'Despite everything, I'm very glad I'm alive'

Nigel Kenny trained in medicine and began to show symptoms of multiple sclerosis when he was 30. He is now a resident in the Royal Hospital Donnybrook where he puts his training to good use. He spoke to SYLVIA THOMPSON

I FIRST experienced the symptoms of multiple sclerosis when I was 30. At the time, I was working in obstetrics and gynaecology in Whythenshawe hospital in Manchester.

The first symptoms I had were poor vision and numbness in my back. I continued working as usual.

I came back to Dublin in 1983 and got a job in the paediatrics department of Temple Street Children’s Hospital. Despite the aforementioned symptoms, I was still able to work in this environment.

In fact, I only got an official diagnosis of MS in 1985. I was devastated. Soon after, I was advised to move into psychiatry as it was deemed to be a less stressful area of work.

I got a job in Newcastle Hospital and worked there between 1985 and 1990. My symptoms didn’t get any worse during this time.

From about 1990 onwards, my health declined rapidly. I could no longer walk unaided. My speech deteriorated and I couldn’t write. I had to give up work.

We built an extension on to our house in Sandymount and I spent most of my time there with my wife and our two sons who were young children at the time.

My health continued to get worse and I was drinking a lot. To be honest, I was an alcoholic since I was in my 20s. At that time, I would drink up to 20 pints of beer a day.

The combination of having multiple sclerosis and drinking too much pushed me over the edge. I became so distraught that I took an overdose of barbiturates in 1996.

I was rushed to St Vincent’s Hospital and spent three days there in recovery. I haven’t drunk any alcohol since that time.

My deteriorating health was very difficult for my wife. I continued to live in the family home until 2002 although I was spending more and more time at St Vincent’s Hospital for physiotherapy.

In 2002, I was given a bed in the Royal Hospital in Donnybrook where I am still. If it wasn’t for the staff here, I’d be dead.

Over the past few years, I have begun to share my medical knowledge with the medical students in the hospital.

Every two weeks, I participate in a tutorial with Dr Barbara Smyth. In the tutorial, we explain to them the importance of avoiding stress and especially avoiding alcohol and smoking as a way of dealing with stress.

I also emphasise how important it is not to self-medicate. I believe I got MS because of the stressful way I lived my life.

In the tutorial, we also advise the students to talk to the nurses about the patients, to study medications very carefully and to maintain their sense of humour. Knowing the patient’s life history is crucial to understanding their illness.

My experience of living in the Royal Hospital in Donnybrook has generally been very good. The quality of the care means that people like me can live longer.

There are programmes that I participate in on a weekly basis which keep me active. I get daily physiotherapy for my lower limbs when I am feeling well. This is very beneficial.

I make an effort to keep up with current affairs by watching television and listening to the radio. I don’t participate in group activities in the hospital.

Although I have great difficulty speaking, I enjoy the company of people who come to visit me.

My family is very important to me and I like to see them as much as possible. I am particularly close to my younger son, Mark, who visits frequently.

Despite everything, I’m very glad that I am alive. I don’t consider myself to be a spiritual person but I do believe that I will enjoy a better life after this one. I think researchers will find a cure for multiple sclerosis soon.