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Six Questions with Stuart Schlossman
Six Questions with...
1. How has MS changed your life?
Hmm, tough question!! Well, I want to think that it's made me a better person. When not having a disability, we tend to see the world differently.
I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1998. After the usual few months of "why me?" I decided I was "chosen" to acquire this illness and with the use of my "big mouth," I could help to lead others... I want to leave my mark upon the world, letting others know that there are those who fend for them.
So, in answer to the question, how has MS changed my life? It has made me a more caring and attentive person -- towards most people. MS caused me to change from being obnoxious and abrasive to now being obnoxious and abrasive and a "humanitarian.”
2. What is the most important thing you’ve learned since your diagnosis?
That much good often comes from bad things... There is always an equaling offset. All the good people that I may not have met, had I not been "chosen" and all the good that I have been able to give of myself, for those needing what I provide.
3. How have you found support?
After first getting diagnosed, I began searching for peer assistance on the internet. Found a wonderful, well-informed lady with MS who happened to live near my office who via the internet. We chatted and she kept insisting that I attend a support group that she attended. I decided to one day go, because it wasn't too far from my office and much easier to go to that group than fight traffic trying to get to the one nearer to where I lived. And it was a blessing that I never got to thank her for, getting me involved with that group. THANKS, Olga!! Soon after I got involved with that group, I had new friends. Friends that if I would not have attended that group, I never would have found. And then from that group, I started another group that we call "our non-group." No affiliation to anything. Just a group of of MS peers. No significant others allowed (when we first started this group). You had to have MS (as a merit badge) to be indoctrinated into the group... Many of those whom I know are very supportive.
4. What is the best coping tip you’ve picked up?
I try to do what I can, when I can... Know what I mean?
5. What is your favorite MS- or health-related website?
Mine of course... MS Views and News and my blog. I designed what information would be used on each. That's why I love it. It's made by an MS patient (me), for all affected by multiple sclerosis.
All affected is not just the other patients. MS affects the caregivers, family and friends of the patient. It affects the healthcare providers and employees of MS organizations. MS branches outwards and affects so many people, for whom I have become the messenger for current MS information.
Other websites that I use for reference when wanting to keep up-to-date: MS Foundation, Nat'l MS Society, MSRC-UK.
6. This is the bonus question! What question would you like to ask our readers?
If you could do something for others with MS, what would you do?
Your answer?
Since a year after diagnosis, I went on to chair MS walk sites (7) times, facilitate and co-facilitate MS support groups. I designed/created the MS Health Expo for the MS Society in South Florida. I fundraise and in order to do adequate fundraising over the years, I needed to be able to speak with others about my MS. The more I speak with the larger the field for obtaining dollars. The fundraising that I do enables more research dollars and has helped with local programs and services.
I have my MS website and my MS blog which is being viewed in excess of 100,000 times each month. My weekly e-newsletter "Stu's Views and MS Related News" (that I began publishing in 2002) is currently being received in (48) countries. I recently founded a new MS organization called "MS Views and News" and am awaiting approval from IRS for our organization to become not-for-profit.
In addition to all of the above, I am now found on Facebook (using my name Stuart Schlossman) and can also now be found tweeting on Twitter (using: MSViews_andNews). I receive hundreds of emails everyday from ms peers seeking information or from caregivers who have questions. I have become a patient advocate for any MS medication as I feel that everybody with RRMS, needs to be using something.
That's certainly a full workload, Stu. So, readers, what would you do? What will you do?
P.S. to people who came over from other sites: You can still join the discussion! Our blog supports openID (meaning if you have a blog on another site, you can probably use that to sign in as an openID commenter) or you can comment anonymously.
 | Six Questions with Stuart Schlossman of Stu's Views and MS News (an MS advocate, blogger, source for MS information and MS peer). |
1. How has MS changed your life?
Hmm, tough question!! Well, I want to think that it's made me a better person. When not having a disability, we tend to see the world differently.
I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1998. After the usual few months of "why me?" I decided I was "chosen" to acquire this illness and with the use of my "big mouth," I could help to lead others... I want to leave my mark upon the world, letting others know that there are those who fend for them.
So, in answer to the question, how has MS changed my life? It has made me a more caring and attentive person -- towards most people. MS caused me to change from being obnoxious and abrasive to now being obnoxious and abrasive and a "humanitarian.”
2. What is the most important thing you’ve learned since your diagnosis?
That much good often comes from bad things... There is always an equaling offset. All the good people that I may not have met, had I not been "chosen" and all the good that I have been able to give of myself, for those needing what I provide.
3. How have you found support?
After first getting diagnosed, I began searching for peer assistance on the internet. Found a wonderful, well-informed lady with MS who happened to live near my office who via the internet. We chatted and she kept insisting that I attend a support group that she attended. I decided to one day go, because it wasn't too far from my office and much easier to go to that group than fight traffic trying to get to the one nearer to where I lived. And it was a blessing that I never got to thank her for, getting me involved with that group. THANKS, Olga!! Soon after I got involved with that group, I had new friends. Friends that if I would not have attended that group, I never would have found. And then from that group, I started another group that we call "our non-group." No affiliation to anything. Just a group of of MS peers. No significant others allowed (when we first started this group). You had to have MS (as a merit badge) to be indoctrinated into the group... Many of those whom I know are very supportive.
4. What is the best coping tip you’ve picked up?
I try to do what I can, when I can... Know what I mean?
5. What is your favorite MS- or health-related website?
Mine of course... MS Views and News and my blog. I designed what information would be used on each. That's why I love it. It's made by an MS patient (me), for all affected by multiple sclerosis.
All affected is not just the other patients. MS affects the caregivers, family and friends of the patient. It affects the healthcare providers and employees of MS organizations. MS branches outwards and affects so many people, for whom I have become the messenger for current MS information.
Other websites that I use for reference when wanting to keep up-to-date: MS Foundation, Nat'l MS Society, MSRC-UK.
6. This is the bonus question! What question would you like to ask our readers?
If you could do something for others with MS, what would you do?
Your answer?
Since a year after diagnosis, I went on to chair MS walk sites (7) times, facilitate and co-facilitate MS support groups. I designed/created the MS Health Expo for the MS Society in South Florida. I fundraise and in order to do adequate fundraising over the years, I needed to be able to speak with others about my MS. The more I speak with the larger the field for obtaining dollars. The fundraising that I do enables more research dollars and has helped with local programs and services.
I have my MS website and my MS blog which is being viewed in excess of 100,000 times each month. My weekly e-newsletter "Stu's Views and MS Related News" (that I began publishing in 2002) is currently being received in (48) countries. I recently founded a new MS organization called "MS Views and News" and am awaiting approval from IRS for our organization to become not-for-profit.
In addition to all of the above, I am now found on Facebook (using my name Stuart Schlossman) and can also now be found tweeting on Twitter (using: MSViews_andNews). I receive hundreds of emails everyday from ms peers seeking information or from caregivers who have questions. I have become a patient advocate for any MS medication as I feel that everybody with RRMS, needs to be using something.
That's certainly a full workload, Stu. So, readers, what would you do? What will you do?
P.S. to people who came over from other sites: You can still join the discussion! Our blog supports openID (meaning if you have a blog on another site, you can probably use that to sign in as an openID commenter) or you can comment anonymously.