My MS Story
I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the summer of 2014. From my medical history and MRI scans it is thought that I had the condition from my early twenties. I had been diagnosed with unexplained eye blurring and then optic neuritis and although MS was mentioned, I showed no other symptoms so no further investigation was undertaken. Over the next ten years I had a few health issues, but these could always be explained by other reasons. I was a very keen runner and ran miles each week and put many of the problems with muscle tightness and soreness down to this.
In spring 2013, whilst training for the London Marathon I noticed at 20 miles that my left leg was dragging. I put this down to tiredness and completed the course, raising almost £3000 for children with cancer. My students were all involved in the fundraising efforts and we even held a school disco! I ran another marathon 5 weeks later in support a students who's little brother had been born with TOFS and raised over £500. As I had struggled so much (my time of 4 hours 28 and 38 minutes respectively was a very slow pace to usual) I decided to take a break from running.
I tried to go back to running in the winter of 2014, training on the track and road ready to compete in the veterans league for my running club as an 800M runner (I was a talented runner in my teenage years), but I noticed my foot kept dropping when I ran. As time progressed over this spring, I started stumbling when walking for extended periods of time and my legs shaking after running. My eyesight went again (optic neuritis) and MRI scans were undertaken.
My initial diagnosis was secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, but as my eyesight had got a lot better (though the leg issues remained), I pushed for a second opinion and got a diagnosis of relapse remitting multiple sclerosis (this meant that I could access treatment).
I was able to carry on working comfortably with the support I received from school. I was even able to lead a field trip to Iceland in spring 2014. I turned to the world of para-athletics for my recreation and in 2015 after my first race I was invited to compete in the Bedford International Games as an elite T36 female para-athlete. My MS though became increasingly aggressive. In October of 2015, it robbed me of my ability to run and jump and I had to eventually retire from athletics as a T36 athlete. Each relapse I had seemed to effect my left leg and in November of 2015, I had to have an extended period of time off school as I could not walk. I battled each time, carrying out my own physio to restore the functionality in my left leg starting by trying to move my toes and feet to re-establish the neural connection. (I have been referred and had sessions with a physio in the past and I have to wear a left-foot ankle support).
As my MS was becoming so aggressive, my neurologist agreed a very strong treatment was necessary. I was referred to a neurologist at the QE Hospital in Birmingham who agreed and that it was needed urgently as some aspects of my MS were becoming more progressive. I had my first round of Lemtrada in January of 2016 (a second line treatment for MS - a mono-clonal antibody infusion). I took 4 weeks off work and then returned to school.
During 2016 though, despite treatment with Lemtrada, my walking became increasingly worse and I was having to use a walking stick to get around at school. The students were really supportive and adapted to this really well. In the summer of 2016, I began to struggle with stairs and fell up the stairs twice to my classroom. I discussed this with my headteacher and business manager and it was decided that it was best if i moved to the outside teaching block which involved no stairs and had car-parking outside. As I had a blue badge, the business manager asked me to pick the best car-parking space for me and this was then designated as a disabled parking spot. I also paid privately for physio each week to try and keep some functionality.
I seemed to pick up a bit over the 6 week holidays and able to look forward to the new school year with confidence. It was difficult to keep going, but I love my job and thought the battle was worth it. Other aspects of the MS were starting to gain pace though - my left arm was getting weaker meaning I had to have assistance to wash and bathe (I could not get out the bath or shower), get dressed (doing up zips/tying shoe laces etc) and to eat food (I needed it cut up). I started tripping a lot at work and in the classroom, having some very near accidents and I know that this used to scare both the students and staff.
In October 2016, just before half-term, I took another drastic turn for the worst; as my legs refused to let me stand leaving me bed-ridden for a few days. The lasting effects on my left side of my body though were devastating and left me needing a wheelchair. The neural connection had gone and cannot be recovered. As my left arm was so weak I needed help - I had to be pushed in my wheelchair as I lacked the strength to do this independently. I had an urgent appointment with my neurologist and MS nurse and concerns over my increasing symptoms were noted.
