About my MS Journey

Photo: Alan GarvinI'm Alan, and was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) at the age of 34 in April 2000.  I have 3 lovely children, aged 14, 12 and 10 and have a wonderful wife of 24 years, who has never given up, challenged everything and been there for every twist and turn of my MS journey. 

I have set up MultipleSupplements.com to help support others with Multiple Sclerosis. My wife, Tabatha and I saw that we needed to do more than just take the conventional disease modifying drugs (DMD) in the hope they might slow down the progression of my Multiple Sclerosis. Don't get me wrong, the DMD's play an important part in the battle. I have tried many of them with varying levels of success, having experienced  serious side effects from some.  I know the DMD I am currently taking, along with others I have tried, has slowed the progression of MS, but not as much as I would like. 

It was around 15 years ago that Tabatha and I realised that we needed to be doing everything to help me stay strong; to help my body repair itself at a faster rate than the deterioration. We started experimenting with diets and vitamins after reading George Jelineks book, one group in particular being a Vitamin B complex.  It was at this point we realised supplements are one way to help my body perform better day to day, have a better quality of life and more energy.

However, working out what supplements you should take is difficult.  If you are having a relapse, or simply unwell which is often when your Multiple Sclerosis symptoms are exaggerated, trying to figure out what makes you feel better is, ....... difficult.

It was around 2004 I was attending a presentation by a Multiple Sclerosis specialist who mentioned Biotin, a little known, nor understood member of the B group of vitamins, but one that was in low levels in the B complex I had been taking for years.

It got me thinking and researching and ultimately putting together my own dietary supplements. I am not a Dr, Scientist or Nutritionist but my background in Mechanical Engineering and product development has always helped me to develop solutions to problems I face.  I have read widely on Multiple Sclerosis and can only relate what has worked for me.  This is where my background in both product and market research and development and my health situation met head on.  I have put together a range of dietary supplements that I hope will;
  1. make living with MS a little easier
  2. help you sustain your health as long as possible

I feel the dietary supplements I am now taking are making a huge difference to my strength and energy levels.  The diet I follow is along the lines of that recommended by George Jelinek in his book Overcoming MS, but not so regimented, way easier to follow and supported by the supplements I now take.  

I feel faster! More like my old self!  I haven't beaten the disease yet, but it hasn't beaten me either.....

    Good luck with your MS battle.

    Stay strong,

    Alan