Lets start here. Im chris. Im married 5 years to a wonderful wife and have a family of 9. Including a foster child.

Diagnosed 6 months ago. Had issues for 6 years. I do have drop foot and balance issues. As well as depression and mood swings. But I manage. The struggle behind all of this is real.

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Welcome to the boards we’re a little quiet lately, but if you need someone to understand we’re here for ya. And believe me not one of us will question the struggle, though we do like to make jokes . For myself I find laughter to be the best medicine of all the meds I take. Just remember it’s okay to laugh at yourself and even the disease on occasion. On of my favorite jokes to my husband was that I meant to wash the dishes but forgot cuz ya know brain eating disease

(I then do wash up the dishes if it’s not a bad day, but sometimes I didn’t do them because I forgot but simply couldn’t)

It's been a battle for me. 15 years in my profession to be taken out and forced to retire. Medications are being denied by my insurance. I'm about to lose my house. Cars are breaking and kids aren't listening. I'm not supposed to be stressed. I have reoccouring nightmares. Disability ran out. Ssa has no answers and therapy stopped. Does this get easier or should I walk away from what I've worked for my whole life?

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Thanks for the advise. It's appreciated

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Hi christoph.tamz and welcome to NeuroTalk.

I am confused. Why were you forced to retire and why is you insurance company denying medication?

Have you been on steroids recently, they can cause mood swings. Depression and mood swings can be situation or due to the disease it's self. Regardless of the cause medications and Psychotherapy can be very helpful.

It's not uncommon to go through the grieving process, much like when a loved one dies, when being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. We all have.

Definitely don’t walk away, I’m sure it’s extremely difficult to see any kind of light right now, but yes it should get better. First and foremost you need to talk to your insurance company and find out if they have a tiered program, some insurance companies won’t cover one medication if you haven’t tried a different one. In addition once you discover what medications your insurance will cover for treatments and I am assuming you are talking about MS specialty medications like copaxone or Tecfidera etc... that aren’t being covered, contact the drug companies all of them have copay assistance.

Insurance wouldn’t cover my first $5500 monthly rx charge for my Tecfidera but I contacted Tecfidera’s copay assistance and they picked up the whole tab... I paid $0. Those commercials that say if you can’t afford drug company might be able to help, is no lie. Call them!

Now if it’s an anti-depressant or something that insurance doesn’t cover Goodrx.com is another great resource. My insurance caps my migraine medication at 9 pills a month, and the copay is $30, with Goodrx I can get my full 18 pill prescription for $17. Cheaper than my insurance and I’m not suffering through migraines trying to ration out my pills.

Finally as far as ssa goes, you may have to find a lawyer, but I would call them again, talk to a real person, explain what is going on and ask what you need to do. If they can’t answer you tell them to get someone on the phone who CAN. That is one where squeaky wheels get the grease, I don’t have a lot of experience dealing with them as I was denied due to insufficient work credits and my DH making too much money, but I was able to get someone to explain it all to me and what steps I could take in the future should my situation ever change (it took 5 “please holds” but I got someone with a brain in the end)

The important part is don’t give up, do your research, talk with your doctor about your difficulties with insurance matching prescribed treatment, and for the short term if need be go see your local Salvation Army center and explain to them what is going on, they may be able to help you with your bills or auto repairs.

As far as the kiddos go, host a family meeting, explain what’s going on both physically, mentally and financially for you, and what they can do to help the situation. Just remember to be open to their struggles as well and what they need you to do to help them.

Okay. It's like this. I was a union electrician, 15 years in the business. They will not accommodate me because I can't climb a ladder. So they are pushing me to retire. Disability is almost out from my union. Which means my insurance will be cut.

The insurance company won't cover my meds till I try what they see fit. But what they want me to take is copaxon and I don't have spms. So now what. I have to inject myself with a med that isn't what I need so they can say I tried.

I did contact a lawyer for ssa and who knows when that will be finalized.

I have a family of 9 and another family of 5 living in my house. I am not allowed to reprimand my children because my wife thinks I'm to harsh and unfair. I run a simple household. Do your homework and chores. Then your free to do what you want. But to her that's unfair. Who am I to push my children to do well in life.

I have a mentally unstable child as well. He does fine alone. Mix him with anyone and he flips out. And I don't dare talk to him.

Bills keep coming and cars are breaking like I said. But no money is coming from this because my entire disability check pays the mortgage. My wife works and goes to school and does volunteer which makes it so I'm alone battling and fighting and stressed and everything else. She sees it as I'm just a A-hole and to get over it.

Now what else can I do because suicide has been in my mind for weeks now.

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Does your employer know you have Multiple Sclerosis and have you asked for accommodations? Did you ask your Neurologist for a letter stating this?

What is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? | ADA National Network

Copaxone is one of the earlier treatments for MS which was approved for Relapsing/remitting MS (RRMS), many years later it was also approved for Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS). So, yes, Copaxone is appropriate for you to use. It is very common for Health Insurance Companies to require certain medications be tried before they will approve a different one.

If you are suicidal please call right away:
National Suicide Prevention Hotline - 1-800-273-8255

You may post on the Survivors of Suicide(SOS) forum, they are very helpful.
https://www.neurotalk.org/forum29/

From Community Guidelines - Community Guidelines -- Updated 4/8/2015

Messages containing suicidal threats or threats of suicidal actions. Posts of a primarily suicidal nature should be made to the SOS forum.