Reaching out to other people with MS
Now I follow a lot of people with MS on Instagram and Facebook from all over the world. I talk to them regularly.
I’ve posted on Instagram that I feel down and defeated and had messages from complete strangers saying ‘keep your head up, you’ll be OK, you’ll get through it’. It’s such a strong and caring community.
The only thing is that the people I speak to are mostly women. It’s hard to find men who will say that they are struggling and feeling scared. Maybe male bravado means we find it hard to share those feelings.
So I’ve started a website of my own now, Dave Against MS, because I want to share the realities of living with MS.
The things I struggle with
One of my worries about being a parent with MS is not being physically able to keep up with them and they miss out. I also worry about the future – will other kids tease them because of my MS? When I get these worries I try to calmly tell myself all the good things I have achieved as a parent with MS. I also tell myself that IF this does occur, hopefully I will have taught them how to be strong enough for it not to affect them.
Another daily struggle is days out. I have to plan ahead not just for the day we are going out, but the next two or three days because of the domino effect suffered from one strenuous day.
Movement is slower, pains in my legs are more intense and my brain feels foggy. This is something I have constantly struggled with over the years of being a father.
I have learnt to accept this is just an unfortunate situation I can't control, all I can control is my attitude towards it. Learning acceptance and patience is no easy feat, but a necessary one otherwise MS wins.
This was another reason why I started working with Dom to ensure I am as healthy as I can for as long as I can.
Tips for other dads with MS