Multiple Sclerosis in the Services
 

As a serving RAF helicopter pilot, I've recently been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Faced with the 2 choices of giving up or bucking up, I've chosen the latter and am trying to raise money for MS,and in particular for the tri-Service Mutual Support Group, the MS charity for members and ex-members of the Services and their families.

I know it's cheesy, but I have included a link to a web site below which explains what the challenge I am doing is to raise funds. Please give the site a visit. Give it a stiff ignoring if you want; I won't be offended. But if you can, please do give a little as every little helps. The site is safe to use.

http://www.justgiving.com/monsterski

The Mutual Support Group is an affiliated group of the Multiple Sclerosis Society and has been invaluable to myself and to many others in the early days following diagnosis. It is not overly wealthy and needs help to be able to carry out its excellent work. I'm doing what I can with my monsterski challenge. Please support it if you can; anything would be appreciated.

A colleagues' wife at DHFS has been suffering with this for years. It is a most cruel and debilitating condition and I wish you all the best and hope you succeed in your challenge.

I hope many of us visit the website and offer what support we can. :ok:

It's almost exactly 20 years since my wife was diagnosed with MS. Since then she's had three children without any difficulty, and now goes to the gym three times a week. She does have a distinct lack of strength and control on her right side, and a lack of stamina, but most people don't realise she has MS until she tells them.

That said, she's one of the luckier ones, but MS strikes people in a range of way, and I think it is impossible to give an individual an accurate prognosis.

The very best of luck with everything,

AA

multiple sclerosis in the services
 

I have also recently been diagnosed with ms and i'm finding it really hard to cope with, (airbourne_artist) i was woundering if your wife would be able to give me any advice as i am 14 weeks pregnant was told the ms would not affect me and it has done, i also have another child which i need to look after, i have 3 attacks in 3 weeks and i'm not recovering as well as i did from the first one. please can you or anyone help me.

u/sagain

If you have been diagnosed recently, do you have MS nurses at the place you were diagnosed that you can go back to (as hospitals should do)? Three attacks in three weeks should galvanise some support for you. Failing which, have you tried the MS Society to see if they have any specialst knowledge on pregancy? The support group for my friend's local area are very good although being a 'he', I don't know what the support for pregnancy is like.

Link to MS Society's relevant pages

GM

Stan, we met quite a few years back (230 sqn).

My uncle has MS; he has been diagnosed with the condition for 34 years. Whilst it has undoubtedly affected his life, he has not allowed it to rule him.

Credit card details on the way.

Fly Safely

u/sagain

The best advice we acn give is to get as much rest as you can. Have you tried all the formal and informal networks (SSAFA etc, friends, social services) to get your youngster taken care of during the day so you can quite literally put your feet up?

Once you are at your level of attack frequency you have to be in bed as much as possible. I expect your are at your wit's end already, but there's little more we can suggest until you have had plenty of rest.

I'd hope that the "forces family" could work well for you - don't accpt a no!

All the best

AA

Green Meat

thanks very much for reply have just had a look on ms society, it says that i shouldn't have any symptoms bar fatigue, i was diagnosed in north wales which is where my ms nurse is and i live 4 hours away doctors where i am don't believe i have ms and won't speak to doctor who diagnosed me so trying to find other people who have had similar experiences.

u/s

That's frankly awful! I can only suggest that you contact your MS nurse in N Wales (if you haven't done already) and explain the situation. You've been posted, I take it? It may even be worth contacting the MS nurses at your local hospital and asking their advice. If none of the above works, I would get in touch with the MS Society and enlist their support in getting some help.

GM

Thank you all for advice, RAF not doing anything to help at all does not think ms is serious enough to get Preferential treatment, but have found someone eventually who is willing to exchange so i can be close to family, this will only happen if the drafters accept it. :ugh:

.......life will go on...
 

Good Luck to U/S again and all others affected by MS. I'm ex 737 and JetRanger driver..56 now and diagnosed 9 years ago. Flying all finished now of course but I've been in remission for over 6 years - no new or recurring symptoms. Running 2-3 miles a day and playing squash too. There is a huge amount of information and support out there (my wife has become an MS expert and counsellor) but you sometimes have to dig deep.

Anyone needing a chat with a sufferer or counsellor please mail me for my phone number. God Bless you all. bm

MS
 

For u/s again. I have posted you a PM. Hope it helps.

Stan Laver,

I have tried to email you through Pprune, hopefully you will receive it...
And of course I'll sponsor you! :ok:

3ts

MS
 

3turnspin. Got the e-mail through PPRuNe. Sent one back to you. Stan

Wothwhile cause, and target in sight. Back to the top

Bump ... keeping it at the top.

just keeping it at the top

Stan, sorry to hear your news. How is the 'system' reacting to the illness?? Are you staying in?? Will check out the site, good luck fella!! JT

MS
 

JT

Don't have your e-mail address. Send me a PM and we'll yak. Doing ok.

Stan

Many thanks to all those who have contributed so far
 

Many, many thanks to all of you who have so far contributed to 'monsterski'. I started the appeal less than 3 week ago to help raise funds for the Mutual Support Group, the tri-Service MS charity, and it has already raised (you all, and others, have raised) over £8500 including the gift aid. Absolutely fantastic progress; I take my hat off to you all. Thank you also for the PM of support - they mean a lot.

I am trying to acknowledge all donations individually (as well as the automated thank you message you will get from just-giving). However, I don't have all your personal e-mails or phone numbers, so please take this as a very public thank you to all of you who have donated so far and who haven't yet heard a thank you from me; I am truly humbled by all your generosity; please also rest assured that the money will do some much needed help for MS sufferers in all 3 Services. Thank you all. Stan Laver.

http://www.justgiving.com/monsterski