My MS Journey by Gus McVeigh

I was born in 1961 in Rathcoole, Belfast, in what was considered the largest housing estate in Europe at that time. I lived with my sister Mary-Jo, brother and stepbrother.

At age 20, I joined the British Army and began my training in Woolwich and then was stationed in Germany for 4 years. I didn’t enjoy my time in Germany, so I applied for a post in the Outer Hebrides and started my commission there in 1984 as a Radar Operator.

At a similar time to moving to the Shetland Isles,  I started to notice a tingling sensation in my hands and legs. The Army medics brushed these symptoms off as being a virus. However, as the symptoms continued, the Army flew me to Glasgow and I travelled to a hospital in Edinburgh for investigations.  I  spent the next 3 months in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, having numerous tests carried out to try and establish what the problem was.

Whilst I was there, I met a chap who had similar symptoms to me, but he had been diagnosed with... Multiple Sclerosis!

After more tests, I was diagnosed with Relapsing  Remitting MS, but continued in the Army, I was stationed both back in the Outer Hebrides and again in Germany.

My MS symptoms worsened, and I was sent to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, and the Army wanted to medically discharge me which I didn’t want. I contacted my barracks in The Outer Hebrides and went back there again from 1987. However, due to the condition progressing, work became more challenging and in 1991, I chose to medically retire and didn’t return to work again. By now, my MS had developed into Secondary Progressive.

In 1988, I met my now ex-wife, who was also in the Army, and after my medical discharge, we moved to Doncaster.  My wife was then stationed at Larkhill, near Salisbury, coming back to Doncaster at the weekends. We were married for 15 years, and then after we went our separate ways, I moved in with my sister, who lives in Yatton, near Bristol, for about a year.  While all this was going on, I also had serious issues with a detached retina, leading to several operations and ultimately losing the vision in my left eye. I continued to drive as I had full vision in my right eye.

I moved back to Northern Ireland for a while with my parents, but Mary-Jo wanted me to come back to England and live with her. I was fortunate to be offered an assisted living flat in Yatton and never looked back.

In approximately 2004, I started having Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at the old Nailsea Centre, The West of England MS Therapy Centre, latterly called The Brightwell, and this community has been an important part of my life.

I still attend the Centre every week for Oxygen, both inside and outside the Chamber. I find this therapy very beneficial. I also enjoy the fact that I meet with others and am able to be social.

am an active Fundraising Volunteer,  and my good friend Mike Huggett and I attend a lot of collection events, especially the supermarkets and garden centres.  Over the past few years, my amazing sister Mary-Jo produces all the questions for the Quiz Night Events at The Brightwell, and we both host these evenings every other month. I  have also raised money doing a Skydive, but I won’t do that again in a hurry!

I have been a wheelchair user for over 20 years, and had to stop driving about 3 years ago due to vision problems in my eye. Mike now takes me to the Centre and to fundraising events.

Despite being diagnosed 40 years ago, I try to have a positive attitude towards living with MS. I don’t like to take medication, and I live independently with the help of a cleaner.

I hope others will realise that life with MS, is, of course, a challenge, but the fact that I am still active and overall well after 40 years has to be a positive example for others, especially anyone who is newly diagnosed.

I hope you find my journey of interest. Please come and say “hello” if you see me at the Centre or at any events.

Best Wishes

Gus