What can I expect after I've been diagnosed?
There are no rules governing how you should feel or behave when you're told you have MS. Just as the condition affects each person differently, every individual has their own way of reacting to the news.
Nobody else - whether it's your doctor, partner, family or friends - can tell you what you should or shouldn't be feeling or how you should react. You might burst into tears or feel stunned into silence. It's not unusual to feel guilty or wonder what you've done to deserve MS. Nor is it unusual to feel relief; after years of unexplained symptoms, suspicions and fears, you finally have an answer. It's possible to feel a combination of many feelings, either together or one after the other. These feelings can take some time to settle down and may also reappear as you experience new symptoms or the MS progresses.
Adapting to life with MS can take some time, but with a generally positive attitude and appropriate health and social care, most people manage their condition well.
Adapting to life with MS can take some time, but with a generally positive attitude and appropriate health and social care, most people manage their condition well.
Where can I get more information?
Getting up-to-date, accurate and unbiased information can help you gain the knowledge needed to make informed decisions and communicate effectively with health and social care professionals. MS Society publications are based on scientific and medical evidence and cover a variety of issues relating to MS.The internet is another resource widely used by people affected by MS. However, this rich source of information is unregulated, which means that misleading or even wrong information is out there! It is important that people are aware of this problem, and ask for help from the MS Society or a healthcare professional if they have concerns about the validity or accuracy of information downloaded.
What should I expect from the NHS?
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has produced guidelines on best practice for all aspects of MS health care in the NHS. These guidelines are intended to help professionals improve their service, and to give people affected by MS a clearer idea of what to expect from the NHS.If you have any questions, problems or concerns (of a non-medical kind) about the health service you are receiving, you can contact your local Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). They will answer queries both from people with MS or those looking after them. The telephone number for PALS services is normally available from a doctor’s surgery or hospital.
