This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Hello everyone. I am new to this website so I thought I would give you a brief bio. I was diagnosed in 2011 but have had symptems tied back to 1995. I have lost all of the vision in my right eye and most in my left. I suffer cognative issues and I am paralyzed from the waist down. I am confined to a wheelchair. I am not letting any of this discurage me. I a currently working on getting into shape so I can compete in track events in a racing wheelchair as well as competeing in a marathon next year in the wheelchair devision. I competed in a split/half marathon this year with my son. I did it in a 40lb hospital chair in the running division. We actualy did quite well. I have been on Avonex for 8 months now and it is helping keep my MS at bay for now. I look forward to conversing with all of you! Stay strong!!

welcome to the forum! your attitude is great have you always been a competitive athlete?

I have always been in compedative sports. I was a compedative soccer player from age 3 to 19. I have raced every kind of bicycle ever made. I ran compedatively. As an adult I was a compedative soccer coach. I have always tryed to push myself to the limit and then throw myself off. My physical therapist is always telling me to slow down. Unfortunately I don't know how to do that. I actualy find comfort in pushing myself hard.

very cool! i am active but not in any way an endurance athlete. i take students on nature hikes up to 10km and that's about my max daily exertion.
i have a friend who is much more athletic and had some pretty serious health problems. i put her on a new diet and supplement regimen and asked her to get some bloodwork done. all the tests came back showing poor values and now that she is on her new regimen some of the most important problems have already resolved. more bloodwork to follow to see how effective the regimen is in supporting. info for you:

Nutrition for Athletes and Most Common Vitamin Deficiencies Among Sportspeople
http://www.vitamin-deficiency-today.com ... letes.html

"Prolonged and intense exercise causes athletes to lose significant amount of fluids and many other nutrients in sweat. To avoid dehydration in the system you need to drink 8 to 16 ounces of water one or two hours before exercising; 4 ounces every 15 minutes during your workout; after workout drink until you’re no longer thirsty.

For rehydration you may chose water or special sport drinks, both are good choice. If you’ll decide to choose sports drinks, just make sure it contains no artificial colors, flavors and preservatives so your body does not get harmful ingredients.

Deficiency of B vitamins is widely spread in athletes... Thiamin and riboflavin are easily lost in sweat, so the more you’re active and sweating the more you need of these two vitamins...

Iron deficiency is the next common nutritional deficiency among athletes. Especially women and vegetarians that are involved in sport are at risk to develop iron deficiency. This mineral is easily lost through sweat...

...minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and zinc ... are also lost through heavy sweating..."

there's a reasonable overlap here between the nutrients lost to exertion and the deficiencies seen in ms patients. potential food for thought.