New here and need some advice
Does anyone have any advice for me? I was diagnosed with RRMS in December 2022 but have not started any treatment yet. This diagnosis has come at a bad time as I'm in my second year at university. I've had a lot of support from my personal academic tutor, but he has now suggested that I consider suspending my studies for a year whilst I come to terms with my diagnosis and get started on treatment. This makes sense because I have had several flare ups, including one at the moment, meaning I've had to miss classes, claim mitigating circumstances for several assignments, and I am finding it increasingly difficult to concentrate and organise myself.
But I also really don't want to suspend my studies. I found the move to university extremely difficult and struggled with severe homesickness whilst everyone on my course commuted, adding to my isolation. It has taken me all of this time to get to know people, find better accommodation, and finally feel more settled. Therefore, to even consider leaving now after struggling so much is really upsetting. This also means I will be in different classes and a year behind the people I've got to know, meaning I'd have to meet new people all over again. It feels like my only options are to either struggle on with university or to take a gap year.
How has treatment affected other people? Has it helped immediately? Has anyone experienced side effects? Has it been easy to juggle treatment with other commitments, and would I manage to juggle treatment with my studies? If anyone has any advice for me on what I should do, I'd be really grateful!
Ok firstly breathe kid just breathe…..it’s a hell of a thing to have been thrown at you but it’s sounds like uni hasn’t been plain sailing. I had my first relapse yrs ago when I started uni and the stress of it that no one talks about so I get it honest. Treatment doesn’t really help your symptoms it’s to stop the disease getting worse or to keep you at the same functioning level for longer. Ie to stop or calm down the relapses and the amount you have. Steriods are to help you recover quicker from the relapses. Depending on what treatment you decide you want to how it will effect I.e there are tabs, 6 monthly infusions, injections etc All the dmt’s come with side effects but it depends on you & your body as to how you will react. I can’t give you answers as to what is best for you because the is no definite answer it’s all trial and error sadly but think of it this way. You could start to feel better and be able to catch up and focus on your studies or it might take time to adjust but if it does you’ve been through the hard part of uni and can hit the ground running next time if you defer so won’t have to go through all that stress again. Sounds daft but do a for & against list then at least it’s out your head & on the page might help you think a bit clearer. Either way it can’t be good for you to be stressing out and trying to juggle everything all at once. This might help👇 and your uni might have some counciling you can access that might help you with your deciscion or maybe you could talk to your ms nurse about some councilling??? You can also check out the ms trust website for info but I don’t want to overwhelm you even more. I know it’s hard but it will get better….promise Take care of yourself kid and try not to panic you will get through it hun just try to take it one step at a time 🍀❤️🩹✊💪🤞😊 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NHZkQ57wzE https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/docs/STOPP5.pdf
https://shift.ms/@Kate13 - @Kate13 always posts about this really good charity for you youngers as well check it out in the link might be good for you to get advice from peeps your age who get what your going through and maybe check out how they dealt with it too 🤞x hope something helps take care of you!!!!