If you would like to chat to someone then contact us or our welfare officer (Spiro) directly on 01420 561259
In 1994 John (my husband) and I went to
Tuscany for a holiday. Life was fine, but I noticed I had to think very hard
about walking down steps with no handrail otherwise I would stumble and trip.
Back home we lived our lives in the way we always had but one evening we were
returning home after walking the dog and my left leg was feeling strange. We had
to cross the level crossing where I fell. Feeling very stupid, as the commuters
were about, I thought I needed to find why my leg felt odd.
The Internet is such a useful tool. I
have used it for so much research, so I typed in how my leg felt and this
gradually led me to think that maybe I had MS. Other symptoms I had noticed
included blurred vision, but the optician gave me no reason to think anything
was untoward. My leg did not improve so I had an appointment to see my GP. At
the end of seeing him I had an MRI scan and a few weeks later the results gave
rise for concern, so a lumbar puncture was also required. I was then informed
that I had an appointment to see a neurologist [by then the internet and I had
spent a lot of time researching ailments] I narrowed it down to three
possibilities and MS was one. It was no surprise when the neurologist told me
that I had MS. I came home and told the family and I carried on for 2 years with
no changes happening to me. Then I became aware that I could not do the walking
and the sport, I was getting tired doing nothing. I lived a lie and when people
asked me why I was limping “twisted my ankle” was the reply.
Almost three years ago John and I went
shopping at Bordon Tesco, not a store we normally use. There was a lady standing
one side of the store entrance and a guy the other side in a wheelchair. As I
got nearer to them I could see they were collecting for MS. The guy and I got
talking, and for the first time ever I told someone I had MS. I left him and
somehow I felt better about myself, it was no dishonour to have an illness.
Bernie was the guy I had been talking to and he had mentioned the Alton MS
branch saying I was most welcome but I was not ready for that. I knew what could
happen to me and that was enough. However I did keep thinking about going and
John (now branch treasure) kept mentioning it.
One day I realised I could cope with
going so I went along to a meeting. The time I spent there was good, no illness
chat and the people were “normal” what did I expect ????
My life has been altered by MS and I do
now have a stick to walk with and I do tell people what the reason is. I do have
a mobility scooter so I can be with John and Ben [the dog] and I do have
“downer” days, but that gets me nowhere, but what makes a huge difference is
being positive and smiling at people. I have had what I considered friends turn
away from me but I have made other friends that without MS I would never have
known about. The local MS branch does help in many different ways and I think
most people (like me) are scared to contact them but my advise now would be to
give it a try, just see what it can offer or do for you. I realise now that I
just have to adapt my way of life, I have a lot of wonderful memories and an
awful lot of living left to do.
What is/are/have been your views/experiences with diagnosis and or meeting the group ? Would you care to share them with others ? Everyone needs information and you never know, your information/views or experiences may just be the catalyst someone needs to help them put their life back together. So go on, think about it. If you wish to write a piece, however big or small just e-mail me (Bernie Green). Go on, be proud!
There are plenty of books to read & a couple of magazines,