My MS journey inspired Miss Scotland to raise awareness

I was diagnosed with primary progressive MS five years ago, the day before my 26th birthday. I work as a medical receptionist and I would shake really badly when I was handing patients’ letters or prescriptions over the counter.

A few patients had mentioned it. I thought I was hiding it really well but obviously I wasn’t. That got me realising I was doing it a lot more than I thought I was. Before that, growing up I’d always had really severe leg and calf pain.

A sense of relief and clarity

I was shocked when I got my diagnosis but also relieved that my symptoms could be put down to a condition. I’d often been told they were normal and that I should just take a paracetamol and I’d be fine. Being diagnosed gave me clarity, because it was confusing not knowing why I had all these symptoms.

I still have localised leg pain in my right lower calf. Sometimes it’s cry-worthy at night. And fatigue is one of the worst symptoms I’ve got. Sometimes it takes a lot for me just to get out of bed in the morning.

I’m still reluctant to use anything to help me walk when I’m outside the house. I wouldn’t say I’m embarrassed. It’s more that I think people might judge me a certain way if I have to use something to help me walk.

But at home, in the bathroom, I’ve got handles and they’re really helpful. Even having a cup of tea in a mug with a lid on it, I find it really reassuring. Sometimes you only have to make little changes to make you feel better and more confident.

Read about home adaptations and equipment

Crucial support

I feel I can talk openly to Amy about my MS. I tell her if I’m having a rubbish day. She’ll always message a funny story or a funny meme to try to cheer me up.

Amy and I have always been very close. When we were younger it was playing, running about, getting up to mischief. Now I’d say she’s more like a best friend or a sister.

When she told me she’d chosen to support the MS Society because of me, we both had a cry. It made me want to get up and hug her, which I did, because I didn’t have any words to say. She said she couldn’t think of a more worthwhile charity to support because she knows how much I’ve used the MS Society.

When I was first diagnosed I printed off a lot of the booklets from the website. And family members have phoned the MS Helpline a few times to find things out for me. I also went on the Forum and looked at answers to a lot of questions.

It’s really reassuring to know that people have the same thing as you. I didn’t really know anybody else with MS at the start.

Life-changing awareness

Amy wrote an article about the MS Society as part of her campaign to become Miss Scotland. She raised more than £3,000 by hosting a charity ball and she’s been volunteering. She made a video about MS, and her charity work, for the ‘Beauty With a Purpose’ part of the Miss World contest.

I think it’s amazing that Amy’s now raising awareness of MS to an even bigger audience. Especially among a younger age group. When I was diagnosed, most people I knew had heard of MS but they didn’t really know how it could affect people.

My family, friends and colleagues understand now and they’ve all been amazing. When people around me have an understanding of the condition it’s much better for me. It makes me feel like I don’t need to try and hide any symptoms. They know I would love to go out (and sometimes I can) but instead make plans to make me feel comfortable.

It makes me feel that I can live with this disease and I can do anything I want to try.

Raising awareness can basically change lives.

Amy Scott also tried on an 'MS kit', created by one of our volunteers, Amy Newton. See how Amy and Amy got on in the video below.