Biggest flare up since the one in Cember

[gooddays]

Hello everyone.  It has been quite a while since I last posted, but I read this forum everyday.  I have also sent some PM, but have not received an answer.  Do not worry I know MS takes away a lot activities we took for granted in the past.

For those of you who are new at the forum and the regulas ones, let me refresh my memory.  In December I thought I had the biggest flare ever because of my having to wear an eye patch for at least 6 months to a year to find out if I could recover at least a more normal vision, unless it may never be the same, as told by neuro-optalmologist and neurologist.

I was happy because the six months were getting closer.

I have been having a lot of issues and stress situations in the office, and I think that the biggest flare up is just happening.  I am experiencing blepharospasms in both my eyes.  You guys know that a blepharospasm can affect both eyes as once it is active and can be a thread to all of us with MS eyes.  This spasm is characterized by shutting your eyes and sometimes not able to stop it or see through unless you try to open your eyes by pulling the lid and oppening it.  It is scary if you are driving or in a place where you do not know your surroundings and are almost paralyzed because you do not know what to do.

I just started a course of steroids for 5 days to try to stop it.  In the past, I used to have botox injected in my eyes. This is a very painful and expensive process, which my last at least 6 weeks or three months. My medical insurance covered the process, but after a year of having it, it got a very annoying thing, so I decided not to do it again.\

Now that I am having my eyes spasms and I was advised by my doctor to patch both eyes in order to minimize its impact on me, because what I have is considered functional vision.  I have also lost my peripheral vision in both eyes.

I really have an idea as to why this flare up is going on.  Too much work, to many absences and worst of all my doctor told me that after the first MS episode, which is called Isolate (forgot the rest of the name), which was as far as I can remember, when when I was a freshman in college, my MS maybe taking a proggresion to the worst.  She indicates that we have to work hard to stop this progressive disease, or my symptoms may be getting worst.  Hopefully this won't happen.

I am not asking one opinion, I just wanted to let you guys on my predicament, after all that I have not keep in touch with the forum.

Take good care yourself and if you are a mother,  HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.

Zulma (a/k/a gooddays.

[gooddays]

Thank you for clarifying my mental fog.

I am also grateful for your wish for luch. I promise I will keep you up to date in my ordeal.

Again, Happy Mother's Day.

Zulma

[gooddays]

Thank you for your concern.

My work situation is not good, but I am trying to handle it the best I can.  My absenteeism pattern is really bad, as I was told by the Employee Relations Officer, I can not be held accountable because I had my dx while working for the agency and my request for leave have always been backed up by medical certificates and information, they cannot start a disciplinary action against me because it would be discrimination for handicap issue.

I have filled out my request for disability benefits, but  I am the first requesting this kind of benefits in our PR office, I have had a lot of hurdles to conquer.  The information I received from the benefits processing office a lot of documentation to fill out, including physicians statements, medical documentation and of course, my boss had to give a statement as to how my MS is hurting my job performance.  I was also advised that once Headquarters receives my documentation, it should take between 45 to 60 days to receive a decision.  That's not a long period of time to wait.  I had very mixed emotions, was seeing the papers sent to the Benefit Officer.  My mixed feeling are in relation to how much I like doing what I am doing and knowing that I give my 100% and even more to do my job right.  Our center in Puerto Rico was a temporary facility, bit since 2001 we became a regular office and do not get released as often as before.

I am in Avonex for almost 4 years now, but the stressful situations are getting to me, thus making me sick.  My neurologist indicated that once my disability situation is approved, I would not have as much flare ups as I am having now.  Hopefully, she is right.  I am just going to stick for the next two month hoping for a positive approval.  The Lord has always been with me, so now I do not think he will jump off the boat!

Take good care of yourself, and again Happy Mothers Day!!!!!

Zulma

[jensequitur]

Sounds like... Clinically Isolated Syndrome to me...  which basically means you have the symptoms of MS, but your MRI didn't show enough evidence to support that diagnosis.  MRIs have done a lot to help the diagnosis of MS, but I think we depend upon them too much.

It's funny how a relapse can make you fear for the worst, because it's so debilitating.  I hope the steroids work, and you start feeling better soon!

[Momzilla]

Oy!  Double OY!

It's good to hear from you again, but not like this!  I'm so sorry you're going through this.  How awful!

Are you on a DMD now?  If so, what's the plan now?  How is the work situation now?  I'm sure you feel extra stress with having to have both eyes patched!  I'm sure that means all day, and no working.  Oy.

I have a bad work situation myself.  I had to be in the hospital a few days, and was worried about my employment, my awful boss.  My husband said this:  You need to be in the hospital.  You can't walk.  But you're alive, and not dying.  After that, what else matters?

You need to take care of yourself, and not worry about the stress of the work situation.  I know that seems easy to say, but really, you're health depends on it.

Let us know what your doc has planned for you.  We will be here, sending up prayers.

Hugs,

Zilla*