Page 10 - Possible Magazine - Issue 8

Knowledge is comfort
Andrew was 22 and newly married when he first spoke with a doctor about a curious numbness in his thumb. Further testing revealed a positive diagnosis for multiple sclerosis (MS). Like most Australians, Andrew knew very little about the condition. Thirty years on, and on the eve of World MS Day (30 May), Possible spoke to Andrew and his wife Jane, about how they’ve made a life around MS.
Before hearing the diagnosis, I associated MS with older people in wheelchairs. Now I know how individual the experience is,” he explains.
Andrew has ‘relapsing remitting MS’. It makes up 85 per cent of all MS diagnoses. Warning signs can come in the form of vision problems, numbness and fatigue – all of which can flare up spontaneously.
The other 15 per cent of diagnosis belong to a more progressive form of MS, which is a faster and more debilitating strain of the chronic disease.
“It’s always with us and it’s always there, but it’s just part of our lives,” Andrew says.
Andrew manages heat sensations, fatigue levels and his diet daily. He completes a body scan a few times a day to monitor how he is feeling.
“Obviously, we need to ensure that our diet is good and stress levels are managed, but the biggest
challenge is making sure we’re living as regular lifestyles as possible,” he explains.
Andrew and Jane have two daughters in their twenties. He works part-time for MS Australia from his home in Tasmania and is an advocate for the disease. Together, they enjoy walking their dog at the beach
and have just celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary.
Jane and Andrew are keen to share with other people who are first experiencing their own MS diagnosis that learning together means living well together.
“For both of us to learn about
MS was really important, especially
in those early stages,” Andrew
says. “We’d attend information sessions and specialist appointments together. That was one of the ways we learnt how to support each other.”
Andrew says support groups have also been one of the best ways to deal with the psychological and physical impacts of MS. These have
grown in influence during the 30 years since his diagnosis.
“There’s a sense of camaraderie that’s very powerful,” he says.
The community behind MS support groups provides more than just valuable insights into medical advances, great specialists or NDIS plans: it also offers psychological support and opportunities for families, partners and children of those with MS to connect.
Although MS is different
for everybody, Andrew says it is immensely beneficial to share your experience with people who are also living with MS.
“Even with all of the love and support they provide, family and friends just can’t understand it like others with the disease,” he says.
One of the common points of discussion is how ‘invisible’ MS can
be.
“If you’re not familiar with the
symptoms of MS, you wouldn’t be able to identify them,” he
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