MSAV: Tell us about yourself, your MS diagnosis/journey and how long you have been living with MS.
CHRIS: My name is Chris Meadows. I am a Mechanical Engineer graduate from Virginia Tech with an MBA from ODU. I worked in a pulp and paper mill, Phillip-Morris, and a heat exchanger manufacturer, Deschamps. I was diagnosed with MS on 11/27/2009. A day that will live in infamy.
MSAV: How did you discover the MSAV?
CHRIS: I don’t remember for certain, but I’m fairly sure Suzanne O’Connell had something to do with it. I’m very glad to have found this group. See this disease cost me my career, three jobs, my first marriage and for a while, my kids. My education is reduced to two sheets of paper on the wall. This group somehow found its way in my life right then. I started making better decisions. Stopped saying woe is me. My focus started to shift to helping others.
MSAV: What do you do to take care of your mental health?
CHRIS: Nutrition and exercise. I use kinesiology to ease the aches and pains, improve GI function, etc.
MSAV: Tell us some tips or life hacks you have discovered that help you with your
MS.
CHRIS: I have fall proofed my house: no rugs, a ramp to the door, grab bars in the shower.
I also use technology to help me.
-Calendar events for appointments with alarms
-Notes for everything
-I make a sheet to take to the doctor or all doctor visits (it’s on my phone)
- List of all medicines
- Top 3 questions
- Try to keep a list of treatments/timeline
MSAV: What advice would you share with other men who are affected by MS?
CHRIS: Life is not over, just different.
MSAV: How has your perspective on the world changed since you were diagnosed?
CHRIS: I like the person I am now, but I sure miss the health.
MSAV: What is your favorite way to spend a day off?
CHRIS: Coffee