Am I the only one who is this affected??

[starryeyes1]

Hi Everyone!

I read this forum every day and seeing what people are dealing with. I haven't been able to work since my dizziness has come. I can't walk a straight line and often rely on my cane or family members for stability.

I had just goten my beauticians license when my dizziness started getting bad. I wasn't able to work in a salon due to my symptoms. I can't walk into interviews for anyone without looking drunk.

My question is: Is my disease worse since so many people still can work and work out? I feel like I can't hardly clean my house without becoming completely exhausted from the lightheaded and dizzy feelings. I used to do kick-boxing before all of this.

I don't mean to sound whiney..I am just concerned that I am worse off than I thought. I am not a lazy person and have always worked full time. I have since gotten an attorney for disability. I'm hoping to get approved. Thank you for any thoughts on this.

Kristi

[figuerpa]

Kristi,

As you can already tell, so many of us already share what you are feeling. I had to stop working when my cognitive abilities went out the door. I was a manager and couldn't function in that type of job any longer.

I have applied for disability but havent' gotten a yes or no as of yet. I am going to see a psycologist to be evaluated for depression and anxiety then I have to be tested for cognitive abilities. I wish you the best of luck and yes being dizzy really stinks!!! My dh is always by my side when we go places cause he knows that at any minute I may veer off path lol I know its not funny but we laugh about it cause the only other option is to cry and that doesn't do any good.

Take care of yourself and I hope you can get some relief from the vertigo soon.

Paula

[JemmAus]

I did read that balance/vertigo type problems are some of the most difficult to treat and live with, which would explain how you feel and me and so many others.

I used to be super fit, one of those crazy active people. Now my 80yo mother walks faster than me (mind you, she still plays tennis twice a week as well). My main symptom is loss of balance / equilibrium . I am now on a disability pension as a result. I can't even walk through a supermarket without my balance/vertigo being so bad I almost have panic attacks to add to the joy.

Umm...what everyone else said...I can't really add to it!

[supermum_ms]

I dont work, I can't work anymore sheesh if i was an employer, i would not hire me. I basically 'fake' normal by pottering around, breaking down what needs to be done into little do-able chunks, with rest stops or naps in between. If i'm doing a lot in one day, then it takes a couple of days to get over it so pottering and little chunks, makes me look more normal-ish but seriously, i'm faking it!

I still exercise and stretch, was still doing that even at my worst but compared to what I was capable of doing prior to April 09, well lets just say what i do now would only just fall under the umbrella of 'exercising.' I could probably run if an axe murderer was after me but i'm not sure the axe wouldn't be sticking out of the back of my head after 10 seconds.lol.

If I look back at what i once was, then i'm still in trouble so i dont, I look back to what i could do yesterday or last week, little improvements give me strength to keep moving forward. When i do have a set back, i try and ride it out waiting until i start seeing the little improvements again, each day creating a new goal, they are silly do-able little steps i want and can achieve. Vertigo and fatigue are killers, either will suck you down in a deep hole unless your expectations on your self are realistic for the time your having, be kind on your self!

You have nothing to feel guilty or ashamed about, which is what i sense your feeling about going for disabilty, needing disability when your disabled is entirely different than someone who is able but is lazy and can't be bothered so manipulates the system. Please be kind to your self and get any negative thoughts out of your head, if you need it, you need it!

To answer your question "Is my disease worse since so many people still can work and work out?" is one of those questions thats too hard to answer when there are so many variables. I dont actually think its ever a good idea to go there in your mind, compairing your self to other's who are doing well, is more than likely to generate negative feelings about your own situation, so dont go there!

Take care and be kind to your self!

Cheers........JJ

[twopack]

I doubt you're a quitter either Kristie.  The very fact that you ask the question suggests you are troubled by this situation and are every bit as stubborn as Alex.  That doesn't mean your disease is more severe.  

Vertigo is a hard symptom to keep working with.  Not all of us have that symptom.  When it's present, it can be very limiting.   I think it's one of the things that got Quix out of clinical medicine so quickly.  That sometimes happens when vertigo is caused by MS, inner ear disease or any other reason.  We don't function well for work OR play when our world is spinning around us.

VERY few people would choose to work hard to educated themselves and then  choose not to use the education.  I do hope you will go into remission or find some relief from this symptom and be able to resume parts of your life in the near future.  Becuase of that possibility (it's the nature of MS) you may have a hard time getting approval for disability initially, for SSDI anyway.

Good luck and feel better soon.
Mary

[meg321]

I can relate to you wondering about your desease, I have done the same thing.  I am not sure if there is an answer to that.  We are all just so different.  

I  hung in there for a few years,even when I had to walk along walls to keep myself from falling but I just kept getting worse.  I was glad my boss just let me do it my way, he was always so  gracious.  I was already making a lot of mistakes.  When i couldnt add two and two even on my calculator, i gave it up.  I was a bookkeeper and mistakes could be very bad.

I have not really got better and am still dizzy bit I have learned to deal with it or my body has.
I have just stopped trying to compare myself with others, I am unique just as you are..and everyone one of us are...

hugs, meg

[HVAC]

Plenty of people on the forum have many issues which keep them from living normal lives. Some we do not hear as much about, they have been around for years. I myself can't work like I used to. Of course I worked HVAC and as a Veterinary Assistant. The blessing for me is I have had MS for over forty years and have a great acceptance. I am to stubborn to be beat so far.

Alex

[COBOB]

I work from home and my boss in in STL.  He has seen me once within the last 6 years.  I do see clients every couple of months.  

One of my clients is a large pharma company so when they asked I said "Demyelinating disease" and they said "Let's find an office so you can sit down."  My company and most of my clients are very accommodating.   I think part of it is US law and the other part is a culture in the Fortune 500 that they respect diversity and at this point my brain still seems to function. I have had to use balance poles a couple of times, but I'm pretty ambulatory.  I do avoid stairs when I can since I fall up them.

Bob