When were you diagnosed with MS?
April 1981

What was the most significant lifestyle change you made due to MS?
It has been a continuous process. In the beginning, the weakness that affected the right side of my body forced me to stay in hospital and then at home for three months. When I recovered, life returned to normal, although I still experienced tingling in my arms and legs, but I tried not to worry about it. At that point, I didn’t make any significant changes to my lifestyle. However, I decided to postpone my plans to develop a practice in a big city hospital, and also my plans to carry out graduate studies in paediatric oncology.

My wife Gilde and I, along with our two sons, Jordi and Dirk, moved to a small town where I started work as a rural paediatrician. In 1988, vision in my left eye had greatly diminished. I was required to stop driving, but continued working by using my other senses. I developed an excellent capacity for observation, paying special attention to people’s voices, their profiles, movements and always looked in the direction of their eyes.
Currently I experience a greatly limiting fatigue and so, during the day, I try to distribute my energy reserves evenly so that I am able to carry on working.

Did MS affect your employment? If so, how did you adjust to, or manage the change?
MS didn't affect my work as a paediatrician. I continued my medical practice and kept my certification up-to-date with the Mexican Paediatrician Society. I had to make some changes when my vision diminished, but I never had to give up my practice. Gilde took some time away from her work at a special education school to join me full time in my consulting office, and together as a team we were able to deal with the demands that accompany the running of a medical practice.

Have you adapted your diet in any way because of MS?
I haven’t adapted my diet, but I try to keep a healthy balance of lots of fruits and vegetables, seeds, sunflower oil, a lot of chicken and fish, and a limited amount of red meat.

Has MS changed any physical activities you participated in before diagnosis? If yes, were you able to find satisfying alternatives?
MS has changed my physical activities. I used to enjoy walking and cycling; now it is difficult for me to walk more than 200 metres before fatigue sets in, and cycling is no longer possible. I have successfully substituted these activities with reading, watching television, and listening to music.

Has living with MS changed your outlook on life? If so, in what way?
MS has not changed my outlook on life. I have come to think of MS as a way of life, not an illness. We all have different limitations, and the key is to recognise them and not cling to one specific goal. We must always think about, and be prepared for “Plan B”. For me, MS meant the difference between being an absent father who had an extremely busy career, and having a well-integrated, healthy and happy family life. I will never know how my life would have been without MS, and I prefer to look at the results as they are now; for me, they are very good. I don’t think my outlook would be any different if I didn’t have MS.

Do you practice any kinds of well-being strategies to stay healthy? (e.g. meditation, weekend getaways, hobbies etc).
My life revolves around my family, my wife and my sons. Gilde and I continue working 100 per cent to our fullest potential. I think being busy is the best therapy for staying in shape, mentally and physically.

What do you feel are the most important things for maintaining healthy living with MS?
I feel it is really important to be optimistic and not to let myself surrender to pessimism and frustration. I am always setting new goals in my life, and above all I recognise that I am a very lucky person. I laugh a lot, and accept things as they occur.