Angela Wilkins – My Story

I was diagnosed 31/10/ 94, I remember the day like it was yesterday. I had been unwell & was in hospital because I had blurred vision vomiting & balance problems. I had a MRI then a lumbar puncture, and then given steroids. Slowly I improved in hospital so I was aloud home but needed to go back in six weeks for all the test results that was the longest six weeks of my life but D day arrived. I went back to the hospital, a different doctor told me I had m s, The doctor gave me a brief description but I was in to much shocked to take it in, all I heard was “we will see you when you’re bad”, & nothing else. I was not offered any kind of support; nothing, I left his office in a daze. As the months moved on I had all these unanswered question in my head, my family couldn’t help, I just needed some answers, someone to explain what my future could hold if I had a future.

January 96 I phoned the West Of England MS Therapy Centre. I was scared but the lady on the other end of the phone put me at ease & she arranged transport so I could  go &  have a look. When I arrived at the centre I was very anxious but soon I began to feel more relaxed so many friendly people, I was shown the Oxygen Therapy tank; they even had a physio department & other treatments that I could use. I was given lots of information about MS and for the first time in a long time I felt positive - my life was not going to be over like I first thought. I started my Oxygen Therapy a few weeks later and in meeting new people I discovered that some of them had the same symptoms as me: in a funny sort of way I felt relieved that other people were like me. After having the oxygen for a while I started to sleep better & the feeling in my hands & feet returned all I can say is thank god I made that phone call in 96 because I don’t think I would be here today!

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