This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Knowledge & Support Community

Hi there!

So background to all of this is that I'm 22 and I live about 5 hours away from my hometown. Although my parents and I are close we've been having a bit of a family emergency for about 9 months now. My father has been having chronic vomitting spells being in and out of hospital in limbo with a diagnosis. He's lost about 50lbs and is unable to keep many things down being on a feeding tube and morphine for quite a long time. Having this much stress going on I'm finding it hard to let my parents know what's entirely going on. He's recently been admitted back into hospital after his 8th feeding tube surgery and now having to go see a neurologist I don't know how to break the news that they think it's MS.

I was actually back in my hometown when I went to see the Ophthalmologist for my Optic Neuritis diagnosis so they were aware about that and the fact that they were doing MRI's to find the cause. It's now just getting to the whole "hey they're pretty sure I have a neurological condition" bit. My little sister is diagnosed with a learning disability and various developmental delays and without all this going on my parents, especially my dad had a really hard time accepting it. I know this is just going to crush them so I'm a touch apprehensive. Should I maybe wait until after I see the neuro to bring it up?

Thanks for any advise or suggestions!

Kait

That's a really hard situation you found yourself in. In general I think that if you feel the situation is already too intense and the diagnosis is still unsure you should wait with droping the bomb. However discussing various options with your family may help. This is a very complicated issue. If you have the time you might want to make a one time apointment with a guidance counselor or psychologists. A specialist can help you weigh the pros and cons and help you reach an appropriate decision.

I battled for a long time with telling my parents. But it will obviously have to happen one day if you do get diagnosed.

You will know when the right time comes to tell them, trust me.