Importance of support groups

I was diagnosed on New Year's Eve 2002. There was no dancing that year, just me in a constant state of worry about what the new year would bring. My symptoms were sudden and scared me to death. It was hard to describe my invisible symptoms to my friends and family. My loved ones always saw me as the strong, independent type. Too often, I had to refuse invitations to hang out because of fatigue or pain, so there were fewer invites as each day passed. It was easier for people to think that I was being antisocial or just flaky because I didn't look sick. None of my friends or family knew anyone with MS, and this took an emotional toll on me.

After my MS diagnosis, I found an amazing doctor who I trusted. She helped me understand what MS would mean for me. I remember joking with her in the beginning that this was like a marriage and it was important to meet my husband's family, which included the doctor, nurses, clinical supports, office manager, and even the receptionist. It was important for me to develop my medical supports. After all, we were all in this together, and working against the team would only hurt me.

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I didn't really know too much about MS at that time. Online, I found websites and resources for local conferences. I decided to step out on faith and attend a conference. It was being held in my neighborhood, which made it easy to get to. Once inside, I immediately found a seat in the back and braced myself for the bad news I thought I was about to hear. At some point while the doctor was explaining what MS is, I ran out of tissues.

Then I felt a soft pat on my shoulder and a woman passed me a tissue. As I looked up to say thank you, we both gave each other the “you look familiar” look. We introduced ourselves and began sharing what brought us to the conference. Her daughter was recently diagnosed. As we talked, we discovered we lived in the same neighborhood, on the same block, one building away from each other. Immediately, a bond was created, but most of all, she assured me that I was not alone.

For the first time since my diagnosis, I felt like I was part of a community and wanted to see and meet others like me, so I immediately contacted the National MS Society. They shared with me the many services they offer, such as:

• Exercise and wellness groups
• Recreation programs
• Entitlement and benefits counseling
• Employment programs
• Support groups