Lady Sarra Hoy, wife of Olympic cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy, initially dismissed her multiple sclerosis (MS) warning sign as a dental issue. Her diagnosis came shortly after her husband was told he had terminal cancer.
Early Symptoms and Diagnosis
Speaking on ITV's This Morning in November 2024, Lady Sarra recalled her first symptom: "I had some tingling on my face, just a change in sensation. I thought it was a root canal, and I was sending you [Sir Chris] messages, panicking about some sort of dental treatment."
She added: "Never in a million years, I mean, I've been so healthy - we both have all of our lives - it's not like it suddenly answered questions of things that have been going on for years. Not at all."
After a doctor ordered an MRI, she said: "Popping along to the doctor, I thought they were going to satisfy me and say we'll keep an eye on it. I never in a million years thought that they would be saying those words."
Keeping the Diagnosis Secret
The couple received their respective diagnoses a short period apart, but Lady Sarra initially did not tell her husband. She explained: "It came completely out of the blue. I just knew it wasn't the right time [to tell him]. I would always tell Chris everything, and we're each other's crutch in everything in life, so it was very against the grain not to share it with him. But I just knew it wasn't the right time."
She continued: "We were trying to find stable ground, having just been given this diagnosis from him. I think you get a bit of mum strength. In amongst the fear, I just felt this incredible sense of courage come over me."
Signs and Symptoms of MS
According to the NHS, signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis may include problems with memory or concentration, muscle cramps and stiffness, feeling off balance or dizzy, needing to pee more often, sexual problems, numbness or tingling, extreme fatigue, and vision problems.
Symptoms may come and go in "flare-ups" or "relapses", which can go into "remissions" but may worsen over time. The MS Society offers help and support for those affected.
