i'm sorry wiz.

when i left my job i was so sad. i grieved for the loss of my job, part of myself & my future.

if that happens to you try to be gentle with yourself. you have provided a great service in the workplace for most of your life. be proud of that.

PM me if you need to talk.
judy

:hug: Wiz :hug:

I didn't want to leave my job either. And they didn't want me to go but we both knew it was time.

It takes a while to get used to the fact that you're not working anymore. It was strange....I felt almost guilty. :o But having the LTD was a Godsend and still is.

I was awarded SSDI almost immediately. I applied online.....by myself with no help.....and a few weeks later got my award letter in the mail! I was shocked and while I know that isn't the case for some folks it was most appreciated by me.

I hope things go smoothly for you. You've hung in there a lot longer than most.

Well I found out today that pre-existing conditions are covered but they still would not give me a copy of the policy.

So I'll have to go through the STD part and then LTD until I get SSDI. I have tomorrow off work so I might apply for the STD then to get it started. I was warned again today during my shift by one of the managers regarding a sale. It's so disheartening in some ways. On my good days I feel like I could work forever, then on the next day I'm dragging again. It's time. I might actually feel better without the stress of my job.

Thanks for your support ladies! :hug::hug:

:confused:I applied today for STD. The odd thing is that I don't call off work. I just go in and push through each day. One of the people on the phone was very condescending. That tells me that this will not be an easy process. Because even though I have paid for this coverage for nearly seven years, there is still the presumption that I am a dishonest person trying to work the system.

I'm so sorry you got a "bad apple" the first time you applied for the benefit you paid for but never wanted to use.

These type of people are everywhere but they certainly don't need to be in a job assisting people with these type of benefits.

It's so hard to try and explain to folks who've never experienced MS or really any disease what it's like and why we can't work "normal" hours....or any hours. What's "normal" anyway?? And why do we need to explain ourselves to people who already have a slanted opinion of our situation? There really needs to be some sensitivity training for these people who are in these types of positions.

I really do hope you get better help with your claim in the future. Is there anyone in HR that could possibly help you with this?

That's a good point Kitty. I have my HR contact info so I might need to call her. I have my paperwork going so we'll see what happens next.

Is there no other position there you could do that does not require all that you do in sales. They know your capabilities, s you say you have tenure.

I do know that when I recieved my SSD, I had been on STD. The SSD was awarded back to my last day I actually worked so that when I got the big back payment check, I was then asked at tax time to give part of it back since I was receiving SSD and STD. We were able to work a deal that I didn't have to give them back as much as they originally asked.

I am so glad I never had to go through all of this. I had an exacerbation that forced mme off work and I never worked again. Because I doubted my ability to return to nursing, I didn't renew my nursing license that winter which did make it permanent. But I never had to either be asked to quit or make the decision myself.

Hi Doydie,

There are no customer service positions available because the company is doing away with many of them. And to get a management position I would have to have good sales to get into that, and those positions are more stressful and also involve a lot of standing.

I got a good person with MetLife on Friday and got his direct number. I received some paperwork today from them stating if I'm not eligible for STD then I might be able to take a leave of absence and go on LTD while waiting for SSDI.

It sure does get complicated. I should find out of the STD is ok'd next week sometime.

Hi Wiz,

I'm sorry to hear you have to give up your job. That must be sooooo hard. I'm glad to know you have LTD. Good luck with the SSDI process. I remember when you were one of the early Tysabri people in this forum - always appreciated seeing you around. I don't come here so much anymore.

Thinking of you and sending positive energy. Wishing you the best!

:hug:

N

Thanks Natalie,

I'm currently taking Aubagio and several other meds to keep me going. The things that keep me from working are pain, bathroom issues, hand weakness and some cognitive issues. If not for those I could at least be good at sales while sitting at work.

Today I got a phone call from my doctor's office saying they faxed in the paperwork to MetLife. I can go over and pick it up to see what they said. I feel like I'm in limbo again.

My symptoms are complicated by arthritis, high blood pressure and cholesterol, low thyroid and B12. I also take a med called Evista because of an atypical result from a breast biopsy done September 2013. I have to take that until 2018 as a cancer preventative med. So with all of these expensive meds I take my insurance will be pretty expensive until I can get medicare to go along with SSDI.

I'm considering medical marijuana for the pain. I get so much pain from spasticity that I keep shopping for new chairs. :rolleyes: Baclofen and tylenol for arthritis is what I use to manage it now.