I AM one of many MS sufferers in this country and live locally, but I am luckier than some.

Shortly after my diagnosis I found the drug LDN, which helps all auto-immune diseases by regulating the auto-immune system and stopping it from attacking the body's own cells.

I found this drug before my disability became unbearable, before I was in a wheelchair, before I was a burden to my family and needed round-the-clock care – all the things many people with auto-immune diseases need. And they are often in pain, often depressed and helpless. Finding this drug was amazing and it opened up a world I never knew existed.

It made me realise that a cheap safe little drug is not available on the NHS, which should be delighted to help patients and save money.

It made me aware that patients often know a whole lot more about their diseases than doctors do, which is fairly understandable, but I had just never thought about that.

It made me realise that most doctors haven’t even heard of it until a patient tells them about it. I am proud that my story became front page material for our village paper and is being used to help make fellow sufferers aware of this drug, that can improve and even save lives.

There is 25 years of patients’ evidence to prove that this drug works, that it is the best thing since penicillin and, until there is a cure, it’s the best thing indeed. But people don’t know about it, they aren’t told about it, unless they find out for themselves on the Internet or in your paper. This week is the first ever International LDN Awareness week.

LDNers worldwide are working at getting the word out.

Here in the UK we have a petition to the Government, asking them to look into LDN, so it can become available on the NHS. Silvia Lane, Woodcote, near Wallingford