The first symptom of MS occurred while I was in the services. These were optic neuritis and temporal-lobe epilepsy (TLE) or petit mal. I was sent to RAF Hospital, Ely, but doctors there at that time had insufficient information for any accurate diagnosis. Why were there dead cells floating in the vitreous humor? (I kept quiet about the TLE.)
In 1972 aged 36 I was initially diagnosed with MS by Dr Fred Lees at Colchester Hospital, Essex following a myelegram and a very painful lumbar puncture. The symptoms I had then included the usual “pins-and-needles” in my hands, feet and neck when I lowered my chin to chest (the well-known “Barber’s chair syndrome”). I was referred to the National Hospital Queen Square, London for a second opinion. MS was confirmed! At the time I refused to believe it! Fay, the wife of a close friend, suffered from relapsing/remitting MS and I certainly didn’t have the same symptoms suffered by her or by Jacqueline du Pré and I refused to believe it.
Sadly, in those days we PwMS received little support except what little we learned from books, the Internet, and other PwMS.