Personal Perspective: Ben

Ben (not his real name) has come to terms with his MS and enjoys a successful career.

"You have Multiple Sclerosis. There is very little I can tell you about it, but try to rest..."

These few words were about all I got to start me on what has turned out to be a new lifestyle. The neurologist was sure of his diagnosis - after all, he had four years of testing to go on. Through those years, I had been told by doctors that I had a tumour on my spine, that I was psychotic, that I might be drinking too much, and so on.

But at last there was some relief. I now knew what it was that had intruded into my active teenage life.

The neurologist gave me the news and left me to cope, apart from a "come back and see me if you wish."

There was no one who could understand. My frustration and anger built up and I yearned for information and understanding. I waited many years before I found it, but when it came I had learned to cope with a new lifestyle.

How much easier it would have been, how much more productive my life could have been, if I had been given a little support at that diagnosis point.

Those of us with MS are all the same - we need information to help us to help ourselves.

Other Personal Perspectives

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