A Co Down grandmother, who has been living with MS for over 50 years, says she meets each day as it comes given the uncertainty of her condition.
Lynne Armstrong, 74, from Drumbo, was first alerted that something was wrong while in her late teens.
The former teacher is sharing her story and positive outlook to mark the start of MS Awareness Week, which runs from 25 April - 1 May .
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The mum-of-two and grandma-of-five is cared for by her husband of almost 52 years, Alastair.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) damages nerves that control different parts of your body, meaning people experience wide-ranging symptoms – from vision problems to muscle spasms – but everyone’s MS is different.
Symptoms can come and go, and be mild or more severe. No one knows how their condition will progress over time and this uncertainty impacts all aspects of a person’s life.
"I was very much focused on the uncertainty of what was wrong with me when I was having random things happen to me but there was never a reason for it," Lynne told Belfast Live.
"I was first aware that something was wrong one day when I was 19 and driving. My left leg suddenly became very heavy and I couldn't move it but I hobbled about for a few days and then it wore off.
"All through my 20s I can remember all sorts of weird things happening when I really didn't feel well and as if I had a really bad flu and was always very tired," she recalled.
The outlook and treatment options for people now are dramatically different compared to back when Lynne was sent home from hospital "to rest".
"It's almost 55 years ago now and in those days you weren't told anything. The answer was always 'we don't know' until eventually I became so unwell that I was taken into hospital in England, where we were living at the time," Lynne added.
"I was there for a week and the doctors wouldn't tell me what was wrong. I ended up being sent home with Evening Primrose Oil and bottles of steroids.
"I had no idea what was going on or if I would end up in a wheelchair. If I had been told more way back then, I could have dealt more easily with the symptoms.
"I had to learn all about the symptoms and how to deal with relapses but I've done a lot to help myself like reflexology, alternative medicine, physiotherapy and yoga," she added.
Lynne now uses an electric wheelchair and says uncertainty has played a big role in her life, especially when it comes to travel, accessing services or support and planning for the future.
Yet despite not knowing what her condition will be like in the years to come, Lynne approaches it all with an incredibly positive attitude when at all possible but understandably this isn’t always possible.
"There is obviously an awful toil on your family as well with MS. Our daughter Joanne lives in Australia while our son Gavin is based in Canada and they have to make their own lives so Alastair has been my main carer and he just gets on with it," she said.
"I am very well looked after and fully realise how lucky I am in terms of the care I receive. While no two days are ever the same when you have MS, I try to remain as optimistic as I can - you've got to in order to get through.
"I meet each day as it comes and do what I can, while I can. If my mental state goes down, then my physical state goes down as well."
Meanwhile, new research from the MS Society f or MS Awareness Week has found that t wo thirds of people with multiple sclerosis say they’re scared for the future because of the uncertainty of the condition.
The survey of 1,200 people with MS revealed 51% felt isolated as a result of their unpredictable symptoms and 76% said the uncertainty of MS was one of the biggest challenges they face.
A third were worried about access to future treatments, 56% said the unpredictability of MS had affected their career and 63% said it stopped them from socialising in the past.
When asked about the uncertainty of MS, 51% of people surveyed said it had affected their friendships, while 39% said their romantic relationships had been impacted – with 18% saying they had previously stopped dating.
David Galloway, Director MS Society Northern Ireland, said: “We may all feel like the future is uncertain but with an MS diagnosis you are given a life sentence of uncertainty.
“MS is unpredictable and different for everyone, and our latest research highlights how this can have an enormous impact on people
“More than 5,000 people live with MS in Northern Ireland and 130,000 across the UK, and the MS Society is here for everyone affected by the condition.
“Our free MS Helpline, online forum, local groups and our Resource Centre in Belfast can be an invaluable lifeline if you need support dealing with uncertainty.
“We also run regular virtual sessions on Living Well with MS which offer emotional and practical support for everyone living with or affected by MS.”
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