By Georgiann Caruso
CNN Medical  Associate Producer

When I first heard about the possibility of a pill for multiple sclerosis (MS), I exlaimed, "No way!" As a person living with MS, I know that this would be a enormous advance for the MS community. The option of a pill instead of needles sounds incredible, making it so much easier for many people to stay on their therapies since currently they all involve needles. Delving into this further, I realized that several drugs in trials seemed to hold great promise, and they are not light years off.

But things aren't as simple as they first appeared.

First off, an explainer for those unfamiliar with the disease who might be curious, because chances are you know someone affected by MS. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society defines it as a "chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves." The cause isn't yet known and there is no cure. What happens is the myelin - the covering of the nerves - is destroyed by the immune system. The result is scar tissue; therefore nerve impulses, or messages, are slowed down leaving people with any number of symptoms including balance, speech, vision and memory problems as well as fatigue and heat sensitivity, to name a few.

Currently, there are five potential first-line disease-modifying therapies on the market, which became available starting in the early 1990s. Four are injectibles, and vary from being given once a day to once a week. Then a few years ago, the drug Tysabri was introduced, offering a new option for people with MS as it is given intravenously once every four weeks. The choice is up to the patient and the provider.

The drugs are intended to reduce the frequency and severity of MS attacks and slow the progression of the disease. Depending on the therapy, clinical relapses can be reduced by between 1/3 and 2/3.

But the FDA has yet to approve a therapy that can be taken orally. That may soon change.

Scientists from the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) just wrapped up a meeting in Düsseldorf, Germany where they discussed this and other exciting developments in the MS community. So what does this mean for the more than 400,000 people in the U.S. - and the more than two million people worldwide –that have this debilitating neurological condition? And what does it mean for their families, friends and caregivers?

I posed that question to Dr. John Richert, Executive VP, Research & Clinical Programs of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, who emphasized that this is a very exciting time in the MS community.

He brought back news of the emerging trends discussed at the conference:

- The first oral symptom-management drug designed to improve nerve conduction, Fampridine, is already before the FDA for review. Fampridine has been shown to improve walking speed, but may also prove to help with other symptoms of the disease (which are less easy to quantify.) Expected to follow soon are the oral disease-modifying therapies Cladribine and Fingolimod. It's important to note though, these new drugs may well carry different risks than some of the currently available options. So while the method of taking them may be easier, they will not come without their own set of possible side effects and, as Richert suggests, there will be some unchartered territory as more people take the drugs.

-Therapies with infrequent dosing (such as once a year) are being studied.

-Stem cells hold promise for new MS treatments. Of particular interest are adult bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. According to Richert, it's a bit too early yet to know whether this approach will prove safe and beneficial, or how exactly the therapy will work.

-Within the next year or two, most of the common genes that predispose people to develop the disease will be identified. This is important not only for prevention, but for treatment as well. However, further research is needed about environmental triggers to see how genes and the environment interact to cause MS.

MS is a complicated disease and varies among individuals. What is your realistic hope for the disease and research? Now or 5-10 years down the road? We'd like to hear from you.

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Georgiann Caruso
CNN Medical Associate Producer

Anxiety, despair, hopelessness... all feelings people may have when recovering from a major illness. That's why I feel very fortunate to have crossed paths with Shelia. A two-time stroke survivor, she impressed me immediately with her zest for life and hopeful attitude that many people with medical challenges are not as fortunate to share. I confronted my own life-changing illness three years ago. Our experiences were very different, yet very much the same.

Shelia explained that recovering from stroke presents her with many day-to-day challenges. She has trouble maintaining her balance, and even falls occasionally. She explained that she picks herself up and keeps on moving. She has made the best of what she's been given and hopes to help others recover from their own illnesses.

I turned to psychologist Dr. Helen Grusd to discuss how others can keep a similar attitude, or how their friends and family may best help them to do so.

Getting one out of his or her pity party is key, Grusd says. This can be empowering because, she says, even though we can't have unrealistic expectations or control what is going to happen in our lives, we can remain hopeful and take action.

She recommends keeping in mind these 3 C's:

-Keep on viewing the illness as a CHALLENGE instead of a threat.

-Stay COMMITTED and involved in your life as much as possible, to keep a sense of purpose.

-Take CHARGE and be in CONTROL. Examine what is working in your life and those things for which you are grateful.

For those trying to help friends or family members in difficult situations, taking on a role of a "coach" often helps, Grusd says. She recommends getting the person out of the house as much as possible by making him or her feel good through things he or she likes.  An example would be saying, "I know you love to hide, but I'm picking you up and we're spending the day at the beach." Other things include setting up a social network for the person. She pointed to a strong support network as important because many people are anxious during their recovery when, sometimes, the illness may return. Equally as important is having someone to open up to about their fears.

We can have great expectations and a sense of joy in our lives, according to Grusd. We just have to choose to say positive things to ourselves. Over time, the American Psychological Association says, negative feelings can cause depression, leading to other health complications. Those with cardiovascular disease are more inclined to future strokes or heart attacks.

Were you ever touched by a medical challenge that affected you or someone in your life? How did you keep your emotional health strong or help that person to remain emotionally strong?

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Georgiann Caruso
CNN Medical Associate Producer

Many of us wake up in the middle of the night making mental to-do lists. Sound familiar? I am guilty of this. A recent visit to my doctor ended with the diagnosis: anxiety. After trying an assortment of medications, I sometimes still wake up only to realize it's 4 a.m.

Dr. David Schulman, director of Emory's sleep lab center, says a third of Americans have insomnia, including trouble falling asleep as well as trouble staying asleep, a reflection of our high-stress society.

My doctor prescribed a sleep study, and today's the day. My mind is full of racing thoughts. What if I can't sleep to give them something to study? What exactly IS a sleep study, anyway?

Here’s how it went: Studies such as mine look at everything from stages of sleep to blood oxygen levels and the amount a person snores, says the National Sleep Foundation.

Attaching electrodes to my body - my legs, nose, temples and jaw area - took about 45 minutes. I had less trouble sleeping than I anticipated. The technician showed me a bit about how she could tell when I was asleep by watching my brain activity waves. A small video camera in the corner of the room allowed her to monitor me constantly. A two-way speaker system allowed me communicate with her. When I had to get up to use the restroom in the middle of the night, the technician easily unhooked and reconnected me.

Now, I have to wait a couple of weeks for the results. Sleeping while wired up was not nearly that bad in hopes of a real solution to a real problem.

Have you experienced problems sleeping? What did you do?

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.