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Hello,

I am very early in the course of MS. I've been mildly symptomatic for about 2 years now. However I am very conscious that the disease will get worse given time. Additionally the costs of supplementation & eating well are causing bit of a pinch on my finances. I therefore need to earn considerably more money than my current income to give myself some financial padding for my uncertain future.

I've been looking into a variety of business that could be set up on a relatively small budget. One of the most promising financially is setting up as a carpet cleaner.

However I am concerned that the fumes may aggravate the disease. Do you think this is likely?

Thanks.

it's probably not the best thing in the world abe, but you might be able to compensate some. i don't know much about the needed chemicals or what they do so i can't provide much help, sorry!

Cheers Jimmy,

http://www.worldofclean.co.uk/index.php?productID=440

Here's a link to the fluid I've been looking at... However it does not really say what's in it. Just how 'eco friendly' it is.

Abe,

Having lived in England for 4 years, I was in quite a few homes. Most of what I saw had very small rooms, packed wall to wall with furniture.

If a person were to clean the carpets, it would require a lot of physical moving of heavy furniture in and out of rooms. Your physical abilities would be limited to handle this lifting.

Another problem with cleaning the houses is that most are two levels with tiny little staircases. Lugging the equipment on the stairs would also be problematic.

You could always hire help, but keeping good help is a major issue and you might end up at times with houses to clean and no help at the moment.

I would find another line of work that is more geared to limited physical abilities.

gwa

Hey Gwa,

Thanks for responding, you're right it is not an ideal long term solution.

However I'm very early in the course of the disease and still strong. I estimate I will have about 10 years before I become physically limited. So a good few years earning good money (carpet cleaners earn about £50 - £75 per hour here in the UK) could give me funds to invest... potentially in a couple of rental properties which would be helpful when I do become disabled.

Though the lurking thought of the chemicals expediting this process is really scary...

Maybe I just need to go back to the drawing board with this one.

Hi Abe
I know what you mean about making money now for the future but I totally agree with Gwa - it would be SO physical a job you could get very fatigued.

I was diagnosed 10 years ago and had a very serious relapse after a period of intense exercise - I'd been moving a collection of books between two colleges by hand and I have always wondered if the extra effort caused the relapse or made it severe.

If you could look into getting some financial support (a grant?) to retrain or upskill? I went back to university after my diagnosis and did a course for a year and got a job where I don't need to move anything! It helps.

I know that early on though I was in a panic and taking a year out to train seemed to throw out all my plans to earn lots of money.

10 years after diagnosis I am in great shape, but I am glad I didn't stay in they physical job, because there have been ups and downs with the MS in the 10 years. I was told 10 years to serious disability but thank goodness that has not happened me yet. 5 years ago I was not well at all but I came back from that, so now I plan for the worst and try to live for the best.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Cheers Wonderfulworld,

You guys are right. This is just a bad idea. I'm glad I asked this question on this forum. I was about to make a really bad decision and spend at least £8000 on setting this business up.

I'm looking into some less physical options now which are a lot more appealing.

So thank you.

Abe wrote:
I'm looking into some less physical options now which are a lot more appealing.

Good for you, Abe. Trying to guess how long one with MS will be healthy is a game of Russian Roulette.

gwa