A nurse says she feels robbed of her future after being given the devastating diagnosis that she has multiple sclerosis. Amy Rimes, 41, is a mental health nurse and says she was expecting to work in the profession she loves for another 20 years.

But that has all been taken from her her after being sold she has the brain and nerves condition MS. Amy was diagnosed in November 2021 after experiencing numbness, balance issues and loss of vision.

She said it started with a few minor things, but the symptoms got worse. The nurse said she first noticed the symptoms in her back, with one area "feeling different".

TOP STORY: Garden centre worker 'sacked in row over pink hair'

Amy said: "It was last year in April when I noticed my first symptom. I just noticed a small area on my back that was not the same as it was everywhere else.

"It's quite hard to describe - it just felt different.

"I went to see the GP, who referred me to neurologist. There were a few other things - I was a little bit more clumsy, I was more tired and was getting pins and needles.

"The neurologist gave a few options and placed an examining pin across my back. I noticed that feeling was across only about 70 per cent of my back. It really worried me."

Following a raft of tests, Amy was given the devastating diagnosis later that year. The Cheddleton resident said: "They were giving me a lot of blood tests. Following an MRI scan, we were waiting weeks.

"Things weren't getting any better. By September I was feeling dizzy and seasick.

"I had to go into A&E and they thought I had MS. Following a CT scan, they told me.

"That came as quite a shock. You get all these awful worries about the future. They gave me some steroids.

"I was very scared about my 15-year-old daughter Lilly. I was also worried I couldn't be a nurse. It was such a part of my identity.

"I've been a nurse since I was 21 and I do feel the diagnosis has cost me a future. What I'd planned I've had to give up. I am no longer able to do what I wanted to."

Amy has spoken about the day-to-day impact MS has had on her life. She has issues with mobility and brain function.

She said: "I struggle with fatigue and mobility issues. But the main thing MS has affected is my cognition.

"I get confusion and brain fog. Sometimes I even forget basic everyday things like how to cook.

"My symptoms fluctuate a lot. Sometimes I’m really together and totally independent, but then I might forget the details of a consultation.

"I’m a mental health nurse in a male prison, but have been off sick since September and it's looking increasingly likely I’ll have to retire early. I couldn't safely make life-or-death decisions anymore and couldn't live with failing a patient.

Amy Rimes and Tim together
Amy Rimes and Tim together

"It's difficult because my daughter, Lilly, was so proud of me. She wanted to be a nurse. I thought I’d have another 20 years of nursing.

"I feel robbed of my future in many ways. I’m worried about finances. Medical retirement is not the same as having a wage coming in."

However, support from her husband, Tim, is proving invaluable and she keeps herself occupied at her nearby football club, Leek Town. She said: "Yeah - I'm scared of what the future is going to look like in some respects, but I have such a wonderful support network.

"Tim is brilliant and my family are a great support. I just want to be safe and happy.

"I feel like I have to be a bit more prepared for the unexpected. I put reminder notes for stuff everywhere.

"We love Leek Town FC; I feel safe there. I didn't know what MS was but they have been so supportive and I don't feel judged. Leek Town have such a diverse group and are so good for accessibility."

What is multiple sclerosis?

The NHS website said MS is a condition that can affect the brain and spinal cord, causing a wide range of potential symptoms, including problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance. It's a lifelong condition that can sometimes cause serious disability, although it can occasionally be mild.

In many cases, it's possible to treat symptoms. Average life expectancy is slightly reduced for people with MS. It's most commonly diagnosed in people in their 20s, 30s and 40s although it can develop at any age. It's about two to three times more common in women than men.


READ MORE: Schoolboy with cerebral palsy who dreams of running around the playground like other children

READ MORE: Houses full of bedsits in same Burton street could take more even tenants