thanks for your msg...due to global warming i have not bought snow boots in years but my daughter paloma is going out to look at the full moon in her pink and orange boots...i hope the moon looks as beautiful tonight in alaska as it does here in maryland--tomorrow is a lunar eclipse...yes my kids will keep me grounded! take care, volada aka mary

Wow Volada,
Slightly over 2 weeks from your first symptoms to your dx - that is amazing !!! I'm sure it was a huge shock but also at least you aren't stuck in limbo for years of hearing yes - I think you have MS.... no - don't think so... not sure - need more info...

As for me - I cannot tolerate bright lights and we have flourescents at work - arrangements have been made for me to have no direct lighting above me.

I telecommute often.

I have flexibility in my schedule -

I work for a very large company however and I think that makes some difference. But what I honestly think it all comes down to, is the person or persons that you directly report to. They can be great and bend over backward to assist you, or they can be hard core and make it very difficult. Even in our company - I have been treated wonderfully well, not because of "me" but because of who I have had the good fortune to work for. I have seen others, in our same company who needed assistance and didn't seem to have it go as well.

Having said all that - I hope it all goes well for you tomorrow and most of all, I hope you have someone who will go to bat for you and value you.

Best of luck !!!

thanks for your insight..it is good to hear about positive results...i may have to invoke the chain of command for this one--i have been in the federal gov for 10 years now but only at my current place for just over a year so it is weird to have this dx happen at a place where i am so new!

as you point out the last two weeks have been a real shock and i am so glad i found this space....you all are very helpful and i am glad you are here even if it is a "virtual" thing! take care, mary

I went 12 yrs after I recovered from first paralysis attack before I required any sort of accommodation by my employer's. I also raised two kids throughout that time, virtually by myself. HOPEFULLY this will be the same for you (well, except the solo parent part ).

Over the years to come, there may very well be times that you just can't attend work at all, or that you need to work less hours. Please don't assume that having MS means that you are instantly and/or permanently handicapped though.

If I were you, I would try to cause as little disruption to the workforce as possible. What I ultimately had to do was downgrade my career aspirations so that I could accomodate working, being a mom, and the MS.

In the end, my employer was EXTREMELY accommodating . . . at least up until the MS literally became a full-time job.

Cherie

Volanda,

I think being a lawyer is on your side here! Treat him the way you would advise a client.

Document everything!!! (I don't have to remind you, do I?)

Everything will work out.

Good Luck.

thank you--i think it will be okay--it is just odd to have this discussion when there are close friends and family i still have not told...
i am still a little shocked by the whole diagnosis-have had to put on my lawyer hat just to get accommodations for my other stuff--TMJ--chronic tendonitis--and dequevarians' (sp?) syndrome--they usually are agreeable but deadlines and priorities intervene! for example--i got the dragontalk software but have yet to get/find the time to get the training...it is a law enforcement agency so it is a different culture...

My employer has been very good about accomodations. I'm now working full time from home - they allowed me to move my "office" to my home (computer, etc. included) and it's working out perfectly for me. But, in my favor was the fact that I have been there 15 years and know how to do most every job function in the place!

If you have a good relationship with your boss use it to your advantage. I worked full time inside the office until a flare put me out for two full months - it was at that time I asked for the accomodation. I needed to work and they needed the help. It was a win-win situation for all concerned.

I wish you luck with your situation. I have nothing but respect for parents with MS who can work full time (or even part time) and raise children while running a household, too. It's hard enough without MS in the mix.