Thank you so much for the responses...

Oh Blessings – I’m sorry you are hearing the same type thing and sorry that you relate to what I am saying !!!!

River – I think you and I have had very similar lives – for one thing – as I recall – it seems like somewhere way back on another forum you and I discussed our love of whitewater kayaking – I may be wrong but especially with your name. I used to do everything under the sun and was always told by my friends that I was trying to fit 3 life’s into 1 lifetime !!! I just LOVED LIFE !!! Now, like you, I am just trying to “fly under the radar at work and hold down a job”….  I am so glad the Neuro is on your side and in all honestly – mine may be with me – I have never talked to her, only the NP.


Cherie, I do know that a friend of mine has a husband who fought for 4 years and just now got his disability approved. They went through all their savings and had to hire an attorney. I am on my own and would do well to survive 3 months, let alone 4 years !!! Just saying the words out loud – “that I am realizing the need to stop working” was traumatic to me – just admitting it to anyone outside of our online group because it is a HUGE, HUGE and upsetting decision. Going through the ‘re-living” of all this mess would be painful and I hate the thoughts of that whole process but for now – I have a new mindset (see below)… 

Fin, No – I have not talked with my Neuro about this issue at all and she may have an entirely different take on my situation.

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Yesterday I had a follow-up with my Endocrinologist – I am now feeling like “fighting” again to maintain my ability to work.

She dx me with Hashimoto’s Disease, (which I was expecting) and I would like to think that the dx rules out the “probable MS”, but I think that is still an unknown. BUT… I talked to her for a long, long time about my memory/cognitive issues and those problems do go along with Hashimoto’s so it is possible and I am very hopeful that with the medication to treat this disease - at least some of the issues that I am having may get better !!! I feel hopeful – so for now, at least – I am going to hang on to my job for dear life and fight like the dickens to get my mind working better. Hashimoto’s has a lot of similar symptoms as MS.

By the way – I said above that I don’t have mobility problems – what I was meaning is that I can “generally” walk with no aid. I use a cane at night and when I first start walking I am visibly stiff and people sometimes mention it – in fact the nurse yesterday asked me if my leg had fallen asleep when she saw me trying to walk – so I guess it is a bit more than I like to realize….

Thank you again so much for you replies !!!

snoodles I wish I had a magic answer for you, I really do but unfortunately I can only offer you my story. Being sick is bad enough, but when faced with life changing situations such as not working it makes it all the worst. You have to do what is best for you, not what everybody thinks you should or shouldn't do.

I am 41 years old and 22 years after graduating high school I got my Associates Degree, plus carried over enough classes that I only need 2 semesters to finish my Bachelors. The next day I got married and 3 days later moved from small town TN to Houston. Less than a month later I was dx'd with ON then another month came the dx of RRMS. Talk about things changing fast! Here I was looking forward to starting a new career and moving on with my life and now I walk with a cane and can't drive very far, haven't been anywhere by myself in almost 6 months. Thank God for an understanding and loving dh!

I have a great neuro that right away told me to file for disability. I argued with him that I didn't want to, I didn't want to feel like I was having other people take care of me. He explained it to me this way....file as soon as you can, it might take a few tries before your given disability....also at any time you're better and able to return to work you can always stop the disabilty payments. He told me that disability is there for a reason and it is not something to be seen as shameful. Needless to say I filed, on my own (dh had to fill the papers out cause I couldn't see well enough to) I was honest about how I feel and what I go through on a daily basis. I didn't exaggerate but I did explain everything as though it was the worst day I'd ever have. It took about 3 months and I was approved first time. It was such a relief when I got the papers that I just sat and cried.

There comes a point when you have to say I've done all I can do for now and I have to put my health and well being first. It's not a sign of weakness. Don't let the NP or anybody else discourage you. Talk with your neuro or any other dr. you may see, get copies of all your records and start the process. Don't give up just hang in there and know you are doing what is right for you.

I'll apologize now for this long post that seems to have gotten off track...sometimes my fingers get very talkative!

I'll keep you in my prayers,
Susan