In case you haven’t heard, hospice and palliative care can be used for all sorts of serious illnesses. Let’s take a look at Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
Hearing that you or a loved one has MS can be scary and overwhelming. Understanding MS can help, but the most important things to do are to know your options and be there for your loved one.
What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
MS a chronic illness of the central nervous system. The body’s immune system attacks myelin which is the protective layer around nerve fibers. Attacking myelin causes inflammation, scar tissue, and lesions. The symptoms vary from person to person, and each person’s symptoms can vary over time.
The two most common symptoms of MS are fatigue and difficulty walking. Additional symptoms can also include tremors, pain, and cognitive issues. MS is most commonly found when a person is in their 20s or 30s and they begin to experience early symptoms like:
- Numbness and tingling in their arms, legs, or face
- Weak legs and balance issues
- Vision issues including double vision, blurry vision, or partial loss of sight
There are several types of MS, but the main diagnosis is typically either relapsing-remitting MS or primary progressive MS. Relapsing-remitting MS is the most common form at onset. There are flare-ups of the disease symptoms followed by remissions periods where symptoms are mild or absent. With primary progressive MS, most people experience their neurological function becoming progressively worse over time. When relapsing-remitting MS transitions into progressive, it is called secondary progressive MS.
While your loved one diagnosed with MS will face challenges from this serious chronic condition, most people with MS are able to live a long life. Palliative care can help provide an extra layer of support for those living with MS and their families.
What’s important to your loved one?
Your loved one just received the news that he/she has been diagnosed with MS; what next? The best thing you can do is to ask what is important to them right now.
Do they want some time to process? Give them space while letting them you are here for them when they are ready.
Do they want to maintain a sense of normalcy? Then keep things normal. Make some time to hang out and do the things you have always done together.
Do they want you to hold their hand while they visit their doctor? Go to their appointment and be their support system.
When a person has a serious illness like MS, they don’t want to feel like they are damaged. They are going to have periods of challenging symptoms, but they are still the person you love with hopes, dreams, and wishes. Be there to support them just as you always have! And when you need extra support for their disease, St. Anthony’s Palliative and Hospice Care programs are there to help you and your loved one navigate this diagnosis.
If you or a loved one is in need of hospice or palliative care, please call us at (270) 826-2326 or make an online referral.
