PERRYSBURG, Ohio — Receiving a diagnosis like multiple sclerosis can be life changing and isolating, which is why a Mercy Health doctor and MS specialist is forming the organization's first-ever MS support group.
Group meetings will be held the first Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the Mercy Health Perrysburg campus, beginning Feb. 6. The meetings are open to patients, their families and caregivers.
Each meeting will feature different guest speakers and topics. At the first meeting, the group's creator - Dr. Anna Brite - will serve as the first guest speaker and discuss what MS is.
Brite said she formed the group to give those living with MS a place to share their stories and uplift one another. Although there are 400,000 cases of MS in the United States, Brite said many of her patients still feel like they are alone on their journey.
"I actually had a patient who said she didn't know anyone with MS, and she felt alone, which I thought was terrible because there are a lot of people with MS," Brite said. "It's very common - it's about one in 350 people, so I decided to form a support group to help my patients and also provide education."
Right now, they are expecting at least 20 people. There is no cost to attend the meeting and registration is not required.
According to Brite, MS is a neurological condition that affects the central nervous system, the brain and the spinal cord. MS occurs when the body's immune system attacks and damages myelin. Myelin is a protective sheath that surrounds the body's nerve fibers. As the disease progresses, the nerves may also deteriorate. Symptoms vary and there are many ranges within the condition; moreover, not all experiences with MS are identical.
While there isn’t a cure, treatment options can help you manage symptoms and slow disease progression.
For more information on the group meeting, visit the Mercy Health website or call 419-619-8250.
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