MS Awareness week 2024 – Why Anji carries a spare of kinckers

Anji has struggled with bladder and bowel issues since being diagnosed with MS

I have multiple sclerosis (MS) and one of the things I’ve been embarrassed about in the past is that I have bladder and bowel problems. I have had accidents in public before, and it is embarrassing.

One time in particular, my wife and I were on our way to the airport to go off on holiday, and I needed the toilet.  I thought I was going to be OK to hold on until we got to the next service station, or even the airport. Sadly, my bowels failed me. We had to pull over and my wife had to assist me on the side of the motorway, in a safe place. I was just grateful she was there, and that it was dark.

I also remember when I was working daily in London and really had to go to the loo. Sadly, the building wasn’t as accessible as one would like and there wasn’t a toilet on the floor I was working on. So, the journey to get to the bathroom was too long and I ended up wetting myself. Safe to say from then on, I’ve learned to carry a spare pair of knickers as you never know when you might need them. I was just grateful the bathroom had a hand drier and was able to sort myself out.