When the Diagnosis Is Multiple Sclerosis: Help, Hope, and Insights from an Affected Physician

143 Pages·2007·1.33 MB·English

by  Kym Orsetti Furney M.D.

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WHEN THE DIAGNOSIS IS
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
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WHEN THE DIAGNOSIS IS
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Help, Hope, and Insights from an
Affected Physician
Kym Orsetti Furney, M.D.
The Praeger Series on Contemporary Health and Living
Julie Silver, Series Editor
iii
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LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Furney,KymOrsetti,1966–
Whenthediagnosisismultiplesclerosis:help,hope,andinsightsfromanaffected
physician/KymOrsettiFurney.
p. cm.—(Praegerseriesoncontemporaryhealthandliving,ISSN1932–8079)
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN978–0–275–99468–6(alk.paper)
1.Furney,KymOrsetti—Health. 2.Multiplesclerosis—Patients—NorthCarolina—Biography.
3.Physicianswithdisabilities—NorthCarolina—Biography. 4.Womenphysicians—United
States—Biography. I.Title.
RC377.F873 2008
362.196(cid:1)8340092—dc22
[B] 2007035410
BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationDataisavailable.
Copyright©2008byKymOrsettiFurney
Allrightsreserved.Noportionofthisbookmaybe
reproduced,byanyprocessortechnique,withoutthe
expresswrittenconsentofthepublisher.
LibraryofCongressCatalogCardNumber:2007035410
ISBN-13:978–0–275–99468–6
ISSN:1932–8079
Firstpublishedin2008
PraegerPublishers,88PostRoadWest,Westport,CT06881
AnimprintofGreenwoodPublishingGroup,Inc.
www.praeger.com
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
Thepaperusedinthisbookcomplieswiththe
PermanentPaperStandardissuedbytheNational
InformationStandardsOrganization(Z39.48–1984).
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
iv
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Whenlifegivesyoulemons,makelemonade...
Aposterwiththeseinspirationalwordshungonmybedroomwallthrough-
outmyadolescentyears.Withthenaivete´ ofachild,Ihadassumedthephrase
meant that I should make the most of the gifts I was given. In recent years, I
sawthatphraseemergeagain.AsanadultIrealizedthat,ofcourse,thelemons
represented some sort of misfortune that should be transformed into some-
thing good. I laughed at myself for my innocent interpretation for all those
years.Somehow,Inowseethisbookasrepresentingaproductofbothofmy
interpretationsofthoselemons.
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Contents
SeriesForewordbyJulieSilver ix
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xiii
1. BeingDiagnosed 1
2. Grieving 6
3. ThePsychologicalChallengesofMS 12
4. FacingtheNeedle:TheMSMedications 17
5. WhomDoITellandWhen? 27
6. ImpactonOurJobs 39
7. HavingChildren 45
8. StayingHealthyandFit 54
9. ManagingtheFatigueofMultipleSclerosis 64
10. CouldIBeDepressed? 73
11. YouandYourDoctor 82
12. DealingwithDisability 89
13. GettingInvolvedwiththeMSCommunity 99
14. FindingBalance 105
Conclusion 111
Appendix:TheFactsaboutMS 113
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viii Contents
Resources 119
References 123
Index 125
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Series Foreword
I had the opportunity to meet Kym Furney at a medical conference that
focusedonpublishing.ThisbookwasthereasonthatDr.Furneycametothe
conference, and I am delighted to be writing the Series Foreword for such a
wonderfulaccomplishment.
Dr. Furney’s editor wrote me a note when she sent me the manuscript—it
read,“Youaregoingtolovethisbook.It’sterrific!”Indeedshewasright—Ido
loveitanditisterrific.
There are several reasons why it is such an insightful guide, including the
fact that Furney is both a physician and a patient. Contracting MS (as the
authorpreferstocallit)attheageof34,justwhenshewasconsideringhaving
anotherchild,washeartbreaking.
Dr. Furney begins with her own story and then leads us into the world of
multiple sclerosis and offers sage advice based on current medical guidelines
and personal experience. The combination is powerful and it is with pleasure
thatIencourageyoutoreadthisbook.
SeriesEditorJulieSilver,M.D.
AssistantProfessor
HarvardMedicalSchool
DepartmentofPhysicalMedicineandRehabilitation
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