On reflection: Rosemary Tyndall
The February and May 2009 issues of Open Door included articles by people in their twenties describing their reactions to being diagnosed with MS.
These generated lots of comments, particularly from people who now have the perspective of having lived with the unpredictability and variability of MS for some years.
Rosemary has lived with MS for more than 42 years.
I first became aware of symptoms as I was starting out on a teaching career. My mother was told, wrongly, that I would be in wheelchair in five year; it was seven years before she could bring herself to tell me. I was not given this diagnosis, although my own research convinced me that I did have MS.
I used to wake up with a cold feeling in my leg, numbness in a side and other funny feelings but as long as I could get out of bed, dress and make my way by tube and foot to Chalk Farm I did not worry too much. I felt completely normal, doing all the mad things one did in London in the Sixties.
I met and married Mike and continued to work as a teacher while starting a family.
In 1973 I gave birth to my first son, Paul. I felt really well throughout the pregnancy and was tearing round showing him off to all and sundry until I was struck down by another MS attack as well as depression - MS or post natal, who knows? It took at least a year until I felt nearly normal.
I went on to have two more children, a boy and a girl, and had only a slight numbness when my daughter was 6 months old with which I was able to cope.
I continued with supply teaching until I took early retirement in 1994. Since then I have worked for the Citizens Advice Bureau and in an Oxfam shop. I also helped my husband start up in business on his own and only gave up when our son and his wife joined the business.
I joined the University of the Third Age and learnt bridge which I adore. I go to the Arsenal with my husband. I enjoy cruising, entertaining, theatre and cinema. I find it harder to walk now but I have a pavement car and a disabled car sticker for longer journeys. I don't seem to have attacks now but I feel very tired most of the time. I cannot stand the heat either.
Younger people with MS do not give up. With all the research going on now, medical science may help you but if not, take heart; you too will one day say to yourself - do I feel this way because of my age or my MS?
