Real Life Scandi style

Before I developed multiple sclerosis (MS) I was living in Scotland, where I was born in 1950. I married a Norwegian, had two children and then we moved to Norway in 1984.

Joan Due-Gundersen reports on living her life with MS in Norway

I live in the capital Oslo, which has a population of around 5.5 million people.

Six years later, I found myself struggling through the shock of a divorce and having to live in another country as a single mum. I believe the stress of all of this contributed to the development of my condition, the symptoms of which I started to experience about 10 years later.

My first signs were heavy legs, foot drop and general physical weakness. I put it down to a lack of strength and signed up with a personal trainer at the local gym. Two years later I felt worse and I went on to get a primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) diagnosis in 2007. Three or four years Iater I had to leave my job as a training and development manager and started receiving a pension you get here for leaving work because of accidents or chronic illness.

MS in Norway

Because I have PPMS, there aren’t any drugs available for my condition (although this is different if you’re younger and have active MS), but I take Fampyra which speeds up the nerve signals and slightly enhances walking speed – I walk with a rollator. I see my neurologist twice a year and she prescribes Fampyra.

Living here, I get free physiotherapy as often as I like. This also includes treatment when I’m holidaying abroad as long as the physio is Norwegian.

Any transport necessitated by my illness, such as to the GP, neurologist, for physiotherapy, and so on, is free.

I get 150 low-priced trips in a taxi or adapted van with a ramp. I can take another person with me. This helps stop isolation. On Monday, for example, we’re going to IKEA (30 mins away) for the day. This also serves as an airport taxi.

We have three over/ underground transport systems here – buses, trams and a metro. I have to pay for these but they’re all well adapted for disabled people so I drive right on.

I have a carer who visits me for eight hours a week. I do pay for this, but at a reduced price. She does housework for four hours a week and is a social companion for the other four.

Any health services (such as consultations, transport to appointments, and prescription medicines) are free after an initial

£350. This includes consultations like ear, nose and throat and eye specialists, but not dentistry.

The state provides us with mobility aids, cars or vans, and house improvements like staircase lifts free, but there are strict eligibility rules.

Neurologists also aren’t too difficult to get hold of providing you live a populated area.

It seems like there are many similarities between the UK and Norway as far as MS care goes. One important difference is that we have no monthly disability payments. Everything is provided for us instead but we can’t choose what to spend the money on.

So I get out and about a lot here, and I have a friend the same age as me who also has PPMS – she’s in west Norway in Alesund, and is the same age as me. I know some members of the Oslo MS Society to say hello to – it’s quite an active society here, but I don’t attend. Through MS-UK’s online activities, I met a friend in the UK who I meet fortnightly on Zoom for a chat.

Plus many more…

Did you know MS-UK’s online activities include a Peer Support Service? Meet new friends online by joining one of our Peer Pods and connect with others living with MS. Visit ms-uk.org/peer-support-service-2/