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| MS in focus Issue
13
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2009
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Ana Chereque, President of the Asociación Esclerosis Múltiple Perú (ESMUP), interviews Eduardo García, who has ataxia and tremor as part of his MS. |
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Q. Please could you give us a brief biography?
A. My name is Eduardo García, and my nickname is Lalo. I am Peruvian and 57 years old. All my life I have been a very active person; my job as a policeman has taken me around my country, serving society. I am married and my three grown-up children are finishing their university studies. I have many happy memories of my youth growing up in a farming community and, for a time, making my living as a fisherman.
Q. Could you tell us how long you have had MS and what your main symptoms are?
A. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2007, but I began to have symptoms of the disease at least six years earlier. But I didn’t pay attention to them because I thought that they were fleeting things. The problem of a loss of strength began in my legs and I was not able to walk. After that I lost control of my bladder and bowel and even had problems speaking with fluidity. Now my main symptoms and obstacles are the problems of strength and coordination in my legs; the tremor in my head and even in my eyes that takes away the pleasure of reading; and the problems of balance that force me to use a support to move around.
Q. How would you describe your ataxia and tremor? Have they changed in any way over the time?
A. It is a strange sensation not being able to control my movements. The ataxia limits many things and I feel that I cannot do anything to control it – it is controlling my life. The tremor means I cannot read or watch TV. In spite of it being only a short time since my diagnosis, these symptoms have become serious and have gotten worse within the last few months.
Q. Are you taking medication for ataxia and tremor?
A. Yes, but it did not work so I stopped using the medicine. I now use a surgical collar to stop the head tremor, but for my walking and other movements I do not have any treatment.
Q. Do you do physiotherapy for ataxia and tremor?
A. Yes, I have therapy twice per week. I do exercises to help improve my coordination and to gain strength in my legs and therefore to walk better. In fact, in spite of the difficulties, I am currently able to walk with the aid of a walking frame. I do not have any specific therapy for the tremor.
“By attending workshops that offer
psychological support at ESMUP I
have learned to accept the change
and adapt my day-to-day life to MS.”
Q. Does your ataxia and tremor stop you from doing what you want or need to do, day-to-day?
A. Yes, of course. Before having these problems, I was an independent person, a worker, sportsman, someone who had normal life, dedicated to his favourite hobbies. My sexual life was active like every man of my age. Now, everything is different. I need the support of somebody to do day-to-day activities, even to put on my shoes. My symptoms are hard obstacles to overcome and because of them my life has changed very much. I feel very frustrated by simple things that I am not able to do.
Q. What helps you to manage the challenges of ataxia and tremor?
A. The encouragement and positive energy that I receive from other people keeps me going. My feelings of frustration have reduced since I have become involved in the Asociación Esclerosis Múltiple Perú (ESMUP). Here I have found the support that my life needs. I share feelings and experiences with others who also live with the disease. By attending workshops that offer psychological support at ESMUP I have learned to accept the change and adapt my day-to-day life to MS. My twice weekly visits to ESMUP give me a change of scene and a chance to get out of the house where I am almost always alone.
Q. Do you have good support from your health services?
A. I receive help from the Peruvian social security department. They have many administrative problems, but provide me with medication to alleviate my symptoms and, when necessary, to go to hospital to receive cortisone treatment.
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