Free enquiry service for people with MS in the UK.

I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in September 2014. I’d noticed problems with my walking and that I was getting tired much more quickly. In February I went to the GP and she immediately referred me to a neurologist. The neurologist sent me for an MRI scan and the results confirmed that I had MS.

I knew nothing at all about MS. The neurologist explained a bit about it. She told me to accept it, get on with my life, and not let it get in my way. But she didn’t give me any written information. She told me to try not to look on the internet. But I didn’t listen. I did look, and tried to work out what appeared nonsense and what appeared sensible.

And that was how I came across the MS Trust's website, and Making Sense of MS, their information for people newly diagnosed with MS. I was especially struck by the short video clips of people who’d recently been diagnosed discussing what it meant to them. It was just seeing ordinary people in their own homes rather than clinical environments.

They came across as reliable. The message was “Don’t worry overly. You have to understand where you are, and what you can do. But get on with life”. As a result I ordered a number of books from the MS Trust. The ones about telling your kids were really useful for our younger ones. We all understand things much better now.

Links:

• Making Sense of MS - information for the newly diagnosed
• Talking with your kids about MS

In 2014, thanks to support from donors like you, our information team answered more enquiries than ever before, and produced resources tackling some of the trickiest MS issues.

In 1993 there was very little practical information to help people deal with MS. Today there is almost too much. Type “multiple sclerosis” into your phone, tablet or computer and you will find over 35 million web pages claiming to give you the answers.

At the MS Trust we pride ourselves on providing practical, evidence-based information, tailored to the needs of people living with MS. In 2014 we were once again accredited with the Information Standard kitemark, which lets people know that when they look at our website or pick up our books and factsheets, they’re reading MS resources they can trust.

We’ve always focused very much on providing information that can make a practical difference today, helping people living with MS make the choices that can help them live life to the full. In 2014 we published two new guides to dealing with MS bowel and bladder problems. These are very common in people with MS and are often simply treated. However, if they go untreated - because people are uncomfortable discussing them, or don’t connect them with their MS - they can have serious consequences.

We’ve seen how much people with MS, and their MS specialist nurses and therapists, value our information with a record-breaking year. In 2014 we sent out over 67,000 books, factsheets and DVDs – that’s up from almost 50,000 in 2013. 75 per cent of our publications are ordered by MS specialist health professionals. They know that they can rely on MS Trust resources to be clear, reliable and useful for the people with MS they care for.

Our website received over 3 million page views in 2014, while the number of visitors went up by almost 40 per cent.

Thank you for helping us continue to support people affected by MS.

Links:

• Information about MS
• Free publications for people affected by MS