Group Meetings

[gracy225]

Hello! I'm wondering if anyone attends group meetings for MS. It's been suggested to me a few times and to be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about it. Anyone have an opinion? xgracy

[AriSmyelin]

Hey doll, I can not give a full opinion as I have not attended. However, what I can say is that I have talked to my husband and others since I was diagnosed about it (11 yrs) and opinion has never changed. " If you feel you should than it's a good idea because no matter how much you try to describe what you are feeling I can only sympathize not empathize. No matter how hard I try and want to understand. I can only be there." But I could never bring myself to do so. I never felt truly alone. But yes there was a small part of me that felt alone because I didn't know anyone else with MS. And I am the Pioneer in my family. Nobody understood it. Until the MS walks. I never felt so loved, supported and understood. I can walk all day I am so excited. I tried a few chat sites through the years but...Meh. Didn't help... Then I found this site. I love it. I love the people. There are days I go without checking and new people come in asking what its like and to see other reply with how amazing it is here is just a reminder to me again how supportive the people here are. There's a little bit of everything. The best part: I don't have to commit to going somewhere every week when I feel worn out or worried about my immunity.....Again this was my opinion but I hoped this helped a little bit.

[gracy225 in reply to AriSmyelin]

Thank you for responding! xgracy

[AriSmyelin in reply to gracy225]

Anytime....Unless you tell me to shut the heck up. I can do that too.😜

[gracy225 in reply to AriSmyelin]

Never! You make me laugh!

[AriSmyelin in reply to gracy225]

Lol. Oh good! Happy someone thinks I am funny. Most likely instead of actually being funny I probably did something unintentionally because of MS like going smack face into a wall for the 10th time despite the fact that there are big bold posters there to warn me. Regardless, I would still go forth to have a face to face meeting with that very wall with what felt like another 900 times that month. 🙄 Last time I was that close to a poster that much was as a young kid trying to make out with the Backstreet Boys or Jack from the Titanic.

[greaterexp]

If there is such a thing near you, it couldn't hurt to check it out. When I was diagnosed, I looked for a group near me, but there didn't seem to be much activity.

This group has been my support group, and it offers a lot of information. I worried that an in-person group might just be a gripe session or be too negative. I can take in as much or as little information while online and don't have to commit to any time schedule.

Everyone is different, so you may find a local group suits you well. Let us know what you discover.

[2468642]

I think group meetings are great! I ran a group several years ago and hadn’t attended much recently and then started going with a zoom conference associated with my neurologist. It’s great but I was in courage to start my own zoom conference for MS patients and just started it a few weeks ago and we have our meeting Monday is at 10 AM and everyone seems to love it it’s a small group it’s starting to grow a little bit. People that are newly diagnosed have trouble in the beginning dealing with the diagnosis and dealing with symptoms and battling the disease itself. Once they join a group and find out they’re not alone and that others have some idea of what they’re going through and possibly suggestions and of course lots and lots of laughter to battle of those tears, they find the groups help. Hope you find a group to join they don’t replace a good support system or your own tenacity but they’re great to be a part of.

Hope my response helps and keep on fighting!

[twooldcrows]

i use to go all the time but haven't for a long time i need to recheck them out for i have left for it wasn't for us to talk about living it with each other ...they had a new person in charge and she just wanted speakers all the time ...didn't enjoy that ...

[eharoot]

I have attended mtgs. very supportive am thankful to have them

[Mollyabigail]

Wouldn't that be nice? No one "really" understands until they have it. Unfortunately, there are no support groups in my rural corner of the world.

[bxrmom]

I have not attended any meetings as there have never been any near where I lived. When my old ms yahoo groups started to really slow down thanks to Facebook, that is when I found this group one day. I love it here!

[mrsmike9]

I went to one and will not return. I felt like I was at an AA meeting. Hi, I'm---- and I've had MS since ----. Everyone, Hi, ------! Ick.

[gracy225 in reply to mrsmike9]

You make a valid point. I think the reason I'm reluctant is seeing others so much worse than me. What does that say about me though? I feel like I'm being shallow.

[mrsmike9 in reply to gracy225]

I get it. Even people on this site are so much worse than I that I almost feel like a cheat or something. I have it but, so far (knock wood) I only have smaller things that I can deal with. Is this another version of survivor guilt???

[falalalala]

I never have.

I like the online groups best as I can come & go as I please and don't get lost trying to find them.

😅

They might be good though, idk.

[lexsarset]

I have, an still do virtually once a month. It is so helpful. We share a lot : information on MD’s treatments, etc. we have had guest speakers ; and our leader is so helpful and informative. It is good to communicate with someone who knows what you are going through. We are a diverse group of men, women, etc. It really helped during the inception of the pandemic.

[Kenu]

You should check it out if available. I attended ms meeting for couple years and then they got me to do it for the next 5. They were at our local hospital 🏥 and I tried to have different speakers every month. Normally had 20-30 people and was quite good. Was a large variety of different disability levels there and you have to prepare for that and remember everyone is different. So if available give it a shot👍🏼🙏😉🐾🐾