News

The idea of life as a carer can be scary. It wasn’t a role I necessarily ever saw myself in but when my wife, Kathleen was diagnosed with MS 22 years ago I knew that no matter what she needed from me – I would do anything in my power to support her. I have never seen caring for Kathleen as a choice. When she needs me, I am there.

Having a chronic incurable illness like MS can be a lonely experience. As much as those who don't have it do their best to understand it, only other MSers will truly 'get it'. I was offered three sessions with a counsellor after I was diagnosed but I remember sitting and wondering what do say to this nice woman who doesn't have MS but is here to help me? Maybe I just wasn't ready, but I was curious to meet other people around the same age. To see how they were coping. I did eventually.

“Everyone has their own personal mountains to climb. We never know what is around the corner” Charlie Bird said after his global Croagh Patrick fundraiser. Charlie’s journey has been amazing and when he spoke that night on The Late Late about his dream to climb the Reek, something tingled inside Andy Walsh’s body, but it wasn’t one of his usual MS Sensory symptoms, this was something different.

In March 2020, Andy was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and a journey began, alongside a world that was just getting to grips with the Coronavirus pandemic, he began to climb his own personal mountain.

PATIENTS DESERVE BETTER – NEUROLOGY NURSES CAMPAIGN

The Neurological Alliance of Ireland is the umbrella organisation for neurology patient organisations in Ireland. MS Ireland as members of this organisation have been supporting the Patients Deserve Better Campaign which aims to highlight the lack of neurology nurses across the country. Ireland requires further 100 neurology nurses in order to address unacceptable waiting periods, delays with diagnosis and treatment. Neurology nurses, including MS nurses play a crucial role in the care of people living with neurological conditions.

Exploring the experiences of anxiety in people with MS (PwMS) - study findings so far.

Anxiety can be loosely defined as ‘worry about unpredictable future events.’ Given the unpredictability of MS, it stands to reason that anxiety in people with MS (PwMS) can be a common experience. For example, we know that roughly 25% of PwMS experience “clinically significant” anxiety, which can have a number of negative impacts on people’s daily lives.

The proportion of PwMS experiencing anxiety may have increased further during the Covid-19 pandemic, however less is known about the factors that may help ease the experience of anxiety in MS.

This week's MS and Me blog, Willeke tackles the subject of MS and Obesity:

Obesity.

BMI.

Not words anyone above a certain weight wants to hear.

Including yours truly, especially when uttered by others who appear as fit as a fiddle, have an ideal weight and who are not on a long list of medicines.

I know. I've been there.

In an effort to reduce costs and with the passing of our Constitution in 2016, we are now able to send AGM notices to you by email.  However, we need you to consent to the furnishing of the accompanying AGM financial documentation via our website instead of by post.  Please complete the webform at the bottom of this page.

We would like to thank those members who have already consented to being provided with the AGM financial documentation via our website. 

Once COVID-19 lockdown was over, I swore that I was going to get back into the swing of things and life on the Outside. All those months of tracksuit and facemask wearing were over! I had watched pretty much everything on Netflix. I did get a dose of the virus but thankfully, it wasn't as bad as I had feared. Lockdown had taken its toll in general though- both physically and mentally. I still can't say the words "home schooling" without shuddering.

World MS Day 2022 took place on Monday May 30th and the theme of this year's campaign was 'Connections'. To coincide with World MS Day  MS Ireland in partnership with Novartis Ireland, held an Art exhibit The Art of MS – Symptoms Under the Spotlight’ featuring 12 original works of art created by people living with MS in Ireland.

We had some brilliant ambassadors sharing their stories on what life is like living with Multiple Sclerosis all of which you can now read and listen back below.

Over 9,000 people are currently living with Multiple Sclerosis in Ireland. These individuals face a plethora of broad ranging symptoms, ranging from the visible, such as tremors, speech difficulties, issues with coordination and balance; to the invisible, such as fatigue, pain, depression, anxiety and cognitive disruptions.To coincide with World MS Day this 30th May 2022, MS Ireland in partnership with Novartis Ireland, are pleased to present this unique collection of original artworks, created exclusively by people living with MS.

From paintings, digital illustrations, freestanding sculptures and creative video content, the artists have utilised their chosen format to illustrate the symptoms they experience and the impact on their lives. The collection explores themes of bodily integration, self-image and changing identities with a palpable vulnerability that invites viewers to consider the artist’s perspective. It is hoped this self-reflexive examination raises awareness of the sheer diversity of potential symptoms by providing insight into the reality of living with MS.

The exhibition is open to the public from Thursday 26 May to Wednesday 1 June inclusively in the main foyer of Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute on Pearse Street, Dublin.