OT: Montel Williams on Oprah Show next Tuesday

[Cara842]

I'm new and don't know if I'm allowed to post this or not.  If I'm not, just let me know and it will never happen again.

Apparently this is going to be a touching show.  Montel is talking to her about his 10 year battle with MS.  It should be a good one, you may want to watch it.

Here's a preview of it from her site:

http://www.oprah.com/dated/oprahshow/oprahshow-20090305-montel-williams

[greenandchic]

I saw the show too (my first time watching Oprah in 10 years!) and its too hard to jampack so much info in 50 minutes and though they do jump around, its understandable in the time they have.

I did like how Dr. Oz(?) briefly described MS by using the cable.  That is the best way I was able to understand the basics of MS.

I was touched my Montel's experiences and that fact that me made an attempt of  his life.  I cant imagine what he may have been going through - especially since the internet wasn't as broad as it is now to get information, and basic support.  

I do appreciate Montel's approach to his health and I found myself totally understanding when he stated that he can no longer run.  I cant either (at this time) though I use my spinning bike very often and sometimes elliptical when I have access to one.

I would have liked more info on the supplements he uses, other types of workouts, but I guess I would have to buy his book.  :D

[rendean]

Thanks for the excellent recap. I may have to go on Oprah's website to watch this interview. I missed it as I was at work and forgot (imagine that-no cog fog here) to tape it.
Rendean

[doublevision1]

Thanks for the heads up.  I would've missed it otherwise.

Yes it was a touching show.  I am always surprised at how Montel is so tearful every time I hear him speak about his MS, ten years after diagnosis.  It occurred to me afterwards that I guess this could be the emotional lability that is a feature of the disease for so many.  Either that and/or perhaps he is just an emotional guy by nature.

What I found most touching was when Montel described his relationship with and support from his spouse; how she is going through this with him, and how she just knows what to do when he's having an episode, and helps him without making a fuss or attracting attention.  It reminded me to appreciate these qualities in my own husband.

A couple of times, they made reference to MS being a 'life threatening' disease; no mention that most MS patients live to close to a normal life span.  However they did point out the increased rate of suicide in MS; I thought that was helpful as I myself never knew this until after I was dx'ed.

Montel said there are 1.5 million living with MS in the US.  About 3 - 4x the stats of the MS Society in the US.  As we've discussed here in the past, it seems likely that the actual number is much greater than those 'official' stats, given the numbers should increase as time goes on, and also as there are most certainly many undx'ed and uncounted cases out there, which of course one can only speculate as to what those numbers might be.

I thought it was helpful that Montel described the pain he suffers.  An eye opener for all those who don't understand that this is a very painful disease.  He talked about how he tries to deal with it using a cognitive (I think he might have said 'psychiatric') approach, by trying to put it aside as much as possible and focus on something else.  This obviously won't wipe it out entirely, but I've noticed how this can sometimes work for me.

I'm surprised there was NO mention of his use of medical marijuana.  He is a major advocate.  I wonder if he was not permitted to talk about it?  (major US station, daytime TV?)  Too bad, this would have been a great opportunity to re-ignite that discussion.

He also explained how heat affects us.  Another useful tidbit of info for those who've never experienced it.

He reminded the audience that no two people experience the disease in the same way, and that you can't tell by looking at someone how ill they may be or how much they may be suffering.

Oprah asked him what is his greatest fear about his MS; he said to wake up and not be able to walk.  Yep, we get that.

Montel talked about his diet and exercise routine.  I think some people have been annoyed by that in the past, as though he is implying that all you need to do is eat fruit and veggies and go for a run and you'll beat your MS.  He said that each of these habits improve how he's feeling by about 2%, so it doesn't seem he is trying to overstate this aspect.  Dr. Oz talked about the importance of Vit D in modulating the immune system, though I didn't think he articulated it as well as he could have.

Montel spoke of his depression, how his dr didn't warn him to expect depression as a side effect of his medication; how he had his own thoughts of suicide and what that was like for him.  They talked of depression as a symptom of MS, but didn't really articulate how this occurs as part of the disease process itself, and not just as a reaction to being dx'ed with the disease.  He said that initially he 'gave in' to his dx of depression and that for a while, was how he identified himself.

He talked about how one is reminded every day that they have MS, by how one is feeling, by the daily meds needed, etc.  He choked up saying how he wished to have just one day when he could forget about it.

Sometimes I find it hard to follow his train of thought (today and when I've seen him speak on this in the past); seems he starts to making one point and then ends up on a different point.  Then I remembered how lately I do this myself and perhaps a bit of the cognitive effects of the disease or possibly side effects of meds.  Then again, I found his written autobiography like that too, so maybe it's just his style.  

I thought his most useful advice, and also Dr. Oz's, was the piece about being the one in charge, directing one's own care, don't rely on anyone else for this.

Dr. Oz shared his "Dx Checklist":

1. Bring support (not someone who'll be more upset than you, and you end up consoling them).
2. Don't forget to breathe (me: remember how you felt punched in the gut when you were told?)
3. Find a health advocate.
4. Get a 2nd opinion, but don't tell the 2nd one what the 1st one thought.  Let them arrive at their own conclusion. (apparently dx'ed will change 1/3 of the time when a 2nd opinion is sought?  acc. to Dr. Oz)
5. Become an expert about your own illness.

For a guy who is suffering as much as he is, both physically and emotionally, gotta give him credit for pushing himself to get out there and continue to raise awareness.  Not to mention keeping fit and as strong as possible when it would be much easier to just give up.

Probably one of the more helpful discussions on MS that I have seen on TV in the last couple of years (since I started paying attention).

[goofysmom1]

Just finished watching this.  Montel was very eloquent and honest about how MS affects him physically AND emotionally.

Very touching show.

They had Dr. Oz on to explain MS - but didn't get into a lot of details.  Talked mostly about Montel & his 10 years with MS.

You can go to Oprah's website to view the interview.

Chrisy

[rudyhorse]

That sounds very good, I will have to watch that one.  Most of all welcome!  I hope you will benefit as much from this great group as I have.
Tracy

[Janette2836]

Thanks for the info.  Will have to check it out.

Welcome to the forum.

Janette

[Cara842]

Quix,

Thank you !!!!  I couldn't find a list of rules to follow and was a little worried.  Thanks for the info !

Cara

[Cara842]

Quix,

Thank you !!!!  I couldn't find a list of rules to follow and was a little worried.  Thanks for the info !

Cara

[Quixotic1]

Hi, thanks for the heads up.  In general we can't post [*******] sites, but the biggies that are not allowed are the competition of MedHelp - other sites that have medical forums.

If the address you gave gets deleted, you gave enough info that we can find the preview.

Thanks again,

Quix