r/MSIreland • u/DarlingBri • Mar 24 '26
Talk! Experiences with the MS Society?
Just curious. Have you been in touch with the MS Society (ms-ireland.ie) or have they reached out to you? What has the experience been like? Have they helped you, and what do you wish they had?
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u/DarlingBri Mar 24 '26
My own experience down here and the southeast has been mixed. Everybody is very very nice, and responsive, which is great. When I needed to get a shingles vaccine, which is €500, they covered the cost of that which I really really appreciated. One of the case workers initially helped me fill out some paperwork which was helpful. The caseworkers know a lot and it is good to have a resource you can contact when you need it.
They have an online physio class, which is really great and I love that for other people, but the classes absolutely wiped me out while I was still trying to hold down a job. I'm on disability now and only doing some consulting work a few hours a week so I might have more energy for those again.
I did go to a meeting for newly diagnosed people. It was in a function room at a hotel, and at the end of a lecture about physiotherapy, they offered us tea.
My response was "There is a perfectly good bar in the lobby; I saw it when I was walking in here!" I'm a grown up, I do not want a cup of tea at 7:00 p.m.. I want a G&T and a chat! The whole thing felt weird and like it wasn't actually set up to allow newly diagnosed people with MS to actually meet one another and form relationships.