Summarize the following:
Even if you’ve already been diagnosed with MS, your doctor will want to know that your symptoms have changed. Tell your doctor approximately how long the hug lasted, the degree and type of pain you experienced, and how long it lasted for. Also let your doctor know if the hug prevented you from performing normal activities (eating, driving, sleeping) throughout your day. Your doctor may also be able to recommend helpful practices or treatments that can decrease the unpleasant feeling of the MS hug. If you experience frequent MS hugs, or if they are especially severe or long-lasting, your doctor can prescribe medication that will help decrease the pain felt in abdominal nerves. Nerve pain is often experienced as aching, stabbing, or unpleasant tingling sensations. Your doctor will most likely prescribe a medication like amitriptyline or pregabalin.  Side effects of amitriptyline can include skin sensitivity, a dry mouth, difficulty going to the bathroom, and blurred vision.  Side effects of pregabalin are typically mild and can include drowsiness, headache, dizziness and fatigue, and slight weight gain. Do not take pregabalin if you are pregnant.  The type of medication your doctor will prescribe depends on what type of pain you feel. The two most common types are pain due to fraying nerves in your abdomen and pain due to spasms in the muscles located between your ribs. The small muscles located between your ribs (called intercostal muscles) can constrict due to the nerve damage caused by MS. The constriction can be extremely painful, and is a common cause of the MS hug. If you experience pain from muscle spasms, ask your doctor for a prescription to counter the spasms’ effects.  In the case of intercostal muscle spasms causing the MS hug pain, your doctor will most likely prescribe a medication like baclofen or gabapentin. People who take baclofen experience side effects about 45% of the time. Side effects include dizziness and fatigue, and having a hard time sleeping.  Side effects for gabapentin are similar and include dizziness, weakness, and fatigue. NMES is a process in which gentle electrical currents are applied to tissue. It can help relieve spasms and constriction cause by MS. Ask your doctor if this might be option for you. Your doctor can administer the treatment. When used under a doctor’s careful supervision, antidepressants can be a useful way of stopping pain from the MS hug. Antidepressants change the way that your central nervous system processes pain, and can stop your brain from feeling the pain associated with an MS hug.  Common antidepressants that can decrease MS hug symptoms include amitriptyline and Duloxetine hydrochloride. Side effects of amitriptyline include constipation and difficulty urinating, nausea and vomiting, tiredness or dizziness, and blurred vision and unsteadiness.  Side effects of Duloxetine hydrochloride include nausea and vomiting, dizziness and fatigue, constipation, and weakness. See your doctor if you experience any severe side effects including unexplained bleeding or bruising, or abdominal pain. Vitamin D, alpha lipoic acid, or probiotic supplements may help reduce inflammation and decrease symptoms. Always ask your doctor before taking supplements to make sure that they won't interact with your medication.  Your doctor may check your vitamin D levels to see if you need supplements. This is done through a blood test.  You can buy supplements at any drug or health food store. Your doctor can help you determine the best dosage for you. If you are concerned that you may be approaching an MS relapse, talk to your doctor and ask for a steroid prescription. Steroids can help decrease the likelihood of an MS relapse, which are typically accompanied by the onset of new symptoms, or the worsening or existing symptoms. Methylprednisolone is the most commonly prescribed steroid for MS relapses. Side effects are mild, and are limited to indigestion, mood swings, slight facial flushing, and difficulty sleeping.

summary: See your doctor the first time you experience an MS hug. Ask your doctor for a prescription to decrease nerve pain. Ask your doctor for a medication to decrease spasm pain. Discuss whether neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) can help. Ask your doctor for a prescription antidepressant. Check with your doctor if taking supplements might help. Ask your doctor about steroids to prevent a relapse.


Summarize the following:
Exercise will not only support weight loss, but can help you get into a good mindset for the day or week when you're getting back to your normal routine.  Try to include some sort of physical activity about three to four days each week.    Aim for 150 minutes or 2 1/2 hours of moderate-intensity physical activity each week.  Incorporating regular aerobic exercise into your daily routine will support your weight loss.  Aerobic activities can include exercises like:  walking, jogging, swimming, biking, or hiking. It's recommended to include two days of strength training each week.  Strength training includes activities like:  weight lifting, Pilates, or isometric exercises like push-ups or crunches. Getting started with an exercise plan can be hard — especially if you're doing it alone.  Working out with a friend or partner can be a great motivator to keep you on track and showing up for your weekly sweat sessions. Experts recommend trying to get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night.  Adequate sleep helps with mood balance and appetite control — both of which are important if you're aiming to get back on track with healthy eating. To help get your body ready for sleep, turn off all lights and electronics.  Also try to avoid using electronics at least 30 minutes prior to your planned sleep time. No matter how long you've overindulged, having a support group or people by your side can make getting back on track be a little easier.  Whether it's your spouse, family, friends or co-workers, a support group can be your cheerleaders that will motivate and encourage you through this process. If you'd like, you can sign up for diet programs like Weight Watchers and go to their weekly support group meetings. Sometimes after a few days of overeating you can begin to feel a bit negative or down.  Repeating positive affirmations daily can help boost your mood and spirits and put you in a better mindset to get back on track. Come up with your own sayings or use a few of these daily:  "My body feels great when I feed it the right types of foods." "Exercise makes me feel energized and puts me in a great mindset for my day." "I have the willpower to make healthy choices today." "I'm doing the best I can to get back on track with healthy eating." "Indulging occasionally is OK and I'm back on track today."

summary: Exercise. Get eight hours of sleep. Find or build a support group. Repeat positive affirmations daily.


Summarize the following:
Tear off a strip of tape approximately 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) in length and press it into place over the line created by the overlapping material. Run your finger back and forth over the tape a few times to make sure it stays put.  Any variety of tape could work, but clear tape tends to be the most forgiving to work with, since it tears and smooths easily and can be peeled off and reapplied if you happen to make a mistake. If you like, you can also cover the seam on the inside of the cone with a second strip of tape to be doubly certain that it will hold. Once you’ve mixed your henna paste, use a spoon to scoop it into the open end and shake the cone gently to help it settle. Be careful not to overfill your cone. Doing so will make it harder to seal, and could result in an unexpected mess. Henna stains very easily, so be sure to pull on a pair of rubber gloves before you begin handling your homemade henna paste. It may also be a good idea to cover your work surface with a layer of paper towels or newsprint.
summary: Place a strip of tape along the seam on the outside of the cone. Fill your cone about 1/2 or 2/3 of the way up with henna paste.