New here, would appreciate advice

Caring for someone with MS
1

Hello everyone

Let me start by saying I am new here. My partner was diagnosed with RRMS in July of last year, although her unofficial diagnosis was almost a year before that. She had already gone through her grief and anger phases while coming to terms with her illness, or so I had thought. I’m not sure whether it’s the illness itself or her way of coping with it, but for nearly two months she has been a different person to the woman I loved.

She is overly emotional ( which I can understand and cope with ) but also highly aggressive ( which I do not understand and cannot cope with ). I feel as though I can’t even talk to her anymore without an eruption of anger or tears. I do everything for her that I possibly can while at the same time working a part time job I hate and it seems that nothing is ever good enough any more. I’m not sure what I expect to get from this post, but it already feels a little better just finally opening up about what we’re both going through.

I guess my question is whether any other carers or sufferers have seen or gone through what seems to be a complete personality change, and if so, whether it is a temporary change or a permanent one. I am pinning all my hopes on it being temporary so that one day I’ll get my Kate back ( it is just the behavioural side I can’t deal with, not the physical ), because if it is permanent I honestly can’t see myself staying. Already past the end of my tether.

Anyway, sorry for rambling. Thank you for reading and any replies would be very welcome.

Dan

2

My husband was diagnosed last year and he too has become a different person.

So little seems to be known about ms and whether symptoms are the ms , the drugs , the psychological effect or a secondary illness - infections etc. and whether they are likely to be permanent.

He sometimes reminds me of my mum who has vascular dementia , sometimes of a soldier with ptsd, or a brain damaged victim - which I suppose with the lesions on the brain is what he is . The consultants and ms support team dont seem to have answers and Ive lost confidence .

My children have noticed the changes and the feeling of sometimes having a stranger in the house . Thats the worst for me.

Sorry thats not much help to you but just to let you know I understand where you’re coming from.

Lets hope for all our sakes it does remit