Is going back to school feasable??? - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

klc23mom · 06-03-2007, 06:39 AM

I have not been diagnosed but the possibility of it is in the air.... I had planned to start school in August to be a nurse..... is that an unrealistic goal??? I'm frightened that things may get worse.... right now I'm miserable but I think I could push myself because I do this everyday just to take care of the kids and the house.... I work harder now being a stay at home mom than I ever did at my desk job and I'm making it but it has gotten tough, especially right now because I'm in the throws of a flare right now.... but do you all think it's possible... when I am finished with school, I will be working 3 12 hour shifts.... it seems like it would be good but I have to admit that I am worried about the memory problems sometimes but I'm hoping by going to school I will retrain my memory (maybe)

anyway, let me know what you think....

Kristen

Bearygood · 06-03-2007, 07:52 AM

klc, if what is keeping you from doing this is fear, throw it out the window! NONE of us know, with or without drug therapy or with or without MS knows what tomorrow may bring. This is not to suggest that you shouldn't be realistic but wouldn't having the degree open other work doors for you as well, not necessarily limited to 3 twelve hour shifts? I absolutely think there is something to retraining your mind -- in general, keeping it active has positive effects. Fear is just as big a potential immobilizer as MS. Please don't let either consume you.

shellymay · 06-03-2007, 09:54 AM

Bearygood, very well said.

klc, I am currently going to school to be a funeral director and our funeral home is almost finished being built and will open in July of this year. I too, will be working long hours. I have not been diagnosed with MS either but practically have all the symptoms pointing to it. I have been experiencing these symptoms for over 3 years now and I just ignore it and go on. I am not going to let this get me down. I will survive and make this funeral business thrive. Nothing can stop me. Pursue your dreams to be a nurse, don't let these symptoms get you down.

Michelle

MSNik · 06-03-2007, 11:04 AM

I want to put my 2 cents in , too. I was doing my Masters Degree at an Ivy League school when I first started having symtoms. With a 4.0 GPA, a full time job, step mother to 3 kids, and a marriage which was only 3 years old- I had my hands full. I was also 38 years old.

I was going to school physically on some days, taking other courses online on other days, and overall losing my mind. I had 2 semesters left when I was dx and started on MS THerapy drugs (rebif). I was told by EVERYONE to drop some classes, I was taking 18 credits along with working full time. I didnt listen. I almost lost my mind, I did wind up with a horrible relapse which put me in the hosptial; but I GRADUATED TOP OF MY CLASS IN MARCH. To celebrate I spent 2 weeks in Mexico.

It wasnt worth it. Now, I only work 3 days a week, Im trying to find a fulltime job because I know that Im worth the money I can be making; however, my energy level is soo drained, its all I can do to come home and make dinners now. I do know that having an education was worth it, but I shouldnt have done something as strenuous as what I did. I shouldnt have tried to work fulltime while going to school full time. I think if I could do it all over again, I would have worked parttime, gone to school parttime, and managed to do just fine. Looking back- what I did was nothing short of amazing. And, now, it really means very little to me. It opens doors, but those doors are doors I cannot walk thru at this time. My health HAS to come first...not the money, not the idea that I graduated Summa *** Laude- nothing is as important as taking care of us, first.

Good luck with this.
Nikki

ewizabeth · 06-03-2007, 11:46 AM

Hi Kristen,

If you pace yourself, then it is feasible, at least for me it has been.

I work fulltime and I'm a business owner (which has its own pros and cons).

If your legs are not affected and your energy is ok then why not finish your nursing degree? And not all nursing jobs have you constantly on your feet, do they? You would get a chance to sit part of the time? And you're in a temperature controlled environment? And you get to wear comfy shoes?

I go to online school (which also has some pros and cons!) The work is very demanding, and I have to deal with back pain which is worse the more I sit! And, I need to rest a lot, or the fatigue will do me in.

My school has quarter classes that go for six weeks, but highly accelerated. I just started TWO of them...

(Hope I'm not being foolish!)

I currently have a 4.0 GPA, but you don't NEED a 4.0 to get the degree. All you need is the degree. All I want is to absorb the material, get "good enough" grades and get the degree at this point.

In my human resources class, they even noted that a 4.0 might even hurt you when job hunting, believe it or not.

I'm 49 years old, and I'm not letting MS stop me from getting my degree.

Keep in mind that there are lots of effective treatments on the horizon that will hopefully keep us going for a long time in spite of MS.

Good luck and I hope you get your nursing degree!