Getting our mojo back: Barts-MS Blog #ThinkSpeak #MSResearch #MSBlog #LostMojo
Dear Readers
Thank you for your patience. Some of you are alarmed at the suspension and subsequent closure of the blog. Some of you may have read my post on ‘Have we lost our Mojo‘ and the comments and discussion it generated. As a result of this we have decided to close the blog and reassess how it needs to evolve. Is it still needed? If yes, in what format. How to we control its content? We acknowledge that it is widely read and that some of our readers value our commentaries (thank you). However, with this comes extra responsibilities, which we need to reflect on.
The following was our original mission statement:
“The aim of the Blog is for the Barts-MS to update you on the latest research in MS with an emphasis on the research we are involved in. A major reason for maintain the Blog is to thank the funders of our research. Funders encourage us to engage with the general public, people with MS and their families and other people with an interest in MS. We believe you have the right to know what we are spending your research money on! The purpose of our work is to improve our knowledge and understanding of MS with the goal of improving the lives of people living with this disease.
For us as a group of MS researchers the blog allows us to reflect on our work, assess its potential impact and plan for the future. For some of our research projects we need your help; this may be as a volunteer for a particular study or simply helping us to spread the word. A major benefit of the blog is that it encourages reflection and team work and provides us with an opportunity to celebrate our successes.“
We will decide over the next few weeks if this mission statement is still relevant, have we stuck to our mission, have we strayed too far from it and whether or not it needs to be changed. While we considering all these issues you are welcome to comment.
"The purpose of our work is to improve our knowledge and understanding of MS with the goal of improving the lives of people living with this disease"I think the blog perfectly represents you aims as above. My only comment is that sometimes there is a tendency to be over scientific, which for those of us not in the medical profession may sometimes feel a little difficult to follow. However you need to reach a wide audience and generally I believe you achieve this.As a person with MS I find your blog refreshingly different from the other well known MS online sites that are available. Please continue with your informative interesting blog!
Couldn't agree more.
The same for me. This is by far the most informative site to keep up with progress in MS research, please keep on doing this important work
Agreed
Yes, I value your informative input about research matters so much – please don't stop this blog. You give me hope that there are well qualified people out there who are not just on the ms gravy train.
As someone associated with research, I find it an incalculable source of information for physicians, patients and researchers. The time and cost to maintain this blog is outweighed by the source of information, content, researcher analyses and discussions between your staff and those in the comment section.You have no idea how it gives hope to many and opens the doors in the observation of various treatment protocols. Yes, there are controversial discussions and viewpoints on here that may impact various parties and could put the research staff in the crosshairs a times. Wandering into the political aspects of healthcare might be bit off track.I am rather perplexed by this drastic and sudden decision.I only hope pressure is not being applied by outsiders, institutions or powers to be to shut the blogs down.I believe you are right on target with regards to your stated mission objectives.
I echo the positive comments. I have not found anything remotely resembling this blog in terms of its information content and style. I find it a really valuable resource and it makes a positive difference to how I feel about my condition. If you do decide to stop producing it, can you assure us that the existing posts will remain online as at the very least they provide a comprehensive collection of very useful and informative posts.Personally I hope you will decide to continue with the blog in its present form or similar.
I agree that the blog is invaluable. As a PPMSer, with a confirmed diagnosis last year, I find it very useful. Keeping up to date with what is going on in the research world has given me hope for the future. I find a lot of it goes well over my head (I failed Biology O level) but realise that this blog serves many diverse people and anyway I can usually understand the conclusions! I looked forward to reading the daily emails and miss it greatly.
you have helped so may understand MS ty all
Would totally echo the above – this blog is a really important source of high quality information on ms research for me, and I particularly appreciate when it has been translated a little bit for the non-expert. Please don't stop blogging, we need you!
agreed!
I don't understand…. I read your blog daily and it is my source of information and hope! PLEASE do not stop it. It is so much more reliable than other sources and the way you interpret the science CANNOT BE FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE.
I find your blog invaluable, as a person with RE-RRMS it's a great comfort to see all the fantastic resarch you all do, even if I don't understand some of it! Hope you find a way to move forward soon. Met MD at a children's information event recently, great guy!
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For us as a group of MS researchers the blog allows us to reflect on our work, assess its potential impact and plan for the future. Let's face it you never do this. Bye guys.
This blog is probably the best source to get updated in MS and discuss i have found. I really would hope it gets back on at some point, i can understand keeping this blog its probably very time consuming, make sure many of us readers really apreciate it.
I am sad to hear that this resource might close. It is extremely valuable to the MS community. I do understand the time constraints, frustrations. As noted to you, we can offer a solution in at least part if interested.I have felt the same way at times… All this additional work and MS Unites is alot of work, 25-30 hours per week x 2 people and for why?While a great many across the globe are very appreciative there are those that attack us for trying be supportive of patient associations, research and reporting whats going on in the universe of MS.There are many MS sites on the internet yet none like this one where patients and families can touch that which performs and informs research about what they endure as patients and families.Barts MS in whole, not just the blog but you as people inspire those of us with MS perhaps more than you realize.Readers / commenters do screw up at times, I have, I am sorry I have. My MS sometimes just results in my already excessive personality going southward more.Should you all decide to close the blog that'd be a shame though I do understand. Its time consuming to be sure and you all also have lives to live.If you'd like to explore potential solutions I believe we can create one.All the work and efforts you have done via this Blog have helped change the world and for that I am truly grateful.~Cynthia~
This comes to mind, I actually wrote this just yesterday.Diagnosed with MS life became a messI asked many times why me?No answers did come, just tears, anyone?I asked many times why me?One day enlightened no longer frightenedNeed not ask anytime now why meWe all are all at sea, we share a diseaseLighthouses for each other to see
First of all, I am afraid that I am writing as Anonymous, wiil do an account for future posts.I am writing from Italy, I am a PWMS and like many other people in all the world, I find your blog very important and well done.It is very reassuring to know that valuable researchers as you an your group are working for us, and very important to read your opinions and explanations about current and future therapeutic stategies.Many thanks, really.P.S.I think that Anonymous posts should be disallowed, in order to avoid troll posts
While I agree that trolls are obnoxious and distracting, I disagree with the notion of suspending anonymous posts. Many of us in the MS community value our anonymity for very obvious, very legitimate reasons. I believe doing this would have the unintended consequence of removing not just the trolls, but most of the commentary that occurs on a daily basis on this blog. I learn almost as much from the discussions of the articles as from the articles themselves.
I agree. FYI, you can choose Name\URL instead of Anonymous to identify yourself with a chosen name instead of Anonymous. I would also like to disallow the use of Anonymous….
I agree with anon 8:44 pm. It allows us to speak about very personal things. Even having a pseudonym would identify me. What I would say, bloggers shouldn't be patronising and need to realise that some pwMS are newly diagnosed. I don't mean the Barts team.
This blog is a good venue for explaining the science behind a complex disease. Also, it gives people affected by MS a forum to voice their opinion and comment on research that hopefully will lead to a cure. I particularly enjoy the posts on the possible causes of MS and the potential for repair and neuro-protection. Lastly, the blog provides a platform for MSers to connect with others and to feel that they are a part of a bigger community. This is extremely important as this disease can be very isolating which is detrimental to overall health.
Re: Is it (the blog) still needed? YES YES YES.
I totally agree!
I totally agree!
Goodness, yes. I have had MS for 15+ years and this blog has been a wonderful source of information and interest. Some of it I get, some of it goes over my head, but that's absolutely OK: it is wonderful to feel involved and not talked down to. A person does not have to understand every detail to learn a lot. Thank you for all you have done and the enormous amount of effort that goes into the blog. I do so hope that it keeps going.
This blog offers me as much value today as it did when I was first diagnosed. I felt like I'd lost an ally when I saw it was closed. I really hope it returns.
I read this blog every day. It is a treasure of high quality knowledge about MS. Please continue your good work in some way another.
I visit this blog everyday. It is a treasure of high quality information about MS. Please continue this blog in some way oe another.
I love what you do and I hope you continue. There is no other resource on the internet like this, where actual data and facts are aggregated and presented. If you stop posting this information…I don't know where we will continue to get information like it.
Turn the comments off on most posts, require a login, and redirect most chatter to the monthly free comment post. This blog is too useful to go under completely but I can see the time-consumption and passive aggression wearing on you as a group. Maybe most posting could be automated into a daily summary: ie, three papers came out, here are the headlines and topics. You might also consider making the daily update a task for an intern or fellow. It has strong public communications and research components and surely would not be seen as make-work for the right medical comms/admin student.
this blog has been good for me and thanks. it's been a great platform for all with ms
this blog has been great for me and for all with ms,i apresehat what I've learned thank you
Please, please come back! Just seeing the vast amount of work that is going on in the research field makes me a little less scared about the future…
Such a shame to see this end. I think that from the ms community there is a resounding need to keep it going. So informative and allows me to feel I have some knowledge about things, and as they say, knowledge is power. I think it would be a huge loss to us mser's for it not to continue in any format but obviously this is a decision for yourselves. Good luck in whatever you decide and thanks for all the work to date.
c/p-post); As the solution for this f%ù£µ disease most likely lies in pharma, this blog is/was a very good effort to keep level-headed in the monthly MS-'breakthrough'-news we get from other sources (with more questionable motives).I got withdrawal symptoms from its closing The science flies over my head more often then not tbh, but that's not the blog's fault really 🙂
Wooooow!!! I was really sad to get to the Blog for my daily reading and see that it would come to an end. I was so sad that I sent one to NDG email asking what would have happened. =((This space is extremely important! The Barts-MS, willingly or unwillingly, created a unique Space for publication and reflection/discussion on Science around the MS, which in most technical, scientific, it can be the publication it goes beyond the barriers of Neurology/Immunology. The Blog can travel between the conventional treatments for MS, through holistic therapy of the disease and going to the politics surrounding the licenses or not a treatment, for exemple. The Blog isn't only scientific information, it is quality information made by you who are living in routine laboratories and clinics for us who have the disease and other clinical researchers, Big Pharma, etc. …Also I personally I feel challenged every day to remember concepts and go in search of knowledge to keep pace with discussion and publications, I feel really "my brain" is being put to work. Please do not give up this space! I suggest the creation of an endowment fund, in the style that promotes by the Wikipedia, which gives anyone and the amount that suits you. I also think that trying to extend the contacts of the Barts-MS and MS Brain Health with Multiple Sclerosis Research Centers and the Societys in other countries will be very valid and very interesting.
And as the purpose of the Blog, your Mojo, I think that since I follow the Blog for nearly 01 year and a half, comes keeping its essence which is publish and reflect on top of science held on in, be it good or bad, in addition to promote new research around issues still precarious on the disease, as neuroprotection, possible causes, etc. The essence remains blog is still here …
I went to another "searched" while in my work interval on Google and definitely at least in Portuguese, English and Spanish there is nothing comparable to this Blog where science is treated realistically demonstrating unproved without hard work and without reflection on scientific research evolouíra nothing positively. Also this is the only place where we have MS are treated isonomic way, or even the technical issues are exposed in a clear and direct way, without the pride that often involves "scientific academy or neurologists themselves". Mojo is still here!I wondered the work that must give you to keep this space every day working with high-level information, so I still think that creating a space in the Blog for donations for its maintenance and even to boost other clinical trials that appear to long walk would be very valid.
yes, yes, yes also – it's an excellent source of serious research in understandable words and comments and the best, most up-to-date info I as somebody with ms have found. Please do not stop it! Your posts are often linked to from a specialised dicussion group of people on a particular medication, so beyond your readers of the blog they potentially benefit another 3.000 + people with ms!
This blog is one of the most powerful tools available to those with MS and their families. It gives vital information and hope to us all. We know how hard you all work and how dedicated you are to finding ways to combat this awful illness. Volunteering any help and support I can give if you need it xxx
I don't think that I personally can give you any suggestions for the blog, I am not qualified for it. I like getting my daily dose of MS research information. I have to admit half of it is beyond me as I don't come from a medical or biology background. But I really enjoy reading the ClinicSpeak and ResearchSpeak posts. The brain health initiative has been a real eye opener. I am glad that this is just a temporary hiatus. You guys definitely deserve a break. I know the work you are doing is completely voluntary. This blog gives me a lot of hope and I like to say that it is one of the many DMTs I have tried.
This blog provided much needed information and hope when my daughter was diagnosed two years ago. I really hope you decide to keep the blog going, it is an invaluable resource for ppwms and their relatives. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication.
I believe that this is an important moment in the world of MS and we need voices that tell the world that is a very serious disease and that there is that hit it soon and strong. We need combatants who speak loud and clear from a change in the attitude and therapeutic in the diagnosis and prognosis early. We need y
I've been a keen follower of this blog for many years. It has given me a lot o valuable and trustworthy information about different aspects of MS and the the bad, the god and sometimes even interesting that is connected to this malevolent decease. The thing is that it is difficult to find a place on internet that is not only trustworthy but also gives the possibility to ask questions and interact with you researchers.I can always read stuff on pubmed but who can explain to me when I don't understand.. That's what this blog has given to me and that's what I would hate to lose. But of course it takes a lot of effort to make things work and I admire you for that. Well at least what you did made a difference to me /Swedish Sara
I have been reading this blog since 2010, but the energy and enthusiasm for what you report has been dwindling, as if I'm reading the same old, repeated ideas. The blog feels out of date and empty.You need a new approach. Maybe do short tweets.
As others have already said, I think it would be a shame to see this blog disappear, or drastically change format. Yes, it has drifted a bit from the original mission statement. But the change has been for the better, I think. In doing so, it has transformed into something that actual people with MS can relate to. In many ways it has become the interface where the patient meets the researcher. It allows us to communicate with you in a way that really wouldn't be possible via any other medium. That unique characteristic is why I believe you were singled out as one of the top MS Blogs of 2015 – other people see value in the service this blog provides to the community. You've provided hope to many of us, the world over, for years now. Don't let that go.
PLEASE do not stop the blog! I read it everyday. It has been an incredible source of information. In fact several of the MS sites and FACEBOOK pages cite your blog with information. You are not only benefitting man but mankind. Do not let the naysayers drive your decision.
If this is my last chance to post on this blog then I'd like to say Thank You for years of providing me with an insight in the good, and not so good, research that is going on to : understand the causes of MS and its effects, develop new DMTs and symptom-relieving medications, understand the nervous and immune systems. The blog helps me identify the questions I want to ask my own neurologist.I hope this isn't the end…
I'm sorry to say it so harshly, but unless you have lesions in your brain in the parts that control emotional responses, it is appropriate: Stop throwing your toys out of the pram / making a scene / being a diva / declaring you're leaving and slamming the door – then snuffling around to see if you're missed. This is how emotional bullies behave. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Make your mind up, one way or the other.On a totally unemotive note – I do think this blog is mostly very valuable. But you need to conduct yourself more professionally on it, and if that means just not posting comments from whoever you consider a troll, so be it.
You might consider getting rid of the mouse doctors because they are highly unprofessional in their comments. But I agree with the above, stop pussy footing and make a decision.
No way! The mouse docs are the best! Grammer and spelling might not be the best, or perhaps it's auto correct gone crazy, but these bloggers rock! They're honest and informative.
Why get rid of MD?! If he is who most updated blog and transforms Science technicalities into something palatable to all, besides their sense of humor that is just right and it isn't debauched with our condition, wich is appreciated since we are talking about a disease, and a complex disease that we face reality is quite unpleasant. If he's more technical there are people who complain, if he's good-humored are people who don't like. So "you can't please the Greeks and Trojans"… In short: MD has to go and exactly the way he is!
This blog is a must for anyone with MS. I agree with the posts and comments being more professional. Some of the comments border on being offensive; I would suggest selecting very carefully the comments you let through. MD1 & MD2 seem to enjoy the banter with these people, which can be distracting. I think a good proof reader would improve the posts as well; the English and grammar is not what you would expect from a professional site.
Sorry, but I actually think ridicule is a tool that we should all use to help demonstrate the viability of an idea. I think the MDs actually use this very effectively when needed in the 'banter'. And mostly their comments add some humour that certainly helps get a point across. I say keep! I can also deal with the bad English if it's the price to pay for having the blog – I have a greater interest in the information contained than worrying about a missed 'd' from the word 'and'!
Thanks James!
I have a great neuro, but I only see him every 6 months for 45 mins. My GP is excellent, but knows little about MS. When I saw that your blog was suspended then closed, I felt alone. Your blog was (is) incredibly comforting and inspiring. What I really love is the truthfulness in all your opinions, from humour to compassion. What I don't like are some of the shocking comments made by readers, thankfully there are only a few. I don't think the blog needs to be a democracy, so those comments should be shutdown. If the blog wasn't needed then it would not have the huge following it does. Love you all!
I recently drifted across a paper entitled “What our patients are reading online”. It was targeted at a different speciality, but I read it with a smile as I did lament back to some of the information that I read through terrified eyes prior to diagnosis…. Patient stories and experiences presented as research; under-powered studies presented as MS cures; and non-parametric heavily confounded epidemiological data which I interpreted as my destiny. To my eternal reassurance at the time, somewhere down the Google hits there was normally a link to this blog which presented a somewhat more rationed discussion around whatever I had typed into my Google bar. Over time I stopped Googling and just came straight here. I don’t believe that this blog is pharma fuelled hyperbole. In my eyes; Prof. G is a clinical academic, he was a medic before he was researcher, and in my experience clinical academics dedicate their time to research because in their opinion it is the best way to improve patient care. They do not do research to line their pockets. I accept that commercial research is not perfect; but I accept that funding for charity grants is limited and without pharma funding, studies would be underpowered and nothing would ever get a licence. The team presents data in an honest and balanced way, I trust their opinion because I know it has originated from one of the largest Teaching Hospitals in the UK, I know helping patients is there priority…. For me it has empowered me to have informed discussions with my clinical team about my treatment. The comments on the blog are often negative and that is a shame. I appreciate that one of the purposes of the blog was good quality PPI, and this is probably not always forthcoming. As readers we know research is about joining the debate and we would love to, but for the majority of us we are just patients. We are not brave or informed enough dip our head above the parapet. We don’t join the debate, but we are delighted to be educated with information we could not possibly assimilate ourselves. I think the Blog meets its mission statement, we have been really privileged to have it… I think it an amazing resource for patients and patient’s families, I would be saddened if it was dumbed down as there are some patients who want something more informative than the MS society. Do you need to post multiple posts a week to keep us reading – probably not – this must be hugely time consuming.Is there a better way to generate comment and discussion amongst the readers – probably? Maybe an occasional a focus group/journal club type setting?Id of thought several of us would be happy to help with a format redesign if needed/wanted.Apologies for the polemic.
First, I would like to thank you for all the time you have put into this blog. I read it virtually every day, and am much more informed when I speak with my doctor because of it. I am very grateful to you for all of your work.I think the frustrations from some of the posters here come from a few things– First, they want an immediate answer\cure now and when they don't get it, their first reaction is to lash out (like my kids who throw a tantrum when I tell them something they don't want to hear.) To your credit, you don't try to sugar-coat the results to placate them. This is not a problem with the blog (as they try to suggest), but good science. A possible solution is to get rid of "Anonymous" as an posting option (as the Anon above also suggested), so you can really see who is posting and get a sense of each person after a while.Also, you may consider not posting every single day if there is no newsworthy items. First, to respect your time. Second, some of the very technical posts, as well as "here is another study that confirms what all the other similar studies already showed," while interesting, don't seem to be as valuable to the readers when looking at the comments/lack of comments. Perhaps when you evaluate where the blog needs to go you could consider skewing the blog posts towards very newsworthy items, breakthroughs, researchspeak and clinicspeak, etc. instead of the need to have 2-3 blog posts every day?Please don't consider any of this as complaints, that is not my intention. I really have no complaints at all of your blog, but really appreciate your time and all the information you have given me and others. I wish you well in your research and decisions regarding the blog, and really hope you decide to keep the blog alive. Also, I had the opportunity to get personally slammed by, and debate Dr. Dre a year or so ago on your blog. Where else could that happen? 🙂
I don't still any mojo has been lost here. However, I could still send you the mentioned "healthy dose of butt kicking" if that could help keeping your blog up (… kidding).As everyone, I found every piece of information you guys write very valuable. The same for the comments. The highlighted technical aspect is what make me read and enjoy this blog.If you need anything from us, feel free to ask.Many people here would be glad to help, by giving some time (could be me) or knowledge (could not be me) or anything needed to keep this place opened. You speak about spreading the word: that we can do.Please, please, don't stop.
This blog is really needed, this is a unique source of information on science of MS. Have you considered decreasing frequency of the posts?
I say keep it open. I have MS and only recently found this resource. It doesn't sugar coat and does inform the community. The time involved to keep it open, real and honest, I understand the work involved and the challenges. As I come from marketing, I also understand that if "Funder's" don't want certain views posted, they will withdraw their funding. No corporation, or charity, wants bad press. No profit in it and it may not be "appreciated" or in synch with their mandate. I sense that is possibly the cause of the closure and/or rework.So what needs to be done to keep it open honest and running?
This blog means a lot to me as a PwMS. But I'll talk instead as someone who has had blogs, radio shows, and other enthusiadms. When I walk away, it's utimately because I have done what I came to do. There's no shame in saying you've met your goal–and I think in a lot of ways you have–and more.That said, you have a fantastic platform and audience to do anything you want now. That's pretty exciting. Maybe you could sell weight loss products and become fabulously rich (I kid–but you totally could). For all of us, I do hope you find or refine a vision that inspires you (and hopefully keeps us from falling prey to bad science in the future.) I am eager to see what comes next from or because of you all.
I echo most of the comments already here. From the day I found it this has been my only every day must read. It is the most informative, balanced and timely resource for the broad community of patients and clinicians; I was truly disturbed by the suspended then closed signs.Self evaluation is always worthy; as an audience member I believe you not only fulfill your aims but are far and away the best resource available. Having said that, the amount of work is enormous, and whilst appreciated I can imagine is unsustainable. Anything that would allow you to continue a version of the blog would be welcome
Please keep the blog going. It is a resource I value.
This blog is really important to me as it gives so much information about research from around the world. It gives an insight as to how you see us. It's too late for me to benefit from DMTs. As you probably know, every time a news scoop appears in the Daily Mail we are inundated with well meaning family and friends giving us the news. Your blog keeps us well informed. I don't agree with everything you post, but that is as important to me as posts I agree with.
As as person with MS living in Australia I find this blog an extremely valuable source of medical information which cannot easily be found any other way
I've been reading regularly for quite a while, and felt an extraordinary sense of loss when you said you were shutting down. There are many MS blogs out there, but yours is head and shoulders above the rest (apart from Wheelchair Kamikazi – a league of his own), in keeping us up to date with research, discussing a wide range of the issues people with MS face, and in being willing to wrestle with complex policy. It is valuable, and I hope you will continue.
Thank you for this blog, on a personal level it has given me support, lots of information and be better able to deal with my neurology team. On a wider level I do feel that it is raising the level of debate about monitoring, when to treat etc. You may feel that is mostly done at all of those endless conferences talking to neuros but it is here the PwMS can learn what is developing.I am not sure that you are still true to your original mission statement but maybe what has developed is a far better thing. I read all of the research blogs and find them interesting even if my scientific medical knowledge is rather out of date. There are some days when so many papers are reviewed that I worry for you and the amount of time it takes but I am sure that there are MS 'professionals' out there reading you summaries as well.I think you are honest in your reports and tend to give both sides of an issue and that openess is welcome. I find the non committal attitude of my neurologist infuriating. We all know that there are just about no certainties in MS but that should not stop them discussing things with a patient. Your clinic speak articles are so helpful to put things in perspective, the article on 'benign' MS helped enormously as 15 years in with new symptoms every few months and EDDS 4.5 (thank you calculator) I do not feel it is that benign and can stop feeling that I don't really have proper MS and shouldn't be taking up people's time.Losing this clinical and informative aspect of the blog would be such a huge loss to PwMS as I want to know what clinicians are thinking and to hear honest debates (eg. sledgehammer to crack a nut). Maybe it could be a weekly, or even monthly blog highlighting a couple of significant research papers, a clinic speak article, a blog or survey on a specific symptom (eg. spasm, swallowing, stigma, value of physio etc) and any clinical advice updates eg. EDDS, PML, Tecfidera WBC monitoring. Please keep publishing the presentations, I like to know what clinicians are hearing and debating and I like that openness.You are all spending so much time on this blog and I can understand that it needs to be reviewed and probably scaled down and that you all need a bit of you life back but please do keep something going.Thank you and do look after yourselves as well as your patients and meeces.
I don't have MS and have no close relations who do but yet I still come here everyday as this is an exemplar on how Science should communicate with the population at large. It does not gloss the subjects and it does not treat its readers at idiots. It shows that science/life is not simple, and that there are no easy solutions.
Everything I know about MS has originated from this blog. It's helped me make life changing decisions about my life (for the better). It doesn't pull punches and it's not for the faint hearted but it's honest and without it I'll just be reading about baking cakes to combat MS.. If you do decide to call it a day then I thank you for supplying me with enough information about my condition to go forward but I hope you stay