Friend with MS. i wanna help or support or do whatever i can?

Question

my best friend has MS. she seems to have the less severe kind cuz she told me that. and i heard that of all the MS's types or something, hers is the best. but im not sure what type it is. anyways. i was wondering if there are sites that could tell me about it. things to expect. the symptoms or thigns that could and do or will happen when she is older. she is 17 right now. i know that in the past she was hospitalized because she lost her sight in one eye. (she regained it thank god). so help. i wanna be there for her. help her anyway i can. or maybe i am just so unsure of MS that i think the worst. i mean, is it like ADD- it doesn't really show and she'll live normal (except for the doc visits) . but its there? please answer all you can , this is important to me!!!

Answer 1

she will be fine if she gets on medication such as Avonex. once shes on it you wont even be able to tell she has it. MS is basically the body attacking its self, and the meds will help slow the process. but yes, she will live a completely normal life.

Answer 2

MS is nothing like ADD. it is an immune system disease that effects the central nervous system. It cannot be cured but the symptoms can be helped with medication. There will be times when she will hurt a lot and get very tired, she may forget things short term. The best way to help her is to be understanding even if she is a bit short with you. Talk to her about it. It effects different people in different ways. Look up the MS sites but realise that everything that is there does not necessarily mean that this is how your friend will be effected. The best person to tell you is her. She will be glad to have someone she can talk to about it besides her parents and Doctors.  

Answer 3

Hi hun, first of all I want to tell you I am so impressed with you that you want to learn more about this condition and that you want to support her so much.  Although she will take drugs to control her condition she will go through a lot of mental difficulties because she will have to learn to accept what she has got.  This is when she will really need you - it will just be a matter of being there to listen to her.  Also you will have to accept that if she is having a bad time with the illness she may not be able to come out etc.  My friend also has MS and some times she is very good but others day she can be bad - you can not tell when this is going to happen you just have to go with the flow.  Not sure what country you are in but every country will have a MS support group (www.mssociety.org.uk is the UK one) they will be able to help you to help your friend and answer any specific questions you have.  Also it might be a good idea (when she is ready too) for her to join one of these groups so that she can talk to other people who experience the same as her.  Although she will appriciate everything you do for her she will need to speak to people who know exactly what she is going through.  I hope your friend does not have too many problems and good on you for being a good friend.  Lots of Love