Unexpected MS Diagnosis Shakes Dundrum Woman before Wedding

A Co Down woman has opened up about being diagnosed with MS when she was just 30 years old and while preparing for her wedding. Bronagh Patterson from Dundrum lives with relapsing remitting MS and has shared her experience of coming to terms with her diagnosis and the importance of positive conversations around MS.

Learning to Cope

Bronagh recalled: “My MS diagnosis came as a complete shock. Out of the blue in June 2023 my right eye began to react like it would to a flare up of hay fever. An emergency appointment with my optician resulted in a referral to ophthalmology. This appointment discovered damage to the optic nerve which then led to an MRI scan. By February 2024 I had received a diagnosis of relapsing remitting MS. “Coming to terms with the diagnosis was difficult. I was newly married, had a new career path, and wanted to start a family. What should have been an exciting time of looking to a happy future now seemed bleak. At the time I didn’t know much about MS and what it meant for me. My future looked scary, and I was frightened. “I would describe living with MS as a bumpy road. Relapses throw major bumps into my path but one year on from diagnosis I have begun to learn to tolerate the bumps as I understand MS more. Conversations with my MS nurse mean I can feel more involved in my care and ensure the treatments I receive are effective but meet my personal needs such as being safe for when I’m ready to start my family.”

Supporting MS Awareness Week

This MS Awareness Week (28 April to 4 May), she is supporting a new national charity campaign, MS Conversations. Spearheaded by a collaboration of the UK’s MS charities - MS Society, MS Trust, MS Together, MS-UK, the Neuro Therapy Network, Shift.ms, Overcoming MS, and Talks with MS – the campaign aims to encourage people to start conversations about their multiple sclerosis (MS). The eight charities are encouraging everyone affected by MS to get involved on social media throughout MS Awareness Week by using the hashtag #MSConversations to share their most memorable MS interactions. When asked how important MS conversations are to her, Bronagh added: “When I was first diagnosed, I didn’t want to talk about MS. I was worried my family and friends would treat me differently. I became isolated because I thought they would be embarrassed by the changes that were happening to me. I also didn’t want them to read into the condition and then share what my future could look like. “I spoke to my MS nurse about how I was feeling, and she shared a publication written by the MS Society to answer some of my questions. This book spoke for me when I couldn’t! I was grieving my health, my education and what I felt was my ability to improve myself. I felt like an altered Bronagh. “During a recent relapse I couldn’t manage something as simple as holding a spoon, brushing my hair or doing up a button on my trousers. But people will often say 'but you look so well ' or 'how could you be so tired ?' Having to explain myself is so difficult. I want the people around me to listen and understand. “When I reflect on MS conversations, I know they are extre