MS Waikato

06/10/2026

Dorothy Newman Scholarship

If you, or someone you know, who has MS and would like to retrain or upskill, the Dorothy Newman Scholarship is a fantastic opportunity to get some of your course fees covered. Applications close on the 31 October 2026.

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) often experience challenges in the workforce. Living with MS does not mean you have to stop working. Many people with MS

30/09/2026

If you’re supporting someone with Huntington’s Disease, there are a number of factors that could be behind any increased irritability.

Increased irritability may be a sign that someone with Huntington's disease has an unmet need.

Before focusing only on the behaviour, consider what the person may be experiencing or trying to communicate. Our graphic shares possible triggers to check.

Medication levels, depression or low mood, and other health conditions may also contribute. An acute health issue, such as an infection, can cause a sudden change in mood or behaviour. A change should not automatically be dismissed as "just the Huntington's". Looking beyond the behaviour may help you understand what is happening and identify the support the person needs.

Find more practical advice in our Behaviour and Communication guide: https://www.hda.org.uk/seecmsfile/?id=112

19/09/2026

Understanding Multiple Sclerosis - Free online course

'Understanding Multiple Sclerosis (MS)' is a free online course created and hosted by the Menzies Institute for Medical Research. It aims to improve understanding and awareness of MS. Members of the public will increase their knowledge of MS-related issues and those in the MS community will be empowered to create and contribute to personalised MS management plans.

The course is designed for anyone with an interest in multiple sclerosis.

This course is self-paced, a total of 12 hours, and available to start at any time.

Understanding Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a free online course that aims to improve understanding and awareness of MS worldwide, and empower people to create and contribute to personalised MS management plans.

18/09/2026

Living as Well as I Can: My 26-Year Masterclass in Managing my MS

In April 2000, my life split cleanly into two halves. Before that spring, I was defined by two things: I was fiercely, relentlessly active, and I was mentally sharp. I was astute, a quick thinker, and accustomed to a body and mind that moved at supersonic speed.

For 26 years, multiple sclerosis has tried to slow that pace down. But while it has forced me to adapt, it has failed to stop me. Today, I am still walking unaided, still doing most of what I have always done - albeit at a much slower pace. I estimate it takes me four to five times longer to do something than it used to. Oh well. All I can do is live as well as I can with MS, and after more than two decades, I have cracked the code on what works for me.

The Elite Athlete of Exhaustion
To the outside world, fatigue sounds like needing a nap. The reality of my MS fatigue is vastly different. I imagine it is like being a high-performance athlete who trains from the moment they get up to the moment they go to sleep. Every single second of my day requires a conscious, grueling expenditure of energy.

Even extreme concentration completely wipes me out. For someone who used to rely on a quick, analytical brain, coming to terms with the onset of brain fog and memory loss was a devastating blow. It took me a long time to process that grief, and it eventually triggered a period of severe depression. It is heartbreaking to feel a brilliant mind clouding over. But over time, I chose to stop mourning the past version of my intellect and focus entirely on maximizing the present.

The Physical Hurdles: Foot Drop and the Battle of the Bladder
As the heavy blanket of fatigue settles in over the course of a day, my physical body begins to rebel. I have one leg that simply refuses to do what I want it to do. The more tired I get, the worse my foot drop becomes, and I find myself tripping more and more.

But of all my frustrating symptoms, few matched the indignity of an overactive bladder. For a long time, my life was a stressful military operation: planning my movements from toilet to toilet, constantly leaking, and always on high alert. That was until I started receiving Botox injections in my bladder. It has been an absolute game-changer, restoring a sense of freedom and control that MS tried to steal away.

The Night-time Battle: Pain, Spasticity, and Sleep
Pain and spasticity, and how they prevent me from sleeping, are also challenges I have to manage carefully. These symptoms, like so many others, are heavily exacerbated by how bad the fatigue is on any given day. Staying busy during daylight hours helps me distract my mind and manage the discomfort, but when it comes to the night, finding sleep can be incredibly difficult.

Magnesium helps ease the tension on standard nights. However, when it gets truly bad, the spasticity can make it feel as though I’ve dislocated a hip, and the pain feels exactly how I imagine it would feel to have my feet submerged in molten lava. When it reaches that level, a simple supplement won't cut it, and I need something a lot stronger to get through the night.

My Four Pillars: Why I’m Still Standing
I put my longevity and mobility down to my strict, non-negotiable four-pillar blueprint:
• The Best DMTs: I have always advocated for myself and taken the highest-efficacy, best disease-modifying therapies available.
• A Targeted Diet: I eat exceptionally well, having severely cut down on sugar and starch to reduce systemic inflammation.
• Smart Supplementation: I utilize specific dietary supplements that really help and directly target my symptoms.
• Targeted Exercise: I deliberately exercise the very muscles I cannot control well. By forcing those pathways to work, I maintain my mobility.

At My Own Pace
MS may have slowed me down, but it has not defeated me. I might take five times longer to finish a task, but the victory is in the finishing. Twenty-six years into this diagnosis, I am still walking, still thinking, and still thriving. I am living proof that you can live well with MS—know your limits and manage them, and above all don’t give into it.

Alan

To learn more about Multiple Sclerosis and the services provided by MS Waikato visit our website www.mswaikato.org.nz . If you wish to make a donation to support our services, select ‘Donate now’ on the website or alternatively donations can also be made by visiting https://givealittle.co.nz/org/mswt

Please share our posts to help raise awareness and understanding of MS

17/09/2026

My journey began in March 2013. After a regular 7km early morning walk I collapsed, was momentarily unconscious and during the ambulance ride to hospital discovered my speech was weird.

After 4/5 days in a Neurological ward, CT scan and MRI’s, lumbar puncture, Baseline testing; 3-5 Neurologists, Psychiatrist, Neurological Psychologist, MRI with dye; year after year I was told that my symptoms were functional. I had 2 Oligoclonal bands but I was told I did not have MS. Early in my journey Epilim; Tegretol (highly allergic to) Amitriptyline were prescribed. My body takes weeks to get used to each drug and each increase.

I was a high functioning Manager with a full life including fitness, socializing, and family. I, and my family knew that something was very wrong, but after exploring every avenue, I had to adapt and accept there was no identity for my episodes.

My symptoms include dysarthria and ataxia. Both occur at the same time. Sometimes several times a day; sometimes not for 5-10 days. Episodes are followed by phenomenal fatigue, and some days it’s like I’m in a fog all day. During an episode people often think I’m having a stroke.

In 2018, my episodes increased in frequency, my GP who saw me having an episode felt I had epilepsy. He referred me to an Auckland Neurologist who said “no it’s functional”.

This is pretty tough to take, when uncontrollable episodes happen:- e.g. after Yoga; visiting a shopping mall; while socialising etc.

Late 2024 the occurrence of episodes became more frequent. I chose a different Neurologist based in Hamilton.

After 11 years I finally felt heard! A new MRI and Spinal tap confirmed a diagnosis of Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. My symptoms don’t mirror anyone else’s. I was 70 when I was diagnosed, I know my neurologist has conferred with his colleagues specifically about how I present, and I’m rather unique, a unicorn!

I am incredibly grateful for the time he has given me to try to get a diagnosis and treatment plan. One drug took my body 9 months to get to a therapeutic level. We’ve tried 3-4 additional medications aimed at reducing the intensity and frequency of episodes.

18 months on and YES episodes are not as frequent. There are symptom free days; hallelujah days; bed-nesting days. The impact on my life is huge. Some days I can barely walk 100 meters others I walk 3 km. I don’t plan to host people unless I have a clear week to prepare.

Lights can be a trigger and my ability to focus has diminished, it has mostly stopped my crafting and creative cooking.

But my mantra is “Always Look On The Bright Side of Life”.

I’m not dead, I can laugh, I am loved, I have the most amazing husband, and I am blessed with a loving family and numerous friends.

MS includes a huge range of different often unseen or for some very visible symptoms. Most people have heard of MS, but the large majority have no idea what it is.

To learn more about Multiple Sclerosis and the services provided by MS Waikato visit our website www.mswaikato.org.nz . If you wish to make a donation to support our services, select ‘Donate now’ on the website or alternatively donations can also be made by visiting https://givealittle.co.nz/org/mswt

Please share our posts to help raise awareness and understanding of MS

17/09/2026

Hi, I’m Rebecca. I’m 31 years old and a stay at home mum to my beautiful daughter, Charlotte.

I was diagnosed with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis in 2023, at 28 years old. At the time, it didn’t feel real. I knew very little about MS and had never experienced any symptoms before my first attack.

I was away in the truck with my husband when I woke up one morning and realised I couldn’t walk properly. As the morning and day went on, the weakness on my right side became worse and I lost feeling in it. I was meant to be at work the following morning, so I decided to get myself to A&E. From there, the investigations began, MRIs, blood tests, strength and neurological testing, followed by steroids and a lumbar puncture. I was very fortunate to receive my diagnosis relatively quickly.

It was a huge shock, not only for me and my husband, but for our family and friends too. We really had no idea what MS would mean for my life or what the future would look like.

With the support of my family and friends, I’ve learnt that MS isn’t always as frightening as I first imagined. Every day can be different. Some days are good, while other days even simple everyday tasks can feel harder. But with the right treatment and support, you can still live your life, make memories and do the things you love.

MS Waikato has been really supportive and welcoming since day one and continues to show their care and support. They have explained a lot to me about MS and given me hope for the future.

MS is now a part of my life, but it doesn’t define who I am. ❤️

Rebecca

To learn more about Multiple Sclerosis and the services provided by MS Waikato visit our website www.mswaikato.org.nz . If you wish to make a donation to support our services, select ‘Donate now’ on the website or alternatively donations can also be made by visiting https://givealittle.co.nz/org/mswt

Please share our posts to help raise awareness and understanding of MS

16/09/2026

MS Awareness Stall today at Chartwell

If you are in Chartwell shopping center today do come and visit our stall and our wonderful volunteers. You'll find this on the ground floor, just past Woolworths and outside the Coffee Club.

16/09/2026

Some of the most common signs of MS are changes with vision, sensory problems or mobility and balance.

If something feels new, unusual for you or doesn't go away, talk with your GP.

15/09/2026

Hi, my name is Sally and I am a 37-yr old mum of 3 amazing boys Nixon 13, Fenix 10 and Baxter 7 and wife to my husband Mike. My 3 boys always keep me on my toes and these days as well as my job as an Inclusive Learning Assistant at a Jnr High School, I feel as though I’m also an Uber driver for my boys sports and social lives.

My journey with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has changed many parts of my life. Before I was diagnosed in 2020, I started experiencing left side weakness/numbness, I was extremely fatigued, but I put that down to having 3 kids, now looking back on it there were days I was struggling to keep my eyes open. At the time, I didn't realise these symptoms could be signs of MS, and like many people, I initially thought there might be another explanation. So, I just ignored them for a few months until I started experiencing right side numbness too.

Getting a diagnosis was extremely difficult for me, I was 30 and had only recently had my 3rd boy. I couldn’t comprehend how this could be happening. I saw a neurologist privately so things went really smoothly and quite fast which was good, I’m not sure how I would have gone if I had weeks of waiting for results. Receiving the diagnosis was difficult and brought a lot of uncertainty. There were so many questions about what MS would mean for my future and how much it would affect my life.

Day-to-day life with MS can be challenging because you can't always predict how you're going to feel. Fatigue can make ordinary things feel much harder, and symptoms can affect my ability to work, look after my family and keep up with everything I would normally do. Some days I feel relatively well, while other days MS reminds me that I need to slow down and listen to my body.

Having MS has meant making changes to my lifestyle. I've had to learn to pace myself, allow myself time to rest and accept that I can't always do everything I would like to. I've also had to become more aware of my body's limits and understand that resting isn't being lazy - sometimes it is necessary.

One of the biggest things I would like people to understand about MS is that you can't always see it. Someone with MS may look perfectly healthy while dealing with fatigue, pain, weakness, brain fog or other symptoms that aren't visible to others. MS is different for everyone, and having a “good day” doesn't mean the condition has gone away.

MS Waikato has been an important source of support for me. Having people who understand MS, who listen without judgement and who can provide information, encouragement and practical support has made a real difference. Knowing that I am not alone in this journey has been incredibly valuable.

Living with MS isn't always easy, but I've learned to take things one day at a time. MS is now a part of my life, but it doesn't define who I am. With the right support, understanding and people around me, I can continue to live my life and focus on the things that matter most.

Sally

To learn more about Multiple Sclerosis and the services provided by MS Waikato visit our website www.mswaikato.org.nz . Select ‘Donate now’ on the website if you wish to make a donation or alternatively donations can also be made by visiting https://givealittle.co.nz/org/mswt .

Please share our posts to help raise awareness and understanding of MS.

15/09/2026

My journey began in 1994, I was at my peak fitness when during my daily 8 km runs or aerobic sessions, I found my legs giving way, this worsened over the following months to the point that I collapsed and had to give up my full-time work. I began to trip, and frequently fell, at times my chest and breathing would become so weak I was diagnosed temporarily with asthma.

Through that challenging year, choking on food at times, my voice weakening and blurry vision were all made worse with fatigue. I pushed myself endlessly to run until I was unable to walk, talk, work or even swallow food and was eventually admitted to hospital.

Various Neurologists visited, prodded and poked my weak muscles and floppy body and due to my deteriorating state of health unfortunately withheld tests, scans and muscle biopsies until I stabilised. In the meantime, diagnosis varied from possible Stroke, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, even Guillain-Barré were among the many, before I was finally diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting MS in 1996.

I remained in hospital for several weeks, fortunate to have Hydrotherapy and Neuro physio daily which continued for a good two years. I have to say, without this support, I know I wouldn’t be walking today. 7 years of determination, positivity and willpower also accounted for where I am today.

I also tapped into the Technical Institute and University Physiotherapy courses and allowed trainees to practice on me.

On crutches for the next 7 years my husband escorted me daily on very slow walks until I ditched my crutches in 2002.

From 2000 my health deteriorated, with numerous surgeries due to other health conditions. Medications also play havoc on fatigue and general wellbeing.

We continue to walk daily, some days my legs are weak or one foot likes to drop suddenly tripping me up, and I attend a yoga session that focuses on balance, strengthening and breathing.

I would love to acknowledge the MS Waikato team in Hamilton who at least yearly, make the 6 hour round trip to see me. I believe due to my mix of medical conditions and symptoms I have missed out on getting support earlier, so at times it’s been a very lonely journey.

Thank you, Liz, Karen and MS Waikato, so much for your care and support.

Wendy

To learn more about Multiple Sclerosis and the services provided by MS Waikato visit our website www.mswaikato.org.nz , select ‘Donate now’ on the website if you wish to make a donation or alternatively donations can also be made by visiting https://givealittle.co.nz/org/mswt

Please share our posts to help raise awareness and understanding of MS