A graduate who grew up in Fochabers yesterday described the battle she had after being diagnosed with Lupus towards the end of her degree course.
Christianne Laing, 49, discovered she had the disease about a year before she finished her PhD after struggling with ill health throughout her studies.
She said: “I hadn’t realised what it was, but I had not felt well. Finally I got diagnosed, and it took me a little bit longer to get finished.
“I was in quite a bit of pain and, on some days, I just couldn’t get up, but now I have it under control with medication.”
Ms Laing explained the Lupus affected her joints “quite badly” and she has to take strong medication which helps her immune system.
She added: “I have to remember that I’m not as fit as I was before.
“I’m doing some work with the health psychology department at Forresterhill and am also doing some work with the weight management service, but I’m ultimately looking forward to doing some research.”
Writing her paper on ‘Emotional skills and quality of life in Multiple Sclerosis’ whilst suffering her own symptoms gave Ms Laing an added insight into the disease, which she said made her feel “very humbled”.
She said: “There are a lot of similarities between MS and Lupus – when I was talking with people, it really did resonate with me, what they were going through.
“I feel so grateful to these people and the MS society who funded my work.”
Ms Laing moved to Fochabers when she was just four, but now lives in the Aberdeen area.
Having started her first degree in Psychology when in her thirties, she has since gone on to gain a Masters and now a PhD whilst also bringing up her daughter Kirsten, who is 14.
Yesterday, the latter said she was “very, very proud” of her mum, who she now regards as an “inspiration”.
