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Gem ✨Living Chronically Well

@gemssidequests

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A physio sharing the invisible🌻🧡
Multiple Sclerosis, Hobbies, Wellness
The life I intend to live 🧠✨
💌 @physiogems 📍 Naarm Melb 🇦🇺

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Over 72 hours my life changed. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and these are the events that unfolded.

THE SIGNS: 🪧 On 1/5/26 I noticed my eyes were extremely sensitive. Over the weekend I continued to work and my vision continued to change, worsen. Computer screens became blurry to the point I could no longer read text with my left eye. Once I finished work I went to a glasses shop and had a vision exam where the orthoptist noted my eye was healthy despite losing my vision. 🚩 This suggested something more sinister was going on, however they were quite casual with the handover.

THE NEXT DAY: ✈️ I flew back to Melbourne to prepare for the work week. I arrived at my office, sat at my desk, and could not see the computer screen. I was in denial, I was so scared of what my vision loss could mean for me and my family. I called an opthomologist and had them review my orthoptist report, they said I needed to get to an emergency department immediately. Scared to find out what was going on, I continued to work for 2 hours finishing what tasks I could before taking myself to the emergency department.

IN ED: 🚨 I was seen relatively quickly. They repeated my eye exams and seconded the findings of a healthy eye despite my loss of vision. You can see the results of my field of vision test in this video, the black squares marking the areas I could not detect light. My optic nerve also began to show signs of deep inflammation. At this stage I was in ED for approximately 12 hours before I was sent to another hospital for an emergency brain MRI. 🏥

MRI: 🧠 The brain MRI required contrast dye that was injected into my arm to highlight inflammation and activity within my brain. 12 hours after the brain MRI (the next morning) I received a call to return to the hospital for my results and treatment.

THE DIAGNOSIS: 📰 Sat in an ED patient room the doctor said my MRI showed multiple lesions, including active lesions, consistent with Multiple Sclerosis. What came next was immediate steroid IV infusions to reduce inflammation quickly to save my optic nerve and vision.

More to come. #multiplesclerosis #msdiagnosis #ms #autoimmunedisease #newdiagnosi taken in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia by @gemssidequests

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5 days ago

Here is a free guide for hand strengthening exercises!

Since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in May 2026 I’ve had a loss of strength, coordination and sensation in my left hand and arm.

As a result I’ve been fortunate enough to start hand therapy to regain my functional skills including food preparation, trying shoe laces, brushing my hair, opening doors, doing up a necklace and being able to return to work as a physiotherapist and researcher.

To do these exercises you can purchase some “theraputty” of various strengths from an online store, or if you are unable to afford this you could make your own putty using an online recipe.

Once you have your putty you can work your way through the various exercises provided here. These exercises were given to me by a community rehab program.

As a physio I am happy to answer any questions you may have about these.

As always, remember to pace yourself! 🔋

Have rest breaks. 🪑

Plan your day so that you monitor your energy. 🪫

#ms #multiplesclerosis #msrehab #handstrengthening #msstrong taken in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia by @gemssidequests

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a day ago

When I am feeling frustrated, upset, confused, agitated, exhausted, hopeless or lost… I turn to nature. 🍃

For you time with nature may look like a short walk, a coffee outdoors, opening a window for fresh air, buying a new plant, a few minutes in the sun, or simply looking up to the sky. ☀️

In the early months of Multiple Sclerosis or any new diagnosis there are feelings of grief, fear and hopelessness. There are many decisions and symptoms that are out of your control and it can be very challenging to navigate these. I often feel as though my body is fighting against me. However I have found I almost always feel better after time in nature. 🌸

I encourage you, in the early days and throughout your journey whether it be with MS or something different. Make time for nature. 🌻

#ms #multiplesclerosis #multiplesclerosisawareness #autoimmunedisease #msselfcare taken in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia by @gemssidequests

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4 days ago

Newly diagnosed with MS?! 🧡 WELCOME 🌻✨
Here are some things I’d recommend to add to your bag!!

🏷️ The MS Plus identification card. This *free* card can be used to give to others if you are uncomfortable or unable to voice your symptoms/diagnosis when requiring help. @wearemsplus

📕 The Navigating MS Together *free* interactive guide is a helpful companion to navigating a new MS diagnosis. This guide is available online for anyone in the world to access. @mstogetherofficial

🌻 The hidden disabilities lanyard is my favourite item. This lanyard can be worn on display in any public setting and identifies that you have a hidden disability. This lanyard supports you to ask for help without needing to explain or justify yourself. @sunflowerlanyardscheme

📱 A fully charged phone is the key to managing your fatigue including scheduling your time and appointments, arranging transport support, and ordering food delivery services.

🪭 A rechargeable fan is the best for managing heat sensitivity. I have one fan that doubles as a portable charger, and another that can hang around your neck for hands free cooling. Both are awesome for if I accidentally over exert myself or enter a warm environment.

What else have you found helpful? 🧡🌻💌

#ms #multiplesclerosis #msdiagnosis #multiplesclerosissupport #newdiagnosis taken in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia by @gemssidequests

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4 days ago

Self care post to say that I see you, I see that you may be going through something hard right now and you may not be in the headspace to listen to my story and that is ok.

Please be kind and considerate of your headspace and your emotions. Be respectful to others, their emotions and their processing times.

This page has been created to be my safe space and an outlet for both the good and the hard times ahead. Welcome to my story, my page and my safe space.

Love and compassion always, Gem 💎 🌸☀️🍃💌 taken in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia by @gemssidequests

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5 days ago

Managing spring hayfever each morning when I wake is so annoying because it means I’m constantly trying to clean the house whilst my energy is running low.

This is also my first spring being immunocompromised so it is hitting my body a little harder than usual. taken in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia by @gemssidequests

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8 days ago

Navigating new symptoms, or still seeking diagnosis and testing for ones you already have?
These are the things I kept in my bag prior to receiving my diagnosis. 💌

Is this what your bag looked like pre diagnosis?

💧 Hydration
👓 Reading glasses for fluctuating vision
💊 Medication to manage symptoms, for me hayfever medication and pain relief tablets were a non-negotiable
🦠 A mask for moments when public germs were too disgusting for me to handle
🔇 Noise cancelling headphones for when I felt overwhelmed or overstimulated
📖 A notebook to write down symptoms, questions, advice or next steps given by doctors
🪭 A fan to keep cool
☀️ A hot/cold pack for pain flares or heat management
🍫 A snack or sweet treat
🦠 Hand sanitiser
🩹Creams including lip balms, heat based cream, magnesium cream, hand cream etc for various reasons

Is there anything you would add? Comment below👇🏼 taken in Sydney, Australia by @gemssidequests

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14 days ago

Whilst everyone is discussing women in sport because of the Sydney Sweeney ad i think it is important that we share the voices, opinions and representation of non-elite sports and physical activities inclusive of rehabilitation and therapy.

I have always been active however the social pressures of being ‘good’ at sport has always been a limiting factor influencing my continued participation in sports. I carried a fear of embarrasing myself, looking uncoordinated or silly, and being judged by others.

These factors influence the large drop out rates of women in sport in teenage years, amongst other reasons including access, costs, and more.

So this video is to represent sport and physical activity for those not in elite sport. Because our female role models in elite sport are INCREDIBLE, but so are the girls that show up to our local dance class each week.

This video is also for all the women remaining active whilst juggling a medical condition, invisible disability, injury or other condition. We have INCREDIBLE women in para-sports, however the women at community rehab, in the gym, attending physio also should be represented.

To ALL the women, I’m proud of you!! taken in Melbourne, Australia by @gemssidequests

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15 days ago

Chapter 29 has begun 🫦☀️🍾 🍓 ☁️

May this year be bolder, richer and fuller than the last. May you find the strength you always knew you had.
May you succeed despite the setbacks.
May you rest and hold space for yourself.
May you prioritise your needs and the people who fill your cup.
May you live like you’re 29. by @gemssidequests

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17 days ago

What we choose to share does not tell the full story… but when I’m ready… soon I’ll be sharing mine.

The smiling photos, memories, and good days, there is a whole world you don’t see. Being diagnosed at 28 years old and living with an invisible disability often means mastering the art of the invisible fight.

I’ve found that sharing the highlights often feels dishonest because behind the scenes, there is complex planning to manage energy, a new identity taking shape, hidden fatigue, missed conversations, social anxiety, and symptoms that don’t show up in a camera lens.

To anyone else balancing the visible good times with the ‘behind the scenes’ medical juggle, I’m with you. Both versions of your story are real, and both take incredible strength. 💖

Let’s navigate this first six months together! Welcome! by @gemssidequests

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21 days ago

This is your reminder to schedule some time in nature, and to pack your hayfever tablets! 💊

It’s flower season, Aka SPRING, aka my birth month, aka Virgo season! 🌸 We stopped at the Dandenong Ranges to stop and smell the flowers whilst exploring nature.

📸 Here are some of my favourite flowers captured on my iPhone camera during some mindful nature photography.

Let me know your thoughts! 💭

After our outing we went to Bunnings and brought some outdoor daisies and flowers for our balcony using hanging pot plants. A post about that to come! taken in Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden by @gemssidequests

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22 days ago

Kinda chic to leave work early to go to community rehab to support your invisible disability and autoimmune condition 💖 by @gemssidequests

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24 days ago