Some further questions
Is there anybody I need to tell that I have MS?
If you have a driving licence you must also tell the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) that you have MS. They will send you a questionnaire to assess the impact of MS on your driving performance. The DVLA may need to talk to your doctor about your condition. If there is no medical reason to prevent you from driving, a full licence will be retained. You must tell the DVLA if your MS worsens; this may require a reassessment.
Insurers require that you declare any relevant information, medical or otherwise. If you fail to do so, you run the risk of their refusing any claims. If you are in any doubt, check with your insurer about what you are required to disclose.
Choosing when and how to inform family, friends and colleagues about your MS is a personal and complex decision. There is no legal obligation to inform your employer that you have MS unless you are in the armed forces, work on a plane or ship, or you condition presents a health and safety risk. However, you must not mislead your employer and you must answer medical questions honestly. More information on telling people about your MS can be found in our factsheet 'Talking about MS to family, friends and colleagues'.
Further information about working with MS can be found in our booklet 'At Work with MS', or you may want to speak with the Disability Employment Advisor (DEA) at your local Job Centre.
What will make my MS worse?
First and foremost, MS is unpredictable so it is difficult to know what, if anything, might trigger a relapse for you. You may find that specific factors, such as fatigue or increased body temperature (due to a hot bath, hot climate or perhaps an infection) can worsen symptoms and occasionally even cause a relapse. On the other hand, they may have no effect on your MS whatsoever.
Some people worry that receiving a vaccination, for example against flu, or when travelling abroad or having a general anaesthetic can make their MS worse. In fact, there is no evidence to suggest that someone with MS should avoid either being vaccinated, or having a necessary operation. Similarly, there is no link between the use of prescribed medications, such as the contraceptive pill or HRT, and a relapse of MS.
What happens if I get pregnant?
If you are considering getting pregnant, it is natural to want to know how pregnancy will affect your health and whether your baby is likely to develop MS.
A woman with MS is less likely to have a relapse during pregnancy, although the risk of relapse increases in the six months after the birth. However, pregnancy has no long-term effect on the course of MS and you are no more likely to experience miscarriage, stillbirth, birth defects or infant death than a woman who does not have MS.
Will my children get MS?
MS is not inherited in the same way as the colour of your eyes, which is passed down through the genes. However, it is now generally accepted that if there is MS in the family, you are more likely to have a genetic predisposition to MS than someone who does not have MS in their family. This means that if a parent has MS, their children will have a greater risk of developing the condition, although the risk is still very small.
We hope that this book has been helpful. When you are diagnosed with MS, the most important thing is to have access to accurate information and specialist help. Some people with MS can rely on the support of an expert multidisciplinary team of health professionals, backed up perhaps by an excellent local self-help group, right from the moment of diagnosis. Others are less fortunate and have to seek out help for themselves. Rest assured that help is out there - the secret is in knowing how to access it.