I have lived and worked with multiple sclerosis for 26 years, almost as long as I have been a Scotland journalist, but recently I have been absent from the airwaves.
I’ve been struggling with a condition called trigeminal neuralgia, external that causes excruciating pain like an electric shock across the side of my face, which can stop me from speaking, eating or drinking.
It’s not part of everyone’s life with MS but it has recently become part of mine – and being unable to speak is not great for a broadcaster.
Thanks to my neurologist and the NHS team looking after me, I’ve managed to regain my speech and reduce the amount of discomfort I’m in – but the pain can, and does, reappear.
So, unfortunately, I’ve had to make the very difficult decision to leave the on health grounds.