Hello, I’m Claire and I have MS.

My journey to diagnosis took approximately 9 years. I began with numb legs and arms which would come on periodically then go.

You may recognise the uniform I’m wearing but may not recognise that I’m actually sat in the engine of a 747 aircraft and you certainly won’t know that this was taken in Cape Town airport, that was my previous life

I became cabin crew at the age of 22 and loved my job, in fact it wasn’t just a job, it was a lifestyle.

I was based at Manchester airport for 5 years when I would travel around Europe and go to New York 2/3 times a month.

I then transferred to London Heathrow airport and really began to see the world, loving my job even more, I try not to brag too much that I’ve walked on the Great Wall of China, twice, climbed over Sydney harbour bridge, stroked lion cubs in south Africa etc, but I can’t help it!!

It was while I was based at Heathrow airport that I was diagnosed and my world fell apart, I thought I was going to have to stop flying.

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The Beginnings of DMD’s

I carried on flying until some stress I’d been through and the diagnosis stress got to me and I had an enormous relapse and was housebound for 6 weeks which led me onto my first DMD, Copaxone.

I got back on my feet, literally and got back in the skies carrying my Copaxone injections injections around the world with me.

After a few years of being on this DMD, I was taken off it because I continued to relapse which led me on to Rebif injections which I was on for 4 years until my body started to reject it.

My neurologist wanted to put me back on Copaxone but I refused as I remembered just how painful these daily injections were so i told him I’d take the natural route which sadly didn’t work for me and led me to many more relapses and more damage.

So after relapsing every 2 months for 8 months I was put on Tysabri and here I am, 12 years later.

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The Challenge of MS and Career Changes

Eventually after flying for 16 years I was medically retired because of the time off I’d had to take. As I said, I was devastated and didn’t really know what else I could do but had to do something because I had a mortgage to pay.

Now 10 years on and after a short time working for John Lewis, then as a Slimming Would consultant for 7 years I’m now working for the NHS looking after patients with learning disabilities and I love it. I work 15 hours a week and that works for me.

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Best Advice I Learnt

I can’t remember if I read it or heard but it was ‘don’t fight the MS, work with it’. I wouldn’t for a second think about going into the ring to fight Anthony Joshua, he’s way too big, as is the MS!!

What Next?

Who knows what’s next in life and that’s with or without MS but it’s good to have a purpose and to plan.

During lockdown I trained to be a life coach because I want to help those who are newly diagnosed as I remember that day, nearly 20 years ago, as though it was yesterday and I remember the fear.

To be honest, as rubbish as it is to be diagnosed, this is a brilliant time to be diagnosed, there are so many DMD’s available now, if that’s the route a person decides to take.

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Words of Wisdom for the MS Journey

What would I have told myself when I was diagnosed as to what I know now…………….breathe, take a breath, MS is just 2 letters, it’s not a sentence.

Certainly, without a doubt, stop smoking, I continued for years but it destroys your nerves plus even smokers know they should stop.

Eat a healthy diet.

Look after yourself and sleep when you need to, even if that means sleeping all day and night, the body is a great machine and sleep is my best friend, along with Vicky!!

Thanks for listening and if you want to join my Facebook group then click here

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