Need to know more about MS - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

Shmolissa · 06-06-2003, 07:07 AM

A friend of mine has recently been diagnosed with MS. I know very little about the disease and am worried that I will say something that will upset her as she is having a difficult time dealing with her diagnosis.
Can you give me some info and advice on MS so I can avoid making her feel bad about it.

suepie · 06-06-2003, 01:08 PM

hi what a nice friend you are and believe me we need our friends. i have many that come to my aid. but i know of a few people in my support group that lost alot which is very sad. my best friend went to an ms seminar with me to learn alot. thought that was special. also if you can pick up pamphlets there are several. usually at a neurologist drs tho. your friend might not say much but you can always say you are interested in learning more to understand. i use to feel embarrased that my friends were pushing me around in a wheelchair being young and once doing step arobics with her. they love taking me places and we get lots of laughs hitting bumps or almost dispay at stores. but it took me a very long time to get over being vain. there are so many symptoms that are not visible. just because you look fine many times you are not. a big prob is fatigue. you may have plans that could be canceled at the last minute. it always makes us feel guilty but you must not take it personal. you sound like a great friend to have!!-if your friend is newly diagnosed there is a long time usually of denial.-----sue

Amy M · 06-08-2003, 03:07 PM

Being on line I hope that you did a search for other web sites to get info on how the disease can affect people. You don't necessarily have all the symptoms, but the common one and hard for loved ones to understand is fatigue. It is even hard for me to understand the once totally active person I was to rarely leaving the house because I am too tired...I also have two kids under the age of 4 and am a stay at home mom...I am sure that is a contibuting fatigue factor. It is a frustratring disease because you don;t know if anything will happen or when it will happen very unpredictable. You can have great days and you can have monsterous days.
In short find out all that you can through ms societies on the web read about it, go to the library and check out some books. Above all keep being her friend just like always, and ask her how she is doing. Pride will always kick in for her but eventually you'll wear her down and be closer then ever!