[Blessings2You]

I ask this with hopeful expectation.

I have had a couple people with other chronic illnesses (RA & Lupus) tell me that they felt physically better after retirement, no doubt due to less stress, less fatigue, less everything.

I fully expect to go through the stages of loss (already getting a head start) but I'm wondering about the experiences of you who are already retired due to medical limitations.

I'm really, really hoping that after I get done work (*sob*) I'll have more energy and less anxiety and all. Tell me your stories, good and bad. Were you "better" after you retired?

[weegot5kiz]

yeah physically yes, but as you know what i am going through now so some times mentally not so great but that's not MSbs so its irrelevant, yes my MS bs did ease up, and or wasn't being affected by working stress body stress ect...., seems like i had a bit more energy too

hope that helps some

[Kitty]

Well, I didn't really retire...I had to stop working due to the MS . But, my job was so stressful that I really didn't have a choice. I was working 60+ hours a week and running on fumes. Some of that was my fault, too. Just trying to keep busy.

I did feel better after I left work. In fact, I had no idea how really stressed I was until after I had left. I feel so much better now...it's amazing.

Yeah, I miss the social interaction but I do not miss the constant drama that goes along with working in an office environment. It was ridiculous.

I thought I'd miss it more than I have but I've been pleasantly surprised!

[weegot5kiz]

same here Kel I had no idea how much work was influencing my MSbs till after i was done

[FinLady]

All my docs think I look much better now that I've left the workforce. My neuro even commented on it the last I saw him, saying that, despite the MS stuff, it was the best he's ever seen me look. We talked and he agrees the stress of my job (even at part time) didn't help matters before.

On my good days, I still sometimes wistfully think of doing a part time job. Then a bad day hits to remind me why I'm not working. It's been an adjustment for me to not work, but I'm really starting to see it as a good thing. It took a few months for me to get to this point, I'll admit, but things are looking up.

[Earl]

I think it depends on how you retire, by choice or by mandate. I was forced to retire about 5 years ago due to my MS.

I was a work-a-holic. I loved to work. I made a medium income but could support us. I did not plan well for when the paychecks would stop.

I think that my stress is much higher in retirement because I don't have an off-shore bank account with a gazzilion dollars in it.

I wish all the time I could work again, mainly because that would mean I wouldn't have MS.

The bottom line is NO, I do NOT feel better once I retired.

[karilann]

They say men define themselves by what they do.
Women define themselves by their relationships....so maybe men would feel differently than women?
Anyway, I felt much better after I "left" work. I neither retired or was let go....I quit. It didn't matter in my job whether I worked one year or one hundred years....I would get no retirement benefit anyway.
So I opted for my health and I have much more energy and am far less stressed. I am able to do the things that before was too tired to do.
Fortunately I have a monthly income from another source that sustains me. Otherwise I might feel stressed out (which would be defeating the purpose)
I worked in an office environment also and the drama and pettiness were getting to me. My 75 year old boss was getting forgetful and would blame me and my MS as if I was the one losing it. And he'd make reference to it to other employees behind my back.
If you feel like you love your job and the people you work with, then it may be very hard to give it up.
But if it is stressful, then you will feel better.

[AZjanie]

Retirement is wonderful and I highly reccommend it!

I had to retire early because of neurological issues as I couldn't count or think straight...still can't.

I left the office politics behind and my business suits hang in the closet.

Most will be donated to a group who collects business wear for battered and underpriviledged women so they will be able to go on interviews and feel good about themselves.

Another plus for retirement; I have found charities to work for so guess I am still working.

[Blessings2You]

Thanks for all the input so far, and keep it coming!

I should have been more clear that yes, I was specifically asking those who HAD to retire because of health issues.

My granddaughter (18) said to me, "You must be so excited!" She's so young. She couldn't be expected to realize that it isn't a happy thing not to be able to do the job I love any longer.

However, her comment did trigger something in me, and I'm trying to ease over to her perspective and see the exciting things about being retired. (I didn't mention to her that she might have to support me someday, so she should get a really good job. )

[NurseNancy]

i kind of saw it coming. i was a FT nurse. the physical/mental demands were incredible. i was also very heat stressed because i worked with new and sick babies that were always under warmers.

i was crashing and burning fast. once i finally knew it was inevitable i went to see my neuro. he ordered some functional capacity testing and documented everything. good thing too.

i applied for ssdi but it took about 18-24 mos to get it.
i was paying for cobra and thank God was living from an inheritance or i would have sunk for sure.

but, to answer your Q; YES. i did tons better after the stress of my job was over. my BP had gotten up to 166/106. i'm sure some of it was from the tremendous physical effort i was forced to make. and, my days off i was dead. i couldn't hardly do tasks of daily living because i didn't have the strength. and i was working 13hr days.

i did go thru a lot of grief too. i had worked for 35 yrs. nursing was my life.
but it got better as i began to realize how relieved i was not to work.

it will all work out. you will find your footing. it will be for the best.
you will be glad you stopped.