I have been diagnosed with MS about 1 month ago after having optic neuritis in 2024. I have my second MRI in May before seeing the doctor to discuss my preferred treatment. I’ve got my first appointment with an MS Nurse next week.
I am really struggling in work and getting tasks done. I’m usually well organised and don’t need to do lists but now I’m finding things are taking a lot longer. I’m not doing any more work than normal. I do feel like I could cry at any time which is unusual for me. I have tried reading things on MS but I start reading and then close things down entirely. Has anyone else experienced this?
I’m considering talking to my manager (who knows and has been great so far) about the struggles I’m having in work.
Has anyone got any other advice or tips at all? Think I’m struggling to accept the diagnosis.
Hello, my advise is be kind to yourself. It’s a big shock and it can take a while to even say MS let alone accept it. Right now I am sure you are thinking the worst, I was diagnosed when I was 20 ish and I am now 50 ish married with 2 children. I won’t go on but be kind to yourself. There is no expectation to think that after a week everything is ok and you are allowed to feel upset, stressed, angry, frustrated etc etc.
I would just echo what James has said. It’s a lot, dealing with all this. On top of normal, busy life, you have a life-changing diagnosis to deal with and that is a big cognitive and emotional load and takes a lot of getting one’s head around. If you are lucky enough to have supportive people around you, please accept all the help they can give you.
Hello Naomi. I agree fully with what @alison100 and @James4 are saying. A diagnosis of MS is a lot to deal with emotionally and mentally . You seem to be expecting a lot of yourself after just one month especially as you are still going through the process of diagnosis and selecting a DMT.
Many people talk of a sort of grieving process to be gone through after diagnosis- dealing with fears, thoughts of the loss of a future life and more. From what I remember it took me months and months and probably longer to come to some sort of settled acceptance.
I guess my only bits of advice are , as the others have said, be kind to yourself and please feel totally free to continue sharing your struggles etc on this forum. We’ve all been there and lived through the experiences of diagnosis, selecting a DMT , living through the first experiences of the DMT etc etc
My diagnosis also followed on from optic neuritis ( pleased to say I then didn’t have anymore symptoms for years).
@alison100@Hank_Dogs@James4
Thank you all for replying, I will definitely try and be kinder to myself. I experienced something similar last year where I unexpectedly got diagnosed with endometriosis and a uterine deformity. Which left me feeling very down.
I’m looking forward to my MS nurse appointment on Tuesday and have a list of questions to ask her