To celebrate International Dog Day, we spoke to Cat who was diagnosed with MS two years ago. Cat shared how getting active with her cockapoo, Stanley, helps take her mind off things during tougher times.
Hi, I'm Cat, I'm a 31 year old living with RRMS. I have a cockapoo called Stanley.
When I think back now to my early symptoms and diagnosis it all seems like such a blur, and that's the thing, it literally was a blur. In September 2018 I woke up and the room was spinning. A long story short is that I had nystagmus. At this point doctors began tests to find out what was wrong and the spinning vision lasted around a month. I was exhausted all the time, incredibly uncoordinated and worried about not having any answers. For the most part I put it down to stress until in February 2019, when I went totally blind in one eye. I went to A&E, was put on a ward, and sent for an MRI. The results confirmed a diagnosis of MS and I stayed in hospital for a course of steroids.
Over the following days and months my vision gradually began to come back. My next relapse followed soon after, this one caused double vision. Knowing this was a relapse I went straight to my GP who put me on steroids again. Due to the frequency and severity of these relapses it was decided I could start the DMD Mavenclad (providing I passed all the necessary tests beforehand, which I did). During that first year of relapses, diagnosis, and treatment I struggled with fatigue, poor coordination, weakness in my left leg, altered sensations and low mood. I made some life changing choices regarding my job and lifestyle which at the time were difficult to accept.
So here we are in 2021, I have completed the course of Mavenclad, recovered well from my relapses that effected my vision and balance, and have been fortunate to live an active life. But there is one thing that I love doing, that I persisted with even when things were tough, that takes my mind off everything, and I am grateful everyday I can do it. That is a sport called canicross.
