Im 17 and work in the British Army. I’ve been on a crash course which is very intense. About two weeks ago I had tingling all down my body and I told my army doctor. He did balance and coordination tests and said they wasn’t good and unsuaull. He referred me to the hospital and they did blood tests which we’re fine nothing unusual. They then did a CT scan to check for anything and they found lesions on both hemispheres on my brain and one on my cervical spine. I then had and MRI where the same results we’re given. My lumbar puncture was also clear. I was given a “likely diagnosis of MS” on discharge from hospital. I just want help because if it 100% is I’ll lose my job. I was just curious if anyone new else could it be? And if lesions can be harmless
This must be a very worrying time for you as you have so much uncertainty over what might be the matter with you.
Only your doctors can tell if it is MS or not.
However even if it is, and it may not be, please remember that
MS is a hugely variable and unpredictable disease and there is no way of knowing what your future will be. There is no certainty that you will lose your job. You may be only slightly affected by MS and it may never get any worse.
I know it’s difficult and I know you are worried but non of us can tell you what is wrong with you, we can only tell you what has or is happening to us. Just because you have symptoms similar to ours doesn’t necessarily mean you also have MS on the other hand you could have MS as your Army Doctor has said.
I replied to another of your Threads asking if you are 100% sure you will lose your job! Have you asked? If you do have MS you might never get another attack or it may take twenty years for another to occur MS affects people differently. I know the Army is different to civvy life but you still have rights.
I don’t know for certain if you could have lesions that weren’t connected to MS but I think you could.
Andy’s link to the site that deals with people in the armed forces who have MS would suggest that you can have MS and be in the Army. Who was it told you you would lose your job?
Google the website indicated in mine and Andy’s post and join their Members area you will find it is a site for members of the Armed forces only. You might find help regarding your career there.
Hi, fistly wow fast treatment. In civi street its more like 2yrs not 2weeks. I understand where you are coming from. I used to be in army, left yrs ago nothing to do with ms. However i travel alot, and did not want drugs offered to me, but my ms nurse told me not all drugs needed to be stored in the fridge. Most circumstances could be got around. She has a youngguy on disease modifying drugs for ms who was in aAfghanistan in the army. They delivered the drugs to his base who got them to him. Im not sure how that works, and obviously would not suit all but dont right yourself off just yet. Also there are many roles in the army, not necessarily what you wanted to do, by maybe better than a kick in the teeth. The forces do look after their own and are not allowed to discriminate.
While reading all the good advice with some interest, I pulled out my copy of the Mutual Support Handbook.
This is a very complex subject. Even just looking at whether they let you go is complex - and it is by no means certain. Mutual Support are probably the only people who can advise you. Just don’t let someone/anyone push you out without going through all the proper steps.
I will have a proper read through later abd see if I can give you some URLs that may help in the meantime.
As an aside, I once shocked a class of “bright young Majors” by suggesting that if the Army ever went for full equal opportunity, then they would have to let guys in wheelchairs join the Paras. The look on their faces - when they thought it through - was well worth it.
It’s a very difficult time for you at the moment. You are having to cope with things that you shouldn’t have to at your age.
All I can say is that from my perspective, as some one with several decades more than you, is that you never know what is round the corner. However tough life is for you at the moment, it won’t be this way forever.
Take care. Hope you are able to enjoy your birthday tomorrow