I got diagnosed with MS in October 2019, but apparently I had my first relapse in 2004 when I suffered from Optic neuritis (I must have just blanked out what the doctor said).  I only started noticing a real change after having my second child (2015); extreme tiredness, feet cramping when running, mind you I did think this was because of my broad feet and that my trainers were to small, cramping pains in my stomach – I was in and out of the doctors having all the different tests done and nothing was coming back, I felt like a right hypochondriac and that I was making all these sensations up so stopped going.  I did go and visit for routine check-up in 2019 and I happened to mention that I had tingling in my legs and nearly fell asleep at the car, the doctor said I just need to rest from my triathlon training.  6 weeks later I went back and explained I still had this tingling in my legs, the locum doctor then looked at my notes and sent me straight for an MRI.

Diagnosis came and to be honest I immediately felt relief, maybe I wasn’t a hypochondriac there was something wrong with me, that was short lived when I saw the neurologists apparently from what I described I had had a couple more relapses after, so then I was really confused – what were everyday symptoms just flaring up, what was a relapse???????????  My head just exploded with it, so I went from one extreme of writing a diary every day, to thinking this is making me focus to much on what is happening am I making half this stuff up (hypochondriac me came back) so stuck my head in the sand.  All of this was extremely hard for my family, who were trying to be supportive, but I was not allowing them in.

I then changed to the Hereford MS team and I met Del Thomas, I was so worried about it, I did sit and wrote absolutely everything I was feeling physically and mentally and just handed her the book.  WOW, she sat there and explained it all to me in a way that I understood what she was saying, she made me feel like I wasn’t making things up these were real symptoms that I had to manage and I had mainly been having flare ups, she explained why people with MS feel so tired (I even use that demonstration to explain to friends, family, co-workers and the pupils I teach), she sat there and listened to me and talked through everything I had written like there was no rush/time limit on it, it was a brilliant.  Since that meeting I have felt more confident about what are symptoms and what are not (still sometime doubt myself, but a lot less than before), I feel I can talk and explain my condition a little better to people, more importantly I can recognise when I am having a flare up or a relapse.

This October (21), I knew I was having a relapse, but typical it was a Friday, so I emailed Del to let her know, she did try to call me, but unfortunately I missed her call, but she had given me the confidence to phone my doctor and ask to be put on Steroids, because I did not want to wait till the Monday.  Del got back in touch with me on Monday, she knew exactly what advice I needed to hear, to ensure I got the rest I needed to so I could recover from the relapse properly.  She took the time out to discuss how the steroids would work, which was great, because was worrying I had got it wrong as I was not getting better, but apparently they can take some time to kick in!  At the end of the week she called me again to see how I was doing and again reassured me what I was feeling is normal (well MS normal!!).

Del has helped me in so many ways; understanding MS, reassuring me I am not mad, taking time to respond to my emails so I do not feel I am a burden to her, she’s been so supportive, kind, friendly and a sympathetic it only leaves me with 1 criticism and that is there is not enough funding within the MS department for more Del’s.  I now face my MS head on with the support of my family and friends as well.