I’ve recently been diagnosed with RRMS and have had a few symptoms mainly sensory loss in my legs.
Apart from that I’ve just been offered a new job and feel positive about the future, luckily my symptoms arent really effecting me badly at the mo.
I’ve got a good social life and good friends but I’d really like to make some new friends with MS similar to my own age (40) to share their experiences.
If anyone knows the best way of going about this, building a support network etc or indeed is looking for the same thing?
Hi Sarah and welcome to what you will find to be a warm and caring environment.
I’m 44 and still in diagnosis. I was a middle manager in a national role ufortunately I have not been well enough to work since March so I enjoy chatting on here and have made some lovely friends, and received lots of support and advice when I’ve needed it.
I am being treated as having a working diagnosis of MS and joined my local physio group this week and it is really helpful to mix with others with MS. You can also tap into as many resources as you may or may not need…but at least you know about it.
So, I am sorry that you have MS, but as you will hear many times…it isn’t the end of the world and life goes on.
I use Private messaging to chat to my “buddies” and also place posts on here if I want to start a general debate or gather different views.
You are welcome to PM me I have room for lots more friends.
I’ve found this website to be a great source of new friends. Some of them live too far away for me to meet regularly or even at all, but I now socialise with several people from here and email/pm loads of others. (pm = private message)
Joining your local MS Society branch is one way to meet new people, but I have to say that most people in local MSS branches are older and/or tend to not be working any more. It’s worth trying though. There’s a group of “younger” (30s-50s) MSers at my local branch (Hillingdon) who regularly socialise together - we go to the gym, go out for drinks, meals and coffee and have occasional get togethers at each other’s houses from time to time: it’s an intro to poker evening at mine next.
Another place to meet MSers is the MS Therapy Centres. If you google them, you’ll find if there is one near you.
There are non MS Society groups for MSers too. Your local GP surgery may have leaflets or posters about these so you could look there for info.
The other way I have found new friends with MS is by sheer chance. It’s amazing how many people either have MS or know someone with MS. I was at a dinner party one evening with 10 guests: 2 of us had MS and another woman had a daughter with MS. The hosts had no idea - it was a complete coincidence. That other woman with MS is now one of my best friends
