worst possible disability
 

Knowing that everyone with MS has a different level of physical (motor and sensory) disability and cognitive too, I see too that everyone has a different level of psychological ability to contend with and manage the disease. I know people with severe physical disability but their ability to deal with it is beyond measure. (here too!)

My worst possible disability would be to lose my ability to deal with the MS.
You?

Mine is losing the ability to drive, I am completely dependent on someone else, I live in the country and the county does"t come out this far. I would give up anything to be able to drive again. I think I could deal with anything else.

I am one of those who have learned to deal. It took time though..:mad: I am almost prettineer, beginning to commence to be content with this dispickible disease and even happy..:Crazy 2: And yes, the inability to drive is the nail in the coffin, so to speak.:mad:

I don't even think of what might come...only deal with what is. I don't have it very bad, except for pain. I have to drive as long as possible, since I am the chauffeur to my inlaws.

Me, too. I can deal with the here and now. Worrying about what might happen just stresses me out.

Although I never thought I wold enjoy not working I would enjoy just one day of going back to work, have an adrenalin rush of a code blue, a cardiac catheterization gone bad, teaching a new RN student or nurses aide just one more time. Nursing defined me, I think God knew it

Me too Doydie. How I miss that Adrenaline rush, but do you know..... I hadn't even realised how much I missed it until I read your post.

I worked in Critical Care, and was also seconded to the University teaching student nurses. They both fulfilled me in different ways, but I loved it.

Like others, I deal with each new challenge as it occurs and I do not think ahead about things that may not happen. As some-one who was diagnosed nearly 35 years ago, this attitude has worked well for me for the past 35 years, and I know it will continue to work for me for the next 35ish years (God willing).

thank you for the replies

I relate so well to, Doydie and Ann most. Although, I worked as a charge nurse in a nursing home and only got to work in that capacity for about 9 years before MS took that from me. I also had 2 years prior to going to nursing school where I worked as a nurse's aide. A nurse was all I ever wanted to be ever since 10 years old or so.

Now, I deal will each new challenge as it comes my way and am learning to become my own best cheerleader as I think others without MS don't realize how difficult sometimes the simplest things they used to take for granted can become. I pat myself on the back pretty often these days for things that came without any difficulty once upon a time.

I try not to fear the future, but it's hard not to be proactive and be sure to prepare for what might happen. I derive a lot of strength from so many of you on this site and a few other sites. I honestly would not cope nearly as well ( although whether I cope well is definitely relative) without the ability to share our common ground. I thank you all for that so much!:hug::hug:

The though of losing my mind - or should I say having cognitive difficulties that stop me from functioning mentally would be my greatest fear - and what I mean is, not just forgetting things sometimes, brain fog, and speaking with a bit of a slur at times - but really losing the plot and being a burden on the people I love.

Mind you, I am not keen on anything that drags me out of my comfortable state of denial.

Lyn

I was never in Nursing - I was a Special Ed. teacher, dealing with Emotionally Disturbed children, many Neurologically impaired. Now I am. Ironic, huh.

I no longer drive, am in a power chair, but my students taught me about strength and courage and dealing and going forward. I've seen children go into psychoses, schizophrenia and other bad places. Makes this at 55 not look so bad.

Mind willing but body unable
 

My fear of not being able to take care of myself. If I ever get to that point, I will have to go in a nursing home. I don't have any kids and I can't imagine any of my nieces or nephews taking care of me. I still drive but very close distances, no more than 20 miles. If the body goes and I still have my wits about me, I don't think I will be able to cope. I would still have my memories of when I could physically do things and that would make me miserable. I'm miserable now because I can't do the things I did 2 years ago.

I can't say what would be the worst in the future, but in the past I think that the effect my illness had on loved ones and colleagues was the worst part of disability. I spent a long time without a dx, and came under considerable suspicion because of that. Seeing people doubt you are "real" is hard, but of course that taught me what I could really rely on. It
was a great growth event in my life, over many years. Because of what happened to me, I tend to be compassionate toward ALL people, for no one knows what they are really going through or why they are as they are. I believe there is only a small sliver of
our lives which we have real control over, to change or direct, and the rest of it is all
"given". But that small sliver of something we can change or direct is the essence of our soul.

Well said Mariel, thank you..:)

At this very moment, the worst possible disability for me is not being able to walk very well.

This week has been all downhill. I can barely stand up from a seated position, and whatever is going on (I have spasticity around my midsection and my waist, and numbness from about the ribs on down) I feel like crap. (not hungry, when I do eat, I feel sick afterwards) I walked out into the family room a bit ago to talk to my dad, and it took a LOT of energy. Starting to consider hijacking one of my mom's various rollators.

I called my neuro this morning and he suggested another neuro. (he said he doesnt know what to do for me) So, I called and am having my files sent to one of the neuro's that my current neuro suggested.

I'm starting to think any disability from MS is the worst possible.

Erin, I understand not being able to stand and walk easily, for that is my present problem.
Mine is not oparticularly from MS, it's from taking Interferon to try to deal with Polycythemia Vera. I've had neuropathy in my feet for five years, and that has been painful and caused me to wear wide padded shoes, and it caused me to fall down the stairs and break my knee last spring. But this neuropathy got extremely worse on INF,
my only real side-effect to it. So I had to stop it. I don't know if there is anything left to take to deal with PV. But I too may see another doctor, one at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. It's really hard for me to travel but my son will take me to the plane if I try to go. I have a friend in Phoenix with this disease, and she will pick me up; she too has
"autoimmune disease", probably Lupus, but of mixed and not understood variety.

I know what you mean, Erin, nothing's good about your present symptoms. I wish I knew how to send a valentine as Sally did. What a pretty Valentine! Thanks, Sally!

Mariel