I went to bed feeling fine but woke up paralysed – doctors blamed it on constipation but the truth was horrifying
AS a parent with a full-time job and a busy social life playing football and seeing friends, Adam Dawer always had somewhere to be.
But when he went to bed feeling perfectly well one night and woke up unable to stand, it was the start of a nightmare which would lead to a shattering diagnosis for the busy father of five.
5
Adam Dawer was a busy dad of five and always had somewhere to be
Credit: Cover Images
5
Then his life turned upside down when he began experiencing vomiting and visual disturbances - 18 months later he was diagnosed with MS
Credit: Cover Images
Adam, 47, began experiencing vomiting and
But his symptoms didn't subside and continued for weeks.
Unable to stand up without being sick and increasingly concerned, he decided it was time to seek medical help.
'I was starting to worry it was cancer as cancer is a thing that has taken half of my family,' Adam, from Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, said.
Read more on MS
'But no-one could give me an answer, no matter where I went. I went to the GP first and I was told 'it could be this, it could be that'.
'The only one I really remember is 'you might be heavily constipated'. When he said that, I couldn't believe it. I said to my wife Sharon 'we need to go somewhere else'.'
It took Adam 18 months to be diagnosed with
'When the doctor said to me, 'It sounds to me like multiple sclerosis,' I said, 'Thank God!'' Adam recalled.
Most read in Health
'And he said 'You do know what MS is?' And I said 'yeah, but it's not cancer.'
"We were at a different hospital and the minute we walked in there, it was as if somebody flicked a switch. From that moment on, life just got better. Regardless that I've got MS, at least I know what I'm dealing with.
Girl paralysed after giant critter feasted on her scalp
'I felt a big relief because I was thinking it was something that was going to kill me.'
Adam began to research the condition and decided to learn as much as he could.
In denial
MS is an often disabling disease that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
He admits for the first two to three years he was in denial and believed that his life didn't need to change.
For the first few years he had Relapsing Remitting MS (RRMS) and he had several disease-modifying drugs to help slow down the progression of the illness.
'Some worked and some didn't,' he said.
'Many of the treatments have side effects that make you feel even worse on top of already being ill.
'Now I have Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS), which means I have moved onto the
next
stage, unfortunately. But I take medication and hopefully this will slow down the progression.'
If I have to go to the kitchen, it might take me five minutes – but I'm OK with that
Adam Dawer
Adam had to give up his job as a graphic designer and accept a slower pace of life.
"If I have to go to the kitchen, it might take me five minutes – but I'm OK with that,' he said.
'The main thing is: I'm still alive, I'm still breathing, so all is good.
'My wife is now my full time carer and I'm extremely lucky that she helps me get out and about.
'I still drive on occasion, it's the only thing that makes me feel normal like everyone else but mostly Sharon does it now.'
Sharon helps Adam with all the practicalities of MS, such as preparing his scooter, wheelchair or rollator and sorting routes, finding out where is accessible or where might have dodgy pavements.
'She deals with all of that so I don't need to because I can't anymore,' Adam added.
'I wouldn't leave the house, the anxiety of all of that on top of being ill would be crippling.
'In short, she just lets me concentrate on the MS itself.'
'It's not a one-size-fits-all thing with MS'
More than 150,000 people in the UK live with MS and many of them are unable to leave their house without help.
According to research by The MS Trust, 94 per cent of patients said their condition has affected their mental
health
with 60 per cent experiencing low self esteem.
Half of MS patients report feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Adam wants people to be aware that MS can present very differently in each person.
'There's not a set pattern to it,' he said.
'There could be a guy with MS who runs marathons and there could be someone in a wheelchair. It's not a one-size-fits-all thing.'
5
Adam had to give up his job as a graphic designer and accept a slower pace of life
Credit: Cover Images
5
His wife Sharon is now his full time carer
Credit: Cover Images
5
Despite his diagnosis Adam is happy about life and makes sure he's still present for his five children
Credit: Cover Images
He is positive about his life and happy he's been able to be an active and present dad for his five children. 'When MS announced itself into my life, the youngest was five,' he said.
'I'm glad that my kids were of an age that my declining health wasn't going to impact them so much. They weren't going to grow up seeing dad be heavily disabled.
'I got to be a proper parent. I really didn't want MS to rob me of being a parent or to rob my kids of having a dad who was there.
'By the grace of God, it worked out and they're all doing their own things now. The youngest will be 20 this year. The oldest is in another country.
'I honestly haven't been happier and mentally clearer in my life. I just had this mental clarity one day: everything's going to be OK.
'It was like a massive weight came off me. I really can't explain it. It kind of is a spiritual experience - I think having MS has been like a superpower – for my mind, the way I think.
'Everyone's got problems. But when a problem comes up for me, I think, 'Is anybody going to die? No? Then there's no problem. We can fix it.''
What is multiple sclerosis (MS)?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex condition that affects the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord.
It's an autoimmune disease, meaning the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the protective coating (myelin) around nerve fibres.
This disrupts the flow of electrical signals and causes a range of symptoms that can vary wildly from person to person.
The good news? MS isn't a death sentence, and with advances in treatment, many people live full and active lives.
In the UK, over 130,000 people are living with MS, and around 7,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.
It's typically diagnosed in people in their 20s and 30s, with women three times more likely to develop it than men.
Despite its challenges, many with MS find strength and resilience they never thought possible.
Common symptoms of MS are:
Fatigue: Not your average tiredness—this is bone-deep exhaustion.
Vision problems: Blurred or double vision, or even temporary vision loss.
Numbness and tingling: Often in the face, arms, or legs.
Muscle weakness: Making everyday tasks feel like climbing a mountain.
Mobility issues: Trouble walking or balancing.
Cognitive difficulties: Memory lapses or a 'foggy' brain.
Spasms and stiffness: Muscles that just won't cooperate.
Bladder and bowel problems: A less glamorous but common challenge.
MS is unpredictable—you might have periods of remission where symptoms vanish, followed by flare-ups when they return.
This 'on-again, off-again' nature can be frustrating and means people can be in anticipation of a flare.
While there's no cure yet, treatments like disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), physiotherapy, and lifestyle changes can help manage symptoms and slow progression.
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The Irish Sun
16 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I went to bed feeling fine but woke up paralysed – doctors blamed it on constipation but the truth was horrifying
AS a parent with a full-time job and a busy social life playing football and seeing friends, Adam Dawer always had somewhere to be. But when he went to bed feeling perfectly well one night and woke up unable to stand, it was the start of a nightmare which would lead to a shattering diagnosis for the busy father of five. 5 Adam Dawer was a busy dad of five and always had somewhere to be Credit: Cover Images 5 Then his life turned upside down when he began experiencing vomiting and visual disturbances - 18 months later he was diagnosed with MS Credit: Cover Images Adam, 47, began experiencing vomiting and But his symptoms didn't subside and continued for weeks. Unable to stand up without being sick and increasingly concerned, he decided it was time to seek medical help. 'I was starting to worry it was cancer as cancer is a thing that has taken half of my family,' Adam, from Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, said. Read more on MS 'But no-one could give me an answer, no matter where I went. I went to the GP first and I was told 'it could be this, it could be that'. 'The only one I really remember is 'you might be heavily constipated'. When he said that, I couldn't believe it. I said to my wife Sharon 'we need to go somewhere else'.' It took Adam 18 months to be diagnosed with 'When the doctor said to me, 'It sounds to me like multiple sclerosis,' I said, 'Thank God!'' Adam recalled. Most read in Health 'And he said 'You do know what MS is?' And I said 'yeah, but it's not cancer.' "We were at a different hospital and the minute we walked in there, it was as if somebody flicked a switch. From that moment on, life just got better. Regardless that I've got MS, at least I know what I'm dealing with. Girl paralysed after giant critter feasted on her scalp 'I felt a big relief because I was thinking it was something that was going to kill me.' Adam began to research the condition and decided to learn as much as he could. In denial MS is an often disabling disease that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). He admits for the first two to three years he was in denial and believed that his life didn't need to change. For the first few years he had Relapsing Remitting MS (RRMS) and he had several disease-modifying drugs to help slow down the progression of the illness. 'Some worked and some didn't,' he said. 'Many of the treatments have side effects that make you feel even worse on top of already being ill. 'Now I have Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS), which means I have moved onto the next stage, unfortunately. But I take medication and hopefully this will slow down the progression.' If I have to go to the kitchen, it might take me five minutes – but I'm OK with that Adam Dawer Adam had to give up his job as a graphic designer and accept a slower pace of life. "If I have to go to the kitchen, it might take me five minutes – but I'm OK with that,' he said. 'The main thing is: I'm still alive, I'm still breathing, so all is good. 'My wife is now my full time carer and I'm extremely lucky that she helps me get out and about. 'I still drive on occasion, it's the only thing that makes me feel normal like everyone else but mostly Sharon does it now.' Sharon helps Adam with all the practicalities of MS, such as preparing his scooter, wheelchair or rollator and sorting routes, finding out where is accessible or where might have dodgy pavements. 'She deals with all of that so I don't need to because I can't anymore,' Adam added. 'I wouldn't leave the house, the anxiety of all of that on top of being ill would be crippling. 'In short, she just lets me concentrate on the MS itself.' 'It's not a one-size-fits-all thing with MS' More than 150,000 people in the UK live with MS and many of them are unable to leave their house without help. According to research by The MS Trust, 94 per cent of patients said their condition has affected their mental health with 60 per cent experiencing low self esteem. Half of MS patients report feelings of isolation and loneliness. Adam wants people to be aware that MS can present very differently in each person. 'There's not a set pattern to it,' he said. 'There could be a guy with MS who runs marathons and there could be someone in a wheelchair. It's not a one-size-fits-all thing.' 5 Adam had to give up his job as a graphic designer and accept a slower pace of life Credit: Cover Images 5 His wife Sharon is now his full time carer Credit: Cover Images 5 Despite his diagnosis Adam is happy about life and makes sure he's still present for his five children Credit: Cover Images He is positive about his life and happy he's been able to be an active and present dad for his five children. 'When MS announced itself into my life, the youngest was five,' he said. 'I'm glad that my kids were of an age that my declining health wasn't going to impact them so much. They weren't going to grow up seeing dad be heavily disabled. 'I got to be a proper parent. I really didn't want MS to rob me of being a parent or to rob my kids of having a dad who was there. 'By the grace of God, it worked out and they're all doing their own things now. The youngest will be 20 this year. The oldest is in another country. 'I honestly haven't been happier and mentally clearer in my life. I just had this mental clarity one day: everything's going to be OK. 'It was like a massive weight came off me. I really can't explain it. It kind of is a spiritual experience - I think having MS has been like a superpower – for my mind, the way I think. 'Everyone's got problems. But when a problem comes up for me, I think, 'Is anybody going to die? No? Then there's no problem. We can fix it.'' What is multiple sclerosis (MS)? Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex condition that affects the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. It's an autoimmune disease, meaning the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the protective coating (myelin) around nerve fibres. This disrupts the flow of electrical signals and causes a range of symptoms that can vary wildly from person to person. The good news? MS isn't a death sentence, and with advances in treatment, many people live full and active lives. In the UK, over 130,000 people are living with MS, and around 7,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. It's typically diagnosed in people in their 20s and 30s, with women three times more likely to develop it than men. Despite its challenges, many with MS find strength and resilience they never thought possible. Common symptoms of MS are: Fatigue: Not your average tiredness—this is bone-deep exhaustion. Vision problems: Blurred or double vision, or even temporary vision loss. Numbness and tingling: Often in the face, arms, or legs. Muscle weakness: Making everyday tasks feel like climbing a mountain. Mobility issues: Trouble walking or balancing. Cognitive difficulties: Memory lapses or a 'foggy' brain. Spasms and stiffness: Muscles that just won't cooperate. Bladder and bowel problems: A less glamorous but common challenge. MS is unpredictable—you might have periods of remission where symptoms vanish, followed by flare-ups when they return. This 'on-again, off-again' nature can be frustrating and means people can be in anticipation of a flare. While there's no cure yet, treatments like disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), physiotherapy, and lifestyle changes can help manage symptoms and slow progression.
The Irish Sun
12-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
I ignored eye issue while driving before being diagnosed with incurable disease – watch out for key signs
A WOMAN has told how she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis after noticing a strange symptom while driving. Affecting over 9,000 people in Ireland, the incurable disease is the most common disabling neurological disease among young Irish adults. 4 Marie Pickup is a 38-year-old mum who was diagnosed with MS last December Credit: Journalist Collect 4 The brave mum-of-two had symptoms for over a year before her diagnosis Credit: Journalist Collect 4 And she is now sharing her story with others on social media Credit: Journalist Collect Marie Pickup from The 38-year-old's journey began in October 2023, when she first noticed pain in her eye while The mum then visited the eye casualty unit where she was diagnosed with optic perineuritis, a rare inflammation around the optic nerve. Marie said: 'It all started in October 2023 - and it was just one of those things where when you're driving and you're looking behind you to go into another lane, I would notice that my eye was sore. READ MORE IN HEALTH 'I was just kind of ignoring it to be honest - I didn't have any reason to think it was anything major. 'It was actually my mum, who's a nurse, that said to go into eye casualty and just let them have a look at it, because it wasn't going away. 'They thought it was optic perineuritis, where you have a protective funnel that your optic nerve goes through becomes inflamed.' This led to Marie getting her first MRI scan, which revealed initial lesions on her brain. Most read in Health Treated with steroids to reduce the inflammation, the Multiple Sclerosis explained Over the following year, Marie underwent a series of tests, including lumbar punctures and blood samples sent to specialists in By October 2024, and over a year after her initial symptoms, her consultants were 97 percent certain she had MS. And this diagnosis was formally confirmed in December 2024. She said: 'At that point, you're like, am I hoping for MS, or am I hoping for whatever else they're testing for? 'By the time October last year came around, they were 97 percent sure - and then when my symptoms progressed between then and December it was a definite diagnosis as a lesion was now on my spine. 'At this point, my whole central nervous system was being affected.' When Marie first heard the words 'multiple sclerosis,' she admits it was overwhelming. Although she revealed she wasn't shocked with the diagnosis, there were moments of fear and uncertainty about what this meant for her future. At the same time, she felt slightly relieved because finally there was an explanation for the symptoms and the uncertainty around her Despite her fear, Marie decided to face her diagnosis with a positive mindset, refusing to let MS define her life or limit what her future entails. And she describes this attitude as essential in coping with the uncertainty and variability that MS brings. She added: 'I suppose, when he said it to me, it wasn't a surprise to be told I had it - at this point I had major symptoms and a 97 percent chance of having it. "Even though it's not a shock, it's just something it's very hard to get your head around, because MS is one of those things that obviously there's no cure for. 'The hardest thing to get my head around, was like, this is forever - and you know, there's no getting better. 'But now you hear people who are 70 and are doing great - you wouldn't even know they have it. It's a completely different diagnosis from 20 or 30 years ago because treatment has progressed so much." MS is known as a ' And Marie experiences this firsthand. Major warning signs of MS In May 2024, she began experiencing double vision while in December she had a major relapse where her left leg and arm went completely numb. Severely impacting her mobility, she needed a walking stick and began physiotherapy to regain some function. Fatigue remains one of Marie's most debilitating symptoms, as it does for up to 80 percent of MS patients. She also struggles with vision problems and cognitive symptoms like difficulty concentrating. Living with these symptoms has brought its challenges - causing her children to worry about her health, forcing her to leave her Still, Marie finds strength in her support system. Her husband Graeme, two sons and family have been a constant source of encouragement. And the mum-of-two has also connected with MS Ireland along with a childhood friend who lives with the illness. She said: 'My family are just absolutely wonderful - we've kind of been through a few things recently that aren't great, but we've just always been close. 'There's my husband Graeme, our two boys, my sisters, mum and dad - and we've always been a close family, but especially in these last few years. 'I can call them whenever I want, if there's anything going on I can call my parents or my sister and they would come - I know they would do it. 'I've also reached out to MS Ireland and through TikTok I've connected with an old childhood friend who also has MS - the support has been absolutely amazing.' Although she can't stress enough that she's no MS expert, Marie has recently made major lifestyle changes to try and gain back some control. WHAT IS MS? Multiple Sclerosis is a complex and often unpredictable In simple terms, it happens when the immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath - the protective coating around nerve fibers. This causes inflammation and damage that disrupt the messages the brain sends to the body, leading to a wide range of symptoms that can be overlooked. Statistics show it strikes Recent lifestyle changes Since May, she has adopted a vegan And she now talks openly about listening to her body, allowing herself to rest on difficult days and pacing herself to avoid burning out. One of Marie's biggest hurdles since her diagnosis has been discussing her MS publicly - and at first she feared stigma or being misunderstood. But she eventually turned to And this brave mum-of-two said she now hopes to use her platform to challenge common misconceptions about the illness. She added: "For the most part MS is a disability you can't see and if you know someone with it one day they could be absolutely fine and the next they're not. "A lot of people with MS suffer in silence and it is a very difficult thing to have. "Just because somebody looks okay doesn't necessarily mean that they are, and I suppose we all need to have a bit more empathy around that.' 4 The mum-of-two is refusing to let MS define her life or limit what her future entails Credit: Journalist Collect
Irish Daily Mirror
30-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
'I'm reclaiming my life' - Clare woman speaks of her experience on World MS Day
A Clare woman with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) says she is reclaiming her life after the shocking diagnosis left her in a dark space. Shirley Keane O'Brien, 46, was diagnosed with the chronic illness in 2021. She found it incredibly difficult to accept at first and didn't tell her children Evan, now 16, and Lauren, 18, until a year later. The mother-of-two felt this was the right thing to do, as she wanted to make sure she was in the right headspace to share the news. The diagnosis was particularly tough as the country was amid a strict Covid-19 lockdown. However, Shirley is in a much better and more positive space now and is an ambassador for MS Ireland. Speaking to the Irish Mirror about her diagnosis as today marks World MS Day, she said: "I wasn't the kind of person that showed a lot of vulnerability. I was a busy mother, a strong, independent woman, working full time. "It was a really difficult time, you kind of go into a depression. Depression in MS can manifest in extreme irritability, so I think that's kind of what I experienced. "The Covid-19 lockdown hit, and I found myself retreating into isolation. In a strange way getting space to process what was happening was good, but it was also one of the hardest times of my life." MS symptoms vary greatly from person to person. Common symptoms include fatigue, numbness, tingling, vision problems, muscle stiffness or spasms and cognitive difficulties. Around 9,000 to 10,000 people live with the condition in Ireland, as the disease's onset usually occurs between the ages of 20 and 40. It affects the central nervous system, particularly the brain and spinal cord, and there is no cure. MS is also an autoimmune disorder, where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissues. Shirley said she also felt very ashamed when she was diagnosed with MS, a feeling she doesn't think is spoken about enough when it comes to the chronic illness. She added: "It's like the seven stages of grief, there's denial and one of the main emotions that I felt was shame. I felt a lot of shame." This couldn't be further from the truth now for the mother-of-two, who advocates for the community and wants others living with MS to know that there is life after diagnosis. She continued: "I decided I was going to take back control of my life. At the end of 2022, I started some counselling, I was kind of stuck within the same room as the MS diagnosis. I was struggling to sort of move forward and figure out my next move. "That acceptance phase is the biggest hurdle, it's far more than just accepting it emotionally or personally, you really have to put in the work. I stopped fighting with the tools that would help me, and I made peace with everything, including the use of the walker, crutch, and even the wheelchair when needed." The mother-of-two said she is extremely lucky to have made peace with her diagnosis, as some people never get through it. She added: "I'm extremely fortunate because that is not something that comes naturally or easy to people at all. "I think you get to a point after MS diagnosis where you're at a bit of a crossroads and it's very difficult for people to get back control of their lives. So I am very fortunate that I've been able to do that." Shirley is the first guest of MS Ireland's new podcast Living with MS, which was launched today. It aims to give a voice to the Irish MS community to share their stories from diagnosis to today.
