tamitrue
03-26-2001, 10:23 AM
I am 29 years old, diagnosed with R/R MS in February, 2001, currently not in remission, taking Copaxone. My doctor has suggested that I take some time off work and see if I can't get to feeling better. I love my job! My first thought is to ignore him, but my body is letting me know that this is not possible. I have told my boss that I want to work 1/2 days for a couple of weeks and see if this helps. I am so dizzy and buzzing feeling by noon that I am scared to drive home. Is there anyone out there dealing with this also? I don't want to stay home! I am on so many different meds that I thought one of them might be causing me problems, so I systematically stopped taking some of them. Nothing has helped. Luckily my job is a good one and they will pay for me to take time off and recoupe. I am just afraid that I might have to stay off work forever, since my job is so stressful. I just wondered if anyone had any words of wisdom for me. I am trying not to let this depress me.
Tammy
Tammy
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GinniBoBinni
03-26-2001, 11:54 AM
Hi!
I am in the same boat. Just dx in Dec. 2000 with RRMS. I am still working, though I am having an attack presently, and the fatigue makes me dizzy also. I found that if I just take breaks, go rest in my car, and drink LOTS and LOTS of fresh veggie juices every day, it really helps. If you want to talk, email me at ginnibobinni@yahoo.com
Keep your chin up!
Ginni
I am in the same boat. Just dx in Dec. 2000 with RRMS. I am still working, though I am having an attack presently, and the fatigue makes me dizzy also. I found that if I just take breaks, go rest in my car, and drink LOTS and LOTS of fresh veggie juices every day, it really helps. If you want to talk, email me at ginnibobinni@yahoo.com
Keep your chin up!
Ginni
yorkiemom
03-26-2001, 04:55 PM
Hi, I've just been diagnosed last week with MS. I know how you feel. I, too, am still working and will do so until I cannot. Best as we can figure, I've had it 4 years, with exacerbations coming at 2 year intervals. This is my first time to find this forum, and I plan to come back daily. Glad this is here. Right now, I am on day 4 of a 7 day Solumedrol run for optic neuritis, and then I think it's on to Copaxone. Worst part of the day iswhen I first wake up...will I be ok?
GinniBoBinni
03-27-2001, 11:58 AM
I have the same experience as you!! I had optic neuritis some 6 years ago, then about 2.5 years later had an exacerbation (tingling, numbness, weakness, etc.) and again, just in December had another, which lead me to the neurologist and consequential diagnosis. YOU WILL BE OK!!! My mother, at the age of nine had Polio. Her doctors told her she would NEVER walk again. Today, she runs 11 miles every day and does yoga. If you want to be well, you will be well. I am at ginnibobinni@yahoo.com if you want/need to chat.
Ginni
Ginni
lc
04-01-2001, 12:12 PM
Hi
I was diagnosed 3 years ago.I have ahigh powered very stressful job.I inject interferon.I to have a problem with feeling lousey mid to late morning.
This is excerbated by stress....lack of fluid intake (water)....to much reliance on caffene /nicotine...and a lowering blood sugar level.
So to improve the situation....I said improve...then avoid the stimulants(caffeine/nicotine etc.)
Drink loads of water.
Make sure that you eat little and often.(I take doggie bags to work with alsorts).And I get it out during meetings....surprisingly I end up sharing .
Make sure you have a lunch break....and rest.
Often do either some Yoga or a meditation.
It refreshes you.
If any body can improve on this let me know...I know its a lousey feeeling.It can make you feel like you are going to pass out,nausious,light headed and generally that you want to curl up or have a head transplant.
Rest for half hour.....my boss has invested in a couch for my office.
Hang in there
lc
I was diagnosed 3 years ago.I have ahigh powered very stressful job.I inject interferon.I to have a problem with feeling lousey mid to late morning.
This is excerbated by stress....lack of fluid intake (water)....to much reliance on caffene /nicotine...and a lowering blood sugar level.
So to improve the situation....I said improve...then avoid the stimulants(caffeine/nicotine etc.)
Drink loads of water.
Make sure that you eat little and often.(I take doggie bags to work with alsorts).And I get it out during meetings....surprisingly I end up sharing .
Make sure you have a lunch break....and rest.
Often do either some Yoga or a meditation.
It refreshes you.
If any body can improve on this let me know...I know its a lousey feeeling.It can make you feel like you are going to pass out,nausious,light headed and generally that you want to curl up or have a head transplant.
Rest for half hour.....my boss has invested in a couch for my office.
Hang in there
lc
yorkiemom
04-02-2001, 04:28 PM
Ic, thanks for the comments. I want to know what to expect in the next while. I'm just over 7 days of Solu-medrol, and I feel BAD. I'm dizzy, still having a little ON. Driving is a real trick. I've just gone from couch to couch since getting off steroids. Even taking a shower is diffult and causes me to break out in a cold sweat.
lc
04-04-2001, 05:57 AM
What to expect....if only I knew!!
But seriously,these syptoms are excerbated by the taking steriods.Every time I take them its the same...it takes approx(for me) 6 months for these syotoms to dissapte.
So hang in there taking one of the ABC s it will help keep you off the steroids..
Only take steroiids if you need to ....the after effects are a pain.
When you get in control...medication ,diet ,fluid intake and pacing yourself.....I promise you will notice a change.(week by week).
Then you will realise that you can be in control of this,but remember you will have bad days.Take them as just that...tomorrow is a better day.
Take care
LC
But seriously,these syptoms are excerbated by the taking steriods.Every time I take them its the same...it takes approx(for me) 6 months for these syotoms to dissapte.
So hang in there taking one of the ABC s it will help keep you off the steroids..
Only take steroiids if you need to ....the after effects are a pain.
When you get in control...medication ,diet ,fluid intake and pacing yourself.....I promise you will notice a change.(week by week).
Then you will realise that you can be in control of this,but remember you will have bad days.Take them as just that...tomorrow is a better day.
Take care
LC
General_Confusion
04-04-2001, 04:58 PM
Reading the last post reminded me of something... As far as steroids go, my neuro said that Prednisone (available orally only, I think) is BAD, it actually stimulates the immune response that attacks myelin, and that Solumedrol is okay for treatment of symptoms as it does not cause the same response.
Anyhow, Tami, as far as words of wisdom go, I do have a little bit. I've been dx for about 6 years, and I'm only 25, so I'm not quite a grizzled veteran of MS but I hope what I have to say helps someone.
Ask for help from people. Be it rearranging your living room, doing laundry, shopping, or commuting, realize that you don't have to do everything. I know it's difficult, my pride still hurts when I ask for help, but I've come to realize that having a bruised ego is better than being knocked out of commision for a day or two (at best) or killing myself/someone else with my car (at worst). Also, just because you are capable of doing things doesn't mean you need to do them all today! Try to pace yourself. It's a hard balance to find, but ultimately you will feel better.
I also second what lc has to say, especially the yoga!
[This message has been edited by General_Confusion (edited 04-04-2001).]
Anyhow, Tami, as far as words of wisdom go, I do have a little bit. I've been dx for about 6 years, and I'm only 25, so I'm not quite a grizzled veteran of MS but I hope what I have to say helps someone.
Ask for help from people. Be it rearranging your living room, doing laundry, shopping, or commuting, realize that you don't have to do everything. I know it's difficult, my pride still hurts when I ask for help, but I've come to realize that having a bruised ego is better than being knocked out of commision for a day or two (at best) or killing myself/someone else with my car (at worst). Also, just because you are capable of doing things doesn't mean you need to do them all today! Try to pace yourself. It's a hard balance to find, but ultimately you will feel better.
I also second what lc has to say, especially the yoga!
[This message has been edited by General_Confusion (edited 04-04-2001).]
tamitrue
04-05-2001, 09:28 AM
Thanks everyone for the great responses and advice. I have only been working 1/2 days for the past 2 weeks. I have gone home everyday and rested. It has really made a difference. I saw the doctor on Tuesday and he thinks I may have a more progressive form of MS and he prescribed Betaseron and took me off the Copaxone. I am waiting for my insurance to approve it and should have it by Friday. I think I should go to at least 80% workdays next week and be back to fulltime by the next. My bosses have been great. They are going to move my office to the North side of the building, where it stays cooler and possibly get a sofa for my office. Cool huh? I am still going to talk to them about a modified workweek and see if we can work out something.
Thanks,
Tammy
Thanks,
Tammy