MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS & COPING WITH AN ALCOHOLIC

Unfortunately before I was able to start this progression of my career after many more neurological tests and admission to Hurstwood Park Hospital I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis which when told has to be the darkest day of my life knowing that the career I loved so much had to come to an end.

By this time my husband’s spinal and heart condition had deteriorated immensely and he required a lot of assistance from me especially being seventeen years my senior. Born a Scotsman he had always been fond of a few “Wee Drachms” and now as well as coping with my own health problems I had the added pressure of Mac’s health plus his alcoholic issue. When I accepted Mac’s proposal of marriage I was to term a phrase “able bodied” and could not envisage that in a few years time I would need help for myself.

 When he was diagnosed with acute cirrhosis of the liver and given six months to live he did cut his drinking habit right down but it was a long and rocky hill to climb for both of us. He did in fact live for another 14 years the last seven of which were in total abstinence but I think fear was the main factor and my support secondary.

Since this period in my life I have seen many families destroyed when one family member is reliant on alcohol. I can whole heartedly relate with the complete upheaval and disruption that alcoholic dependency causes and can understand how in many cases separation and divorce are the only answer as lives are literally torn apart. Although I always wanted children of my own I am pleased now that due to Mac’s alcoholism which caused him to be impotent our marriage was never consummated. I would have felt very guilty bringing children into a family life such as ours as it was bad enough for me to cope with. In our early years of married life Mac was extremely violent after drinking sprees and often attacked me mainly at night. On two occasions I had to call the ambulance and be taken to the Hospital for treatment.  I was very fortunate at the time that I had a good friend called Alan who was fully aware of Mac’s behaviour when he was intoxicated so I always had some-one to talk to which didn’t take away the problem but I had some-one to share it.