As some of you may know, I have had quite a major relapse, possibly the worse yet. Since the beginning of February the dreaded words “I have been really well” seemed doomed.

It hits you like a juggernaught. One day I was out with my two young children, Louise, 4½ and Alex, 2½, feeling like a normal mum. That evening I had, what Louise calls, my ‘jelly legs. I just assumed I had over done it and went to bed not really thinking much of it. As I said, this was back in February. I was numb from the waist down for the rest of that month with increasing problems in getting about. Then the numbness progressed to my face and tongue.

I don’t really know how we all coped. I felt very depressed, extremely guilty for putting on other people; also suicidal, but I had my husband and the children to keep me motivated. My good friend and saviour, Liz Wood kept my spirits going by visits, phone calls and little cards of hope. It was tough, but not as tough as what was to follow.

About 5 weeks after this episode started I visited my neurologist who prescribed steroids. About a week after I finished, with no improvement, I started to have problems swallowing. Not a great deal to start with, but over the course of a few hours it got worse, like a blocked sink! My GP visited and promptly started poking a lollypop stick down my throat; I had no gag reflex. I was admitted to hospital by which time I was having trouble breathing. The rest is a bit of a blur. I ended up in intensive care and then high dependency before being moved to a ’normal’ ward.

It all felt like a nightmare. I had trouble speaking, this seems to send messages to some people that you have ‘lost your marbles’. They talk about you—not to you. When I was being transferred to the ‘normal’ ward I could hear the nurses trying to get me accepted by virtually drawing straws with wards because I was not independent. I don’t suppose I was meant to hear but I did and it is awful to feel you are such a burden, Everything was done at what seemed like 100 miles per hour and accompanied by so much noise. I just had to get home, as soon as possible. You really need to rest and gets lots of sleep to aid recovery—something that was just not possible whilst I was in hospital.

I had great motivation in learning to walk again—the ward was so understaffed that the time lapse between ringing for a nurse to help with toilet needs and the nurse appearing could be anything up to half an hour, and as all of us with bladder’ urgency know, this is a horrible situation to be in.

I have been taking Beta Interferon 1a for 23 months. Whilst I was an in-patient this was stopped on the advice of Dr Gibbs. I now know what the expression ‘going cold turkey’ means. It seems funny now but it wasn't at the time, I suffered bad withdrawal symptoms from this powerful drug. I had a ‘racing’ pulse and my heart felt like it was trying to jump out of my chest along with the shakes which is not at all funny when you are trying to walk!

I survived though and I am now back home with my family, after some nimble negotiations with the doctors!

I still have some problems getting about but I can at least now see the light at the end of the tunnel. There was a time when I didn't feel I would make it.

A big thank you goes to the branch for my flowers, I had so many my house felt like Kew Gardens!

I honestly hadn’t appreciated the Branch are ‘there’ for you in times of crisis. It really does help.

But at the end of the day the main thing, and I truly know how difficult this is; The main thing is to stay positive - Yes we do have MS but it does not have us

Have you ever wanted to try complementary treatment but been put off because of the cost? Well don’t be, it is available on the NHS.

I have been attending The Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital, pictured above, for 18 months, as conventional medication was not an option.

Ok it has not cured all my problems but it has help relieve some of the symptoms of MS, e.g. Fatigue, bladder problems & numbness.

I now attend the RLHH every 3-4 months for a check up. If I need more medication beforehand I just ask my GP for a prescription.

Although I attend the RLHH, I still continue to see my Neurologist at the National Hospital of Neurology & Neurosurgery who is quite happy for me to receive alternative therapy.

I travel up by car as the Blue/Orange badge scheme applies in that part of London (Camden) as long as you park on a meter or in a designated parking bay. The hospital itself is located on Great Ormond St.

The Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital is 150 years old and has been part of the NHS since 1948.

On my first visit I felt like I was walking into a time warp, but although the surroundings, fixtures & fittings may be old they still have the technology.

The staff are really helpful & friendly. Also the general pace of the hospital is calm & relaxed, there isn’t the usual hustle & bustle you would normally find in a hospital.

All RLHH’s doctors, nurses and pharmacists are trained and qualified in “conventional” medicine and Complementary treatment.

Complementary medicine itself is generally very safe with hardly any side effects.

All consultations are free; all you pay for is your prescription, which is the normal NHS prescription fee, unless of course you are entitled to free prescriptions.

If you feel that you would benefit from NHS homoeopathic treatment, discuss this with your doctor who will decide whether to refer you.

When discussing a referral you may wish to raise the following points, as they apply to you:

To be treated at the RLHH, you simply need to send in a referral letter from either your GP or another NHS hospital to:

Patient Services Department
Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital
Great Ormond Street
London WC1N 3HR

Tel: 020 7837 8833

I have given some information booklets and some useful addresses to Hazel, if you give her a call she will pass them on to you. They will also be available at the coffee morning and the next branch meeting.

If you wish to know more of my experience please do not hesitate to ask. I usually attend coffee mornings and branch meetings or you can contact me via the Branch Helpline, 365839

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