Hello.
Apologies if this post offends anyone in any way, especially anyone currently suffering from the illness, but I am in shock, and I find iteasier talking, well asking a public forum anonymously rather than chatting tocolleagues or friends in person.
I may not reply to any or all replies, soagain my apologies, but I just need to ask for some feedback, your opinions,what you would do?
I have been recently diagnosed with MS, it’s in its earlystages, but I am already feeling the changes in my life. It’s hard, a reallyhard pill to swallow, but I would like to ask what you would do in mysituation.Would you stay in Australia or return to the UK? I am a dualcitizen, hold two passports.
Me, I am single, no kids, no wife/partner, live alone andhave no close family, what family I did have recently passed away; as I waslooking to return back to the UK next year but now I do not know what to do.This situation would be identical in the UK, as I have no living close familyin the UK; as I can rely on no one really, and I would never ask friends orcolleagues for any help; I could only rely on what services are on offer for MS sufferers either here in Australia or in the UK.
I am late forties, male, and apart frommy new diagnosis, in pretty good health.
In my situation, do you think I will be better off served inthe UK, having the NHS as some support, as I have no private health cover hereat all, and I do not intend to take any out. Or will the health system here in Australiaoffer me the level of support I may or may not need, and so there will be verylittle difference in the level of support and care I may require over thecoming months and hopefully years whether here in Australia or back in the UK.
I am completely in the dark here, as I have never used thehealth system here in Australia, this month was my first time. What advice would you offer, what would you do.
I can easily leave Australia, as I have very few belongingsand very little commitments here, I am very fluid.
Thanks for any replies.

Hi Sign, I have a niece with MS in the uk she came here a few months ago for a holiday, a few weeks prior to this I was having my chemotherapy treatment (as I have cancer) when a young lady opposite me was having treatment for MS I believe it was a trial and if you go on Facebook it's called Lemtrada Support page, she was having great success with it, might be worth a look for you, wishing you all the best, regards Anne

Thanks Anne.
It's always hard posting or replying to posts like mine I guess. A sensitive subject health, especially when the subject of the diagnosis is so so damaging on ones emotions and on the loved ones emotions of the sufferer.
I have been having MS red flags, well mild symptoms for about fifteen years, but like many, I was in denial, I just put them to the back of my mind, and did not want to address the illness. Its funny really but if I had been honest to myself, I probably would have trodden a totally different path in life, so a more normal natural path, rather than the one I did follow. I think when like me you do not address MS on the first initial strong symptom, well it really bares down on ones lifestyle and the quality of life you have; it also affects strongly, well it did my interactions with other people and my loved ones. These interactions have probably drastically changed the path in life I followed for the worse I think. Its why I am in shock really, as the denial went on for so long, I actually believed I did not have MS in all this time, I wanted to believe so much I forced the lie on myself. Now in my late forties, and with my present situation, well the choices have been drastically reduced. But that is my fault, my mistake, so onwards and upwards.
I am sorry to hear of your health issues Anne; I hope the chemotherapy treatment shows some signs of success, so stay strong and positive.
Thankyou for your reply, I will take a look at that page; and the same to you, may I wish you all the best Anne.

Hi Sign,sorry to hear about your recent health diagnosis.I can appreciate it being a shock for you.I know that there is a poster on here with the same illness that may be able to offer you support and advice.I was diagnosed with cancer this time last year.I know it is a different illness but I cannot fault the health system here.We do not have private health insurance.We are all very healthy,non smokers and non drinkers and never thought it would happen to one of us.I have had chemo,three surgeries,reconstruction ,counseling,blood tests,scans etc all done on medicare.We have had to pay for very little for which I am very grateful.I hope that if you stay in Australia you will get the same level of care.See if there is a support group to join even if its just on Facebook to start.

Thanks for that, I really appreciate the time you took to script that reply.
Cancer, I am so sorry to hear that you have received that dreadful news. Its a horrid disease which affects so so many of us. I hope you beat it, I really do. It sound like you are receiving fantastic care here in Australia.
I have to admit, from arriving at the doctors in the first instance, and then the same day, within the same hour I was receiving a CT scan, then the next day a full blood test. I was very surprised in a positive manner. I too cannot speak so highly enough of the level of service I have received so far under Medicare.
My concern is not so much Medicare, as it seems very fit for purpose, well that's my experience, but I do live in the city, so have access to many doctors and radiographers, which there are many all on bulk billing.
I am more concerned on community care, me being on my own. If my health continues to deteriorate, I know from experience in the UK, community care is very good, for sole people living alone. Being the other side of the world, I am a tad nervous on should one day my health be not good, who can I call on, and what can I expect in terms of help. I am NOT referring to cash benefits in terms of financial help. I am referring to the physical stuff, people help; I guess its all the unknown, not knowing what the future holds and how to manage any of the changes in the quality of life you are experiencing at any given time. Support services that's the word I was looking for, support services in the community.
Again, may I wish you all the best, I hope your beat that dreadful disease.
Thanks again for the reply.

Thank you.I am trying to stay positive and Ive been told things are looking good.It is hard to stay strong some days but I have got to give it my best.
See how you go.It is early days for you.I'm afraid I don't know enough about the illness to comment on it.I hope someone can offer you some better advice.

Hi irishbloo. Sorry to hear of your cancer too, wishing you all the best, gruelling treatment isn't it, sadly mine is terminal but the treatment here at the Gold Coast university hospital is fantastic, and all public, I just enjoy every day and don't dwell on my illness, my niece in the UK with MS said the treatment seemed better here with MS , but that's just as she as found it, xxx

I am sorry to hear that.Thinking of you.x

I am so sorry to hear that you've been hit by such a bombshell and I guess it does make you reconsider what's important in life! I suspect the outcome and support will be similar in both places. My observation of having to negotiate the care system here for my oldies (parents+aunt & Uncle) is that it has been much better than I expected. Sure, you have to pay if you can but the support has been excellent and the actual medical care has been exceptional. I've been impressed by accessibility measures.

At the end of the day, there is nothing like being where you feel you belong and if you belong in Aus then stay but if you belong in UK then go. Normally I would say go where you have the best support group but if you don't have a ready made one in either place then you're a bit stymied. I guess the pragmatic thing would be if you have a job where you are then getting another job with a medical history could be problematic and your current job might be more supportive in terms of sick leave benefits than any new one may be.

Good luck and fingers crossed that things don't develop further for you for a very long time!

I am saddened to read this Anne, kind of puts my news into perspective now though.
I hope your family get to enjoy you for as long as possible.
Wishing you all the best!

Thanks quoll.
Nice of you to put so much thought into your post, very informative.
For now I am staying, I have been impressed so far, also I am settled here for now. I am going to see how rapid my health deteriorates if it does at all. I will take it a week at a time. I have good days and terribly horrid days, but this was the case before my diagnosis, so not much has changed.
I think I need to get to know fellow sufferers and so support groups.
My job will become a problem for sure if my health gets too bad, as I drive for a living, so time will tell. I know for sure in the UK, well in the South East where I will head, I will not get a sniff of work, whereas here, it is plentiful, so I will have to be patient, and just realise there are worse off than me, so chin up and enjoy the next day, as you never know what's going to come at you.
Thanks again.

I have a friend in Canberra who is/has been part of an MS peer support group offering phone counselling - that may be an option for you. I should think your local association may know how to access that. My friend has been living with it for about 30 years (I think) and certainly has up and down days but she's now mid 60s and still putting one foot in front of the other!