b'or insignicant could prove otherwise. Make sure your healthcare team stays inLet your care provider know yourtouch with each other. Have a list of all of communication preferences and if youyour team contacts.dont understand or are unable to follow Ask for checklists to help you keep track of along.what you need to be doing.After some appointments, such as with Most importantly, be your own advocate. a physical therapist, you might be givenHaving a well-rounded healthcare team homework to do an exercise. Be honestcanseemdauntingbutcanchangeyour with them if you do or dont do what theyquality of life in signicant ways. Share your ask. It will make their job easier, and theygood and bad experiences with others and will have a better understanding of where youoffer support where you can. There are newly are physically. They can make modicationsdiagnosed MS patients every day and someone to benet you long term.is always in need of help; you just might At the end of the day, be responsible andbecome a member of their healthcare support accountable to yourself.team. Adding Wellness PracticesWhile in-person gatherings are generally preferred, if you want to add a yoga or Tai chi class to your health team but there is no yoga studio or teacher you like nearby, MS Focus offers free health and wellness classes every week through Zoom. Friends with MS from different parts of the world join us to help create a fun and robust online community yoga studio. Make certain whatever practice outside of prescribed physical or occupational therapy you begin, you share it with your healthcare team. Any holistic practice (yoga, Tai chi, equine-assisted therapy) you choose should leave you feeling better than when you started, but consider the time of day and the amount of energy you will need to get home safely.31 msfocusmagazine.org'