b"4.Keep the discussion going. Let your doctor know any positive or negative eects from the treatments you chooseto try. This will help you formulate the next steps in your treatment plan together. Speaking up to your doctor may be intimidating. After all, your doctor is an authorityon your medical condition. But you are the authority on your body and your quality oflife. If you have tried to have open communication with your doctor and dont feel seen,seek out a new healthcare provider. A good doctor/patient relationship, built on trustand mutual respect, is one of the strongest tools you have in your ght against MS.Checking Out Online Sources of Health Information:Five Quick Questions If you're visiting an online health site for the rst time or downloading a new app,ask these ve questions:1. Who runs or created the site or app? Can you trust them?2. What is the site or app promising or oering? Do its claims seem too good to betrue?3. When was its information written or reviewed? Is it up-to-date?4. Where does the information come from? Is it based on scientic research?5. Why does the site or app exist? Is it selling something?Source: The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Healthnccih.nih.gov/health/webresourcesResources:National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health ClearinghouseThe NCCIH Clearinghouse provides information on NCCIH and complementary andintegrative health approaches, including publications and searches of Federal databasesof scientic and medical literature. The Clearinghouse does not provide medical advice,treatment recommendations, or referrals to practitioners.888-644-6226, Website: nccih.nih.govMedlinePlusTo provide resources that help answer health questions, MedlinePlus (a service of theNational Library of Medicine) brings together authoritative information from theNational Institutes of Health as well as other Government agencies and health-relatedorganizations. Website: www.medlineplus.gov.Available from MS Focus:Complementary and Alternative Medicine for People with Multiple Sclerosis This comprehensive, easy-to-read booklet explores the diverse and unique therapiesthat fall outside the scope of conventional medical treatment. Professionally reviewedby Dr. Allen C. Bowling, medical director at the Rocky Mountain MS Center, this bookletoers unbiased information on alternative therapies such as acupuncture, reexology,biofeedback, meditation, and much more. 11"