?

I actually can only narrow it down to two. They are fatigue and burning feet. I would love to have just one day where my feet wouldn’t burn like they are on fire!

Dr. Kantor Visits the MSF!

Back in January, we had the pleasure of having Dr. Daniel Kantor, Medical Director of Neurologique and President of the Florida Society of Neurology visit the MSF. While he was here he was kind enough to record some videos for us discussing current treatments (Ampyra, Gilenya, and Low Dose Naltrexone) and upcoming MS treatments. Here is the first video of a three part series called “Moving Forward with MS Treatments.” All additional videos can be found on our YouTube page and on our webpage on the Search for Causes, Treatments, and a Cure page in the Coping with MS section.

You can check out Dr. Kantor’s website at Neurologique or follow him on Twitter at @DrDanielKantor.

Stay tuned for more videos to come. Enjoy!