The process of becoming ill for the bearer of Multiple Sclerosis: perceptions and life experiences as from the report of two clinical cases

Abstract

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is considered the main chronic inflammatory neurological illness in the group of the demyelinating diseases. It is characterized by repetitive episodes of neurological dysfunction with variable remission. This study aimed at understanding the perceptions and life experiences of the MS bearers, showing this disease under the point of view of those that suffer and their subjective representations of the illness. It was a qualitative study based on the phenomenology. The research was held with two women bearers of Multiple Sclerosis, in different phases of the disease: one with nineteen years of sickness and other with a year. As a methodological resource, the semi-structured interview was used in order to configure the dialogical field between the investigation pairs. The results found by means of the data analyses were synthesized in an interpretative model, in which the signification units were arranged in three great central themes: the representation of the disease, the suffering for being a disease bearer and the social environment. It is concluded that it is very important for health professionals to know about the clinical aspects concerning the Multiple Sclerosis. Among the most relevant findings, it was possible to emphasize the lack of hope in the MS terminal patient when facing so many doubts involving the disease.