Louise Herbert flew more than 8,000 miles in January for a risky procedure to slow her MS and says its the best thing shes ever done.

The 41-year-old mum, originally from Shetland, had been a keen runner and netball player before she was diagnosed with the condition at 26.

It caused her immune system to attack itself, at times leaving her so exhausted she could barely spend time with her nine-year-old daughter.

At the start of the year Louisetravelled from her home in Newmachar, Aberdeenshire to Puebla, Mexico for 47,000 haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Some patients find it does more harm than good causing hair loss, nausea and even infertility and around 3% die from the treatment.

But Louise felt it was a risk worth taking.

During the treatment, doctors took stem cells from Louises bone marrow.

Then used intense chemotherapy to wipe out her immune system, before reintroducing the cells to try and reset her body.

Although Louise did suffer excruciating back pain during her treatment, shes relieved she dodged many of the other side effects.

To be honest, I think I was really lucky because the chemotherapy never made me feel sick, I never felt nauseous or lost my appetite, she explained.

The only thing that really bothered me was these injections we got every morning and every night for a week.

I got horrendous back pain one night, it was so bad I pressed the SOS button on the phones we had to speak to a doctor, she recalled.

Though the back pain was an unpleasant experience, from a medical point of view it was actually a positive.

She said: It was showing there was plenty of stem cells there and they were ready to come out, I think they came out two days later.

One effect of the chemo was that Louises hair fell out but its started to grow back with wild and frizzy curls.

I dont think Ill grow it much beyond my chin, she added.

Though its still too early to be certain, Louise believes there have already been some encouraging signs.

She said: Its still early days, they say its 12 to 18 months before any improvements are seen. Im at seven-and-a-half.

I dont think I can walk any further than before, but I have a bit more confidence in my walking.

I went on the same walk seven times last week, I used to come home and the first thing I wanted to do was sit down in the chair, I wasnt like that last week.

Tasks such as putting on trousers also seems to be less strenuous for Louise than before.

She explained: It was a case I had to lift my left leg up because it couldnt lift itself, its been like that for about five years.

But for the past week Ive noticed I could lift it myself, Ive been going to Pilates which should help improve my balance.

I dont know if its that or the HSCT, but somethings done it.

Im not saying I can lift my leg every day, but if I can do it even three out of seven, thats great.

Upon reflection, Newmachar mum Louise is happy she made the decision to travel to Mexico for this MS treatment.

Im so glad I did it, its the best thing I ever did, youve got to try, she added.

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'Best thing I ever did': Newmachar mum showing promising signs after 47000 MS treatment in Mexico - The Press & Journal