The Sufferer and the Suffering
I am not medically qualified, so this web site is purely a record of my experience with Multiple Sclerosis. Any observations I make are only my personal opinion, my personal account.
Multiple Sclerosis has two main forms: Progressive and Relapse/Remitting. I did count myself fortunate, in an ironic way, that I suffered from the latter form. However, I have revised my position on this as I now think my condition has moved on and become secondary progressive. If this is the case, then I think a steady condition is preferable to the extremes of relapse and remission.
I was diagnosed with the condition in 1999, although I suffered my first attack in 1994. However, as I discovered, one attack is sclerosis but a second or subsequent attack is required before the specialists will confirm a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.
My first indication of MS was from a tingling sensation in my lower arm and a numbness of my fingers. I put this down to a trapped nerve knowing full well what it may be. I knew because my mother had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis many years earlier. But denial is a wonderful thing, and while treating the symptoms as a trapped nerve by my chiropractor seemed to ease things, I was happy to continue.
My mother suffers from Relapse/Remitting Multiple Sclerosis as I do, or did, and there is talk that the condition may be hereditary, passing from mother to son to daughter. Which may have some validity, as my two sisters do not suffer from multiple sclerosis.
I hope that I have been honest and forthright in putting this account together and that my personal experience, in some small way, might help you or a fellow sufferer. What is it they say? "A problem shared, is a problem halved!". Well, be that as it may, sharing is good. I hope you agree.
I live in Lochgelly, Fife and i know of several other MS sufferers in the area. However I am sure there are many more I don’t know about and I would love to hear from you if you are reading this. There are no dedicated Multiple Sclerosis treatment facilities near here, but there are hyperbaric units in both Dundee and Edinburgh which I have recently had recommended. I have yet to try them out. Cameron Hospital in Windygates has a rehabilitation unit with a dedicated MS Nurse, whom I visit regularly and also attend physiotherapy at the same time.
I came across, what I consider, a bizarre link on Google, to an article suggesting that Multiple Sclerosis may be triggered by sexually transmitted infections, seemingly based on a study which compared the occurrence of MS with levels of promiscuity in various regions. I consider myself monogamous and have never had a sexually transmitted disease and yet I have contracted MS, and I’m sure MANY others would say exactly the same. Bah Humbug! I say, but then I say that quite a lot!
To read the full article on the BBC News site. click HERE.
Did you know that the word sclerosis is derived from the Greek work skleros meaning hard. The German form of the word is sklerosis from which you can see the derivation. During an idle moment, I tried out various typing errors and variations to see what the search engines returned, and was surprised at just how many sites were found for Multple Scerosis Mltiple Sclurosis and Multipel Slerosis. Now of course, this site will also be found and visitors will think I am a dyslexic typist. (Just another symptom to add to my list!)
