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By John James
A multiple sclerosis sufferer whose symptoms mean she is sometimes mistaken for being drunk has spoken out about the realities of living with an often misunderstood disease.
Tabitha Castle, 39, who was diagnosed with MS aged 19, says she regularly encounters unsolicited opinions from misinformed strangers.
MS is a complex condition that can be hard to spot.
Symptoms can include difficulties walking, vision impairment, severe fatigue, muscle contractions and speech problems.
Tabitha, who lives in South Tankerton with husband Phil, 41, and sons Lewis, 17, and 13-year-old Rayfe, has regular periods of extreme fatigue which affect her range of movement.
She has a blue disabled badge for her car as a result - a necessary aid that can cause confusion from passers-by.
She explains: “Sometimes I get a bit of hassle from people who see me park in disabled bays at supermarkets.
“They come and tell me there’s nothing wrong with me. They see my make up and assume I’m fine.
"They don’t see the scars on my brain. They don’t see the damage.”
She continues: “I’m used to people saying I'm 'drunk' or 'putting it on' but they don't know me.”
It is a problem, she argues, that could easily be solved with more education on the symptoms of MS.
She adds: “My son Lewis described it best by telling his school friends: ‘My Mum has scars on her brain that stop the messages getting to her legs or body to work properly’.”
When she was diagnosed 20 years ago, Tabitha suffered stroke-like symptoms that robbed her of the use of the right side of her body.
She was forced to retire from her job as a retail manager aged 27.
It has undoubtedly changed her life, but she tries not to let it restrict her.
"I'm used to people saying I'm drunk or putting it on" - Tabitha Castle
Next month, she will skydive from 12,000ft with her friend Anne-Marie Bundock to raise money for the Kent MS Therapy Centre in Canterbury.
She says: “I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie but having MS can sometimes hold me back. I’m very excited for the skydive because I’ll definitely be able to do it.”
The centre is a self-funded charity that provides therapies and support clinics to help people suffering from the incurable disease have the best possible quality of life.
Tabitha and Ann-Marie met at the centre and have sparked up a close friendship, culminating in their mutual fundraising campaign.
As MS is incurable and its effects - though variable in each case - are ultimately debilitating, many sufferers experience mental health problems brought about by the stress and uncertainty of their condition.
Tabitha says the social aspect of the Kent centre, where fellow sufferers can interact and learn different ways to deal with their condition, has been integral in maintaining her positive outlook.
Her attitude translates into her life philosophy, which is: “Look after your health, listen to your body and try to do one thing you enjoy a day.”
