My husband was diagnosed with MS about 4 years ago, we have been married only 1 year, but in the past year his MS has become really bad. Before it was not very noticeable and didn’t have much affect on his life, but now he gets so tired and exhausted easily after just a few minutes of very mild walking. His vision goes blurry and he can’t see until he rests for a while. He went for an eye test today and they said his vision has decreased so dramatically in a short period of time that he needs to go to the hospital right away for further tests. I am terrified they will take away his driving licence especially as I don’t drive either. I love him and want to support him to the best of my ability, but I am terrified because his health has decreased so so dramatically in the past few months. He’s 30 and used to be very fit and exercise every day, not he feels like he has the energy and ability of someone in their 60+. I have no idea what has changed his health and caused such a dramatic decrease in health. He can’t find work any more and we’re living just off my income. I’m really scared and don’t know what to do to help him feel better and to manage his symptoms.
Any advice, help, support would be appreciated please.
I’m so sorry to hear you and your husband are having such a difficult time. It sounds like your husband is having a relapse and may need a course of steroids in hospital. Is your husband on any disease modifying drugs (DMDs), if not he needs to ask about these. If it is a relapse affecting his eyes then the steroids may help with this. Driving is a difficult one but if his eye problems continue then driving might not be possible. So can you learn to drive now so that if he is unable to then you can take over that responsibility. If your husband is unable to work has he applied for any benefits such as employment benefits, or Personal independence payment (PIP) to help your financial situation? The MS Society website has information which will help you. You need to start looking for help now to ease the situation for you both as you are young to be going through this. Employment is difficult but once the relapse is over things might ease and he may be able to find employment again, but in the meantime look into the benefits you rightly need to get you both through this time.
There are also MS meetings in different areas so look into going to one of these as that way you get emotional and practical support as well as advice on benefits and adaptions that your husband may need at sometime and it would be good for you to look into all options even those he may not need just now. It’s hard enough living with this disease but there is help to ease the difficulties when they arise and you need to seek out the help now.
On another note yes there are hard times but there are also better times and you need to focus on things that will help you to get from the hard time to the better time. So a hospital appointment to see if its a relapse, hopefully steroids to help ease it, ask about DMDs to delay MS progression, look to joining an MS local group, look on the MS site for benefits you may be entitled to. Ask for help - it is out there and people will help you through the process. This site is good for giving a lot of good solid information, but if you have a GP, or can gain access to an MS nurse, or an Occupational therapist, also ask your local council, and try to get a CAB appointment, as all these can help. You should arrange driving lessons too. Finally look after yourselves and know people care. Hope this helps you though.
Mary
I was dx ppms in 2012 and have got worse physically but ‘mentally’ I have more control and strength; my advice is to look for work that involves reading, writing, talking and listening. ‘Not’ anything to do with travelling, moving or being physically active. Best wishes to you both.x
Thank you very much for your kind words and advice. This is all new to me and I appreciate your help 
Yes - definitely follow what @theorising says in her rather good reply. Definitely tell his MS Nurse and see if there has been a relapse.
Plus, I know from my own experiences that periods of hot weather or stress can make me ‘fatigued’ and for reasons unknown, I can just go through periods of tiredness/ fatigue ( can’t remember the term but it’s something like a pseudo relapse/ flare up).
Your current situation was my situation a few years back. Myself and my now husband were both in good health and jobs whilst in Scotland . I was studying in Scotland. Unfortunately I took unwell whilst nursing on a night shift. My knee just completely gave in (back story I have always had knobby knee issues from being an Irish dancer) . Anyway, I self referred myself to physio therapy . The physio at first thought maybe it was all in my head. Eventually she realised my actual leg was extremely weak. Fast forward a few weeks, I attended a basic orthopaedic appointment. X-ray was over and I can remember the consultant tilting screen towards me. A growth all along my tibia. To be honest I don’t think I could listen so my now husband took every single word in for me. At that point I wanted to come home (northern Irish) incase the worst possible outcome was to be. Orthopaedic surgery x3 later all good but no changes to mobility. Infact became worse. I was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome in January 2021. Every pain I had or weakness pointed towards my CRPS diagnosis. Fast forward june 2023- woke up one morning with loss of vision in R eye. Went to my optician at specsavers where they referred me to ophthalmology royal Victoria Belfast. A few tests later revealed I had definitely an episode of optic neuritis. So a mri was ordered to see what was going on behind my eyes. Lesions appeared then second mri to not only look at my brain but my spinal cord too. That’s the moment I received my diagnosis of MS. I am only 30 years old with a care package in place, I can’t work at the moment and Hobble about like someone has had too many drinks lol. What I’m trying to say is everything is so frightening at the moment but you will learn as you go through it all. Do the things you used to do with each other - don’t make it habit of not having date days /nights. Your relationship is just as important as this disease. Also ask for help even for a chat. Sending you and your husband best wishes x