MS group has been my lifeline

A man from Perth living with multiple sclerosis (MS) has praised the support a Tayside project gave him after he was diagnosed.

Gregor McHugh (47) was told he had primary progressive MS in July 2019.

Since then he has joined a number of support sessions and connected with people in a similar situation through MS Society Scotland’s ‘My MS, My Way: Tayside’ project.

He was offered support by MS Society Scotland while at Ninewells Hospital to attend an appointment.

Gregor said: “When I was diagnosed I didn’t know much about MS. Really all that I knew was from my wife who is a nurse.

“So to have the opportunity after speaking to healthcare professionals to sit down for a bit longer and go through things with staff from MS Society Scotland was really helpful.

“Just that extra half an hour to find out what sort of support I could find was valuable.

“Since then I’ve engaged with a few parts of the project including the wellbeing sessions and the information line, and it’s fantastic.

“It’s just great to speak to other people in the same boat – to discuss how the condition can affect you and different ways people have of approaching it.

“I found it really helpful, even just to hear the things that I’d felt weren’t just me.”

The ‘My MS, My Way: Tayside’ service is expected to assist over 240 people in Perth and Kinross, as well as Dundee and Angus, and officially launched last June on World MS Day.

People diagnosed with MS in the last five years will be able to access the service, which is there to give information and emotional support. The service will be running in MS clinics and in the community, offering confidential counselling.

Gregor continued: “The wellbeing sessions and online group have been brilliant too, I’ve found lots of bits useful for managing my fatigue, for instance, and getting to share your own experiences means a lot too.

“Information is everything when you’re first diagnosed with MS and the ‘My MS, My Way: Tayside’ project helps so much with that.”

To find out more about the project call 01382 938082 or visit: http://www. mssociety.org.uk/tayside-my-ms-my-way MS Therapy Centre Tayside offer a wide range of information, support and therapy sessions for people living with MS at www. mstherapytayside.com