[missj]

Knowing that everyone with MS has a different level of physical (motor and sensory) disability and cognitive too, I see too that everyone has a different level of psychological ability to contend with and manage the disease. I know people with severe physical disability but their ability to deal with it is beyond measure. (here too!)

My worst possible disability would be to lose my ability to deal with the MS.
You?

[poochie]

Mine is losing the ability to drive, I am completely dependent on someone else, I live in the country and the county does"t come out this far. I would give up anything to be able to drive again. I think I could deal with anything else.

[SallyC]

I am one of those who have learned to deal. It took time though.. I am almost prettineer, beginning to commence to be content with this dispickible disease and even happy.. And yes, the inability to drive is the nail in the coffin, so to speak.

[Debbie D]

I don't even think of what might come...only deal with what is. I don't have it very bad, except for pain. I have to drive as long as possible, since I am the chauffeur to my inlaws.

[Kitty]

Originally Posted by Debbie D

I don't even think of what might come...only deal with what is.

Me, too. I can deal with the here and now. Worrying about what might happen just stresses me out.

[doydie]

Although I never thought I wold enjoy not working I would enjoy just one day of going back to work, have an adrenalin rush of a code blue, a cardiac catheterization gone bad, teaching a new RN student or nurses aide just one more time. Nursing defined me, I think God knew it

[Koala77]

Originally Posted by doydie

.....I would enjoy just one day of going back to work, have an adrenalin rush of a code blue, a ...... teaching a new RN student or nurses aide just one more time.......

Me too Doydie. How I miss that Adrenaline rush, but do you know..... I hadn't even realised how much I missed it until I read your post.

I worked in Critical Care, and was also seconded to the University teaching student nurses. They both fulfilled me in different ways, but I loved it.

Like others, I deal with each new challenge as it occurs and I do not think ahead about things that may not happen. As some-one who was diagnosed nearly 35 years ago, this attitude has worked well for me for the past 35 years, and I know it will continue to work for me for the next 35ish years (God willing).

[missj]

thank you for the replies

[lefthanded]

I find my fears very disabling. The pain limits what, where and when I can do . . . the exhaustion limits how much I can do . . . but the fear gets a hold of me and starts slammin' all the doors shut!

I agree with wanting to taste that rush of stressful decision-making, meeting deadlines, and handling other people's problems that I left behind when I had to quit working. Whenever I have two decent days in a row now I get a little hope building up inside. Unfortunately it never lasts.

[Desinie]

I relate so well to, Doydie and Ann most. Although, I worked as a charge nurse in a nursing home and only got to work in that capacity for about 9 years before MS took that from me. I also had 2 years prior to going to nursing school where I worked as a nurse's aide. A nurse was all I ever wanted to be ever since 10 years old or so.

Now, I deal will each new challenge as it comes my way and am learning to become my own best cheerleader as I think others without MS don't realize how difficult sometimes the simplest things they used to take for granted can become. I pat myself on the back pretty often these days for things that came without any difficulty once upon a time.

I try not to fear the future, but it's hard not to be proactive and be sure to prepare for what might happen. I derive a lot of strength from so many of you on this site and a few other sites. I honestly would not cope nearly as well ( although whether I cope well is definitely relative) without the ability to share our common ground. I thank you all for that so much!