“The chronic features of autoimmune disease involve the entire PNI super-system, particularly the brain-hormone-immune connections. The hypothesis that stress-induced PNI imbalances are physiologically responsible for the onset and flare-ups of autoimmune conditions rests on abundant research evidence.”
— Gabor Maté, When the Body Says No
“I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.”
— Carl Jung
On 22 September 2016, at the age of fifty-six, I was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.
The first symptoms had appeared nearly five years earlier — a vague weakness in my right leg and an odd sensation of tightness in my pelvis. At first, they were easy to dismiss. Over time they became harder to ignore. What began as a minor inconvenience gradually evolved into something that affected almost every aspect of my life.
The road to diagnosis was long, frustrating and at times bewildering. Like many people with MS, I spent years searching for answers, consulting specialists, undergoing tests and trying to make sense of symptoms that often seemed to defy explanation.
When I was finally diagnosed, I knew almost nothing about multiple sclerosis. Since then, I have learned that no two people experience the condition in quite the same way. For some, the greatest challenges are physical. For others, they are emotional, financial or practical. Most of us experience a combination of all three.
One thing I have learned is that stress has a profound impact on my symptoms. Whether stress contributed to the development of my MS is something I continue to reflect on and explore, along with the fascinating connections between the mind, body and immune system. The work of writers such as Gabor Maté and others who explore the relationship between stress, trauma, emotions and physical health has influenced much of my thinking, although I remain open to new ideas and perspectives.
These posts are a collection of my experiences living with MS. Some are serious, some are frustrating, and some are unintentionally funny. They cover everything from diagnosis and treatment to navigating government departments, healthcare systems, medication side effects, and the everyday realities of adapting to life with a chronic illness.
Above all, they are stories about resilience, humour, persistence and finding a way forward when life takes an unexpected turn.