I write about health care reform and it is a frequent topic of conversation in my life. To those who stand against reform, nothing I say will sway them. They see even minor reform through the lens of socialism, or argue that the constitution does not grant us a right to health care, or speak of the tremendous cost.

This would be a great place to insert the usual point/counter-point arguments, but that’s not where I want to lead the discussion today. This isn’t about politics; it’s personal.

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Why I take health care reform personally — and you should too

Photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1039786

First, what it is not: multiple sclerosis is not the same as muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy. All people with MS are not in wheelchairs. It’s not a psychological problem.

So what is it?

MS is a neurological disease in which lesions form in the central nervous system, interrupting the transmission of signals to the rest of the body…

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11 Basics to Understanding Multiple Sclerosis

Do you know what F.A.S.T. stands for?

Find out HERE

Here’s the truth as I see it. Once you become a caregiver to someone with MS, life will never again be as it was before the diagnosis. The faster you accept that as fact, the better off you’ll be and the quicker you’ll be able to move forward with our new goal of pretend normalcy. Whenever Mandy and I start down the road of wondering aloud about what our lives might have been like without MS, one of us will eventually look at the other and utter an oft-heard phrase: “It is what it is.”

Life doesn’t come with guarantees. No guarantee of happiness, no guarantee of financial security, no guarantee that you’ll have a big happy family, no guarantee of anything — except for one thing. That your life will be full of unexpected and unexplained events. You can tell yourself that there’s some grand plan, that things happen for a reason, but I’ve dismissed that line of thinking. We’ve given up all pretense of believing that some master plan simply called for Mandy to contract MS. To me, life is like running across an active battlefield with your eyes open, senses on fire, every ounce of your life’s training and experience being pulled into use. With all that going for you, sometimes you’re just going to get hit.

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New to the Game?

So what if you find yourself among our country’s nearly 50 million uninsured? Continue to research and pursue all insurance options. In the meantime, there are other resources available to the uninsured, but it’s going to take some time and a great deal of persistence.

Having MS and no insurance — or inadequate insurance — is a bitter pill to swallow. I cannot in good conscience say that you will be able to access all the services you need. We just have do the best we can with the resources at our disposal. And by all means, contact your representatives in congress. Put a human face on the state of health care!

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Guide for Uninsured Multiple Sclerosis Patients

MS is as individual as each patient, with a seemingly endless list of symptoms. Nothing about it is cut and dry, so each patient must actively pursue a course of education and research. Each patient must make a series of decisions about treatment options, medical insurance, and lifestyle. It is never too soon to begin that process.

There are other things you can do if you’re still waiting for diagnosis…

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Early Intervention in Multiple Sclerosis: Knowledge is Power

We’re walking for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society on April 18. Find out Why We Walk

Visit Ann’s Personal MS Walk Page

Visit Jim’s

By all accounts, the number of people with MS who smoke is fairly high. Speaking for myself, always a non-smoker, I find life with MS to be quite a challenge in its own right. I’m also aware that having MS does not protect me from other diseases. It is my responsibility to protect my own health from preventable illness. Smoking is like issuing an open invitation to trouble.

We’ve known for decades that smoking is harmful to health, but young people continue to be lured in by peer pressure and advertising. Health is much more fragile than we like to admit. Taking it for granted is a serious mistake.

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MS and Smoking: Not a Good Match

You’ll find a few other familiar MS bloggers there, including our good friend Lisa Emrich, of Brass and Ivory.

Alltop.com provides links to news and information on pretty much every topic from A to Z, with story updates every hour. We’re thrilled to be included.

If you’re not familiar with Alltop, now’s the time to click on over…  Alltop.com

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MS Maze