Lindsey’s MS story
Mum-of-three Lindsey was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in October 2020.

The 60-year-old former deputy headteacher went from being a highly paid, hard-working professional to wondering how her family were going to survive.
Lindsey’s MS, which is secondary progressive, particularly involves her cerebellum, the area of the brain which controls and coordinates movement.
For MS to be diagnosed, patients must have experienced two instances of damage to the central nervous system. Lindsey had first seen ‘possible MS’ on her medical notes in the 1990s, but apart from one attack in 2011, had been well until she began struggling with her memory in January 2020.
Initially treated for an ear infection, she began experiencing a tremor, balance issues and dizziness. She was then rushed to hospital for ten days with a suspected stroke. Lindsey lost her eyesight and was told she could have a brain tumour and just days to live.
She challenged this, and asked doctors to consider MS – eventually being diagnosed in 2020.
Lindsey said:
“The worst thing about a brain condition is you don’t know if you’re feeling how you should be feeling.”
Lindsey now lives with a facial droop, joint pain, confusion, memory loss, vertigo, dizziness and fatigue and said an earlier diagnosis could have made a huge difference to her life and saved the NHS money and bed space.
She stressed better communication between NHS departments is needed, and wants a clear initial flag of MS to be made on medical records so it is considered at an early stage.
She added:
“There is a huge lack of information around MS out there, and so much the doctors don’t know.
“There should have been something in the system when I was back in hospital. I was seriously ill and it should have said on my notes I had experienced a first episode.”