A woman who feels like a “prisoner” in her own home has revealed her heartbreaking battle as there’s no cure.
When Charlotte Wright started randomly having seizures while she slept, she was “horrified”.
The now 31-year-old feared the worst and so, to ease her concerns, sought out medical advice from her local doctors.
Initially, though, they blamed it on panic attacks and the student was given medication for anxiety.
In her gut, she knew something much worse was at play – and this was confirmed when she was rushed to hospital after suffering a “baby stroke”.
Now, she’s only able to get out of the house once a week.
“I never thought I’d think that life isn’t worth living,” Charlotte, from Bolton, told Need To Know.
“But I only manage to get out of the house once a week to go to the supermarket.
“I feel like a prisoner in my own home.
“I feel terribly lonely when my husband is at work.
“Most people take going out for granted, but I need to plan it carefully.
“Sometimes, the effort is just too much.”
Charlotte used to put the aforementioned prescribed medication slips “in the bin”.
After a year of back and forth appointments, and constant seizures, her mum looked up her symptoms, including vertigo, brain fog and a loss of sensation in her face, on an NHS checker.
It came back with positives for an ischemic attack; or a baby stroke.
Rushed to hospital, a neurologist referred her for an MRI which came back with worrying results.
After multiple tests, Charlotte was diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.
It’s the most common type, affecting 85% of people with the disease, though it’s resulted in each day being a constant battle.
Now, Charlotte is working closely with charity MS Trust in a bid to raise awareness of the condition – and hopefully make a difference.
Uneven pavements, people parking on pavements and a lack of accessible public transport makes it virtually “impossible” for her – and many others with the condition – to go out.
Charlotte now relies on a wheelchair as her legs no longer work “properly” and has found that because of increasing potholes, her arms get very tired when using a manual one.
She’s had to fork out £639 for an electrical version.
She added: “I remember not really being able to go out by myself and sitting on the back doorstep just crying.
“I think people need to be aware of the heartache that is caused by MS.
“Sometimes, I don’t have the energy to speak.
“It gets me down.
“I think about how my husband doesn’t deserve this headache.
“It’s an everyday battle that can’t be cured.”
