Linda Elsegood: I'd like to introduce Anita from England. She takes LDM for multiple sclerosis. Good morning, Anita,
Anita: Good morning.
Linda Elsegood: Could you tell me when you were diagnosed with MS.
Anita: Eight years ago, eight, yeah, eight, nine years ago.
It took a long time, I think, to diagnose. I had lots of tests first.
It wasn't this, it wasn't that, and eventually, after a lumbar puncture, it was diagnosed as MS.
It must have been longer than that then, I was about 46. Right.
Linda Elsegood: And what impact does the diagnosis have on you?
Anita: Well, I was in shock at first. So I must be honest, I didn't believe it, I was in denial. I really didn't think I had it as being a carer. A lot of my clients had MS and, um well, I didn't. I wouldn't accept it first, that I had it too.
Linda Elsegood: So the time you were diagnosed, you said it took quite a while. What were your symptoms at that time?
Anita: At times there were bouts where I lost all sense of balance; being sick all the time. On these occasions, normally, the doctor would give me an injection. I would try and sleep through a lot of it because that's all I could do.
Basically just continually being sick and my balance is all. Oh, and my waterworks actually, I didn't have a lot of control on occasions with my waterworks.
I was gonna stay working for the money but it is a disease and Bursitus and everything and me, which is to do with balance and that.
Linda Elsegood: So before you found LDN, how were your symptoms?
Anita: So I had a severe attack, I can’t remember the year now when I ended up in a wheelchair. I was in a wheelchair for three years. Towards the end, I actually went on LDN, which, helped me enormously.
I was on Gabapentin, and all the drugs I was on I was a drowsy mess. I think I, you know, a lot of the time I wasn't really with it.
I was, you know, on so much medication that I was quite drowsy all the time. I only take the LDN now.
Linda Elsegood: Well, let's, let's just try to stop short to what you were like before LDN. So before you started, what would you have deemed to be the quality of life on a score of one to 10. And 10 is the best.
Anita: Right. Then about 4 really, cause I
was feeling the wheelchair.
Linda Elsegood: Okay. And what would you say is today?
Anita: Uh, seven.
Linda Elsegood: Right. And may we learn how you heard about LDN?
Aniya: I had just got hyperbaric therapy and one of the ladies there was on it. She told me about it, and I went online and obviously researched it, and I thought it looks
quite good, well worth trying.
Linda: Did you manage to get it from your doctor?
Anita: No, no. I live in Cornwall, and I get it from Dr Lawerence in Wales, though the actual prescription comes from Scotland.
Linda Elsegood: Okay. When you first started, did you notice any introductory side effects?
Anita: No, not really. Perhaps a little, as sleeping was a little problem, not sleeping too well, but that lasted a week, ten days.
So how was yours? Mm. Um, occasionally, I still, I'm a waterworks, uh, occasionally, um, on walking with a machine, I don't know if you've heard of them, which helps me. I am actually up and walking with, with this stick using the machine, which helps me to lift my left foot only. I have a problem with that. I manage to go quite a bit. I can walk on the flat now without the machine, but I do need it if I, you know, if I'm walking long walks or, uh, where Hills are involved.
Linda Elsegood: So you continue taking the LDN with us. The only drug you're taking now?
Anita: Yes, yes.
Linda Elsegood: Oh, that's good.
Anita: I used to get real bad spasms, which have gradually disappeared. I don't get them at all now on the LDN.
Linda Elsegood: That's very good. What would you say to other people that are thinking of trying LDN?
Anita: I would say it's well worth trying.I've found it to be very good, even mentally because, I was quite depressed for a time because being quite sporty and active before, it was quite a shock, to end up being in the wheelchair. It's improved my quality of life. No end. And I’ve actually stopped the hyperbaric therapy, which was helping me.
I've stopped now because the LDN actually, helps with what the hyperbaric therapy was helping with.
Linda Elsegood: Is there anything else you'd like to mention?
Anita: Well, I think it is a very good drug, and it helps me in all the ways with more shakes and everything. You know, everything. Well with MS, it seems to have helped me.
Linda Elsegood: Thank you for sharing.
Anita: That‘s a very little drug to take, you know, I'm only on the one drug instead of lots of different drugs, and it's not one that makes you drowsy.
Linda Elsegood: Yes. The fewer drugs you can put in your body, the better, isn't it?
Anita: Of course. Yes, definitely. I do take quite a few supplements, like fish oils and zinc and things like that, which is helpful with LDN, as Dr. Lawerence said, which, I guess helps in slowing the disease when you're on LDN.
I have talked to others you know when I was going for the hyperbaric therapy I did. Actually, I like to chat with other people that I know are on it and they seem to benefit from it as well. Plus the lady obviously, who informed me about in the first place, she's improved.
She was never out of the wheelchair and she was a lot worse than I was. and she's come walking with two sticks now. So yeah. Very good.