Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group

Hi! You are such a great friend doing this for your friend! First and foremost...listen...she's probably going to be talking A LOT about it and it is crucial that you just be there to listen to how she feels. Another thing is research as much as you can about the disease google it wikipedia it you name it...One thing that i thought was sweet is that my boyfriend made a donation to the MS society and showed me the stub. But the main thing is be there and try try try to understand. And MAKE her take those shots :) If she's anything like me she will throw a hissy fit when its time to take them. Good luck and give your friend the best wishes from me

Ditto to everythign that our DS friend, JerryRose said. I will add that fatigue is so dominant, that most of us loose our friends because they just do not get MS till they get MS. For instance, instead of going 'out' to a movie and dinner, once and a while you might suggest going to the deli and picking up something to eat, and renting a movie. When you go to visit, if you have some leftover casserole, etc., package it up and take it to her. Nutrition is so dang important, but much of the time we are embarassed to let people know what we are doing for our meals because we just do not have the energy to prepare a meal. The MSAA and the MSF have wonderful information available...Maybe a group of your friends, or her church group could do a fund raiser to send her on the Cruise for a Cause, which the MSF sponsors annually. But, most importantly, like JerryRose stated, just listen--and do not ever say, "I know what you feel." You will never know how she feels, but you can smile and be there with hugs and a movie.

Help her by contacting your local MS Society. They have tons of info and can help her find a support group. Just be her friend, too. That is what she will need most of all.

You are really sweet. I think having support networks is as important as the medication and a doctor. Friends and family make you feel 'normal'.

One thing my hubby has perfected, don't treat her different. She is still the same inside. Tease her about the same things you always did. Make her laugh at herself. It takes the sting of the disease away.

Well, i agree with everything that JoeyRose said. do your research, i found it really sweet when friends did that for me.

do the MS walk if you want. it may be too late this year, but you can next year. i organized one in my name and it felt amazing to see how many people cared about me. it was nice.

also, and i can only speak for myself, but i HATE when i'm having a bad day and just want to cry about it and someone tells me it could be worse. i KNOW that, obviously, but i just want to cry and feel bad for myself. so, just try to be as understanding as possible.

Hi! Um, I cant really help the person who posted, although I do think you are a strong and wonderful person for helping your friend. My reply has to do with the people hwo posted. Thank you for your replies. I am recently diagnosed and clicked this post for helpful information. All of you rock! Your posts are inspirational, on the mark, and very accurate in description. So thank you..

Thank you everyone for your replies. Unfortunately I live 3 and a half hours away from her now but we keep in touch by email and phone calls. I would love to take her lunch or a casserole. She did things like that for me when I lived by her. I have sarcoidosis and have good days and bad and sometimes no energy at all and she was the best friend anyone could ask for so I appreciate the advice, just want to try to give her as much support as I can. Yes I will always listen to her no matter what (always have). Thank you again.

My brother has sarcoid and I have MS. You can support each other. I agree with everyone else too, just be there for each other. It means alot.

Message me directly so I can reply later. I am on the site to support my wife who has MS and I have some great links for you but no time right now and a busy enough schedule/bad enough memory that without a note I won't remember to do it later....

Luck in the mean time.

One of my friends went to some otientation classes at my neuro clinic.