Share your experiences about deciding to go on disability

[brave]

Fellow MSers
I have tried my last hope which was CCSVI with no success , now thinking about going on disability since I truly struggle walking and dragging myself to work but same time thinking about this transition is killing me .
1. I have been actively working for last 20 years , now stop working, I fear a bad depression
2. I’m an engineer and have a high paid job, letting it go would be hard on me and I’m sure depressing and overwhelming
3. I have LTD from my company but still losing big amount of income would be another disaster(I’m bringing single income to my family of 3)
4. I’m completely OK with working from home but don’t know of any resources that might recruit remote workers
5. Paying for our family health insurance which we were covered by my work
6. As said, I do not even know how to occupy my time without working and might end up full time thinking about “why me” “what MS has done to me” and depression again
Please help me out and share your experiences, how did you overcome with these obstacles and how did you make sure if it’s a right move to go on disability

brave

[NHE]

Hi Brave,

2. I’m an engineer and have a high paid job, letting it go would be hard on me and I’m sure depressing and overwhelming
3. I have LTD from my company but still losing big amount of income would be another disaster(I’m bringing single income to my family of 3)
4. I’m completely OK with working from home but don’t know of any resources that might recruit remote workers
5. Paying for our family health insurance which we were covered by my work

Have you talked with your current company about the possibility of working from home? That might solve some of your mobility problems while still keeping an income and insurance benefits coming into your household.

NHE

[bluesky63]

Another thought -- every MS Society is different, but there's a chance your might be a good one. Have you talked to them to see if they could help with brainstorming a solution?

And one last thought this minute -- where I live we have a great resource, a group that works to help people with disabilities find or keep work considering the accommodations they need. Do you have a Department of Rehab Services in your area? A Center for Independent Living where you could discuss the situation and get referrals? A local Disability Services Board? Somewhere there I hope you could find a path to either accommodations where you work or a transition to another decent employment solution.

edit -- if you did end up in disability you would want the highest salary. Don't switch to a lower job or a part-time job without getting advice. Good luck.

[brave]

I appreciate your time replying to my post.

brave

[Wonderfulworld]

Hi Brave
I 'retired' aged 36 from my good permanant govt job 2 years ago. It was compounded by a long daily commute. It was a very tough decision but I have no regrets because I was beyond exhausted with the effort of working fulltime.
Have you asked your organisation if you could do a job-share in your current role, or if you could do part time?
It might keep you with a focus and some income, and the benefits of the job like health insurance, but take some of the pressure off you regarding energy and fulltime work.
I have to admit that giving up work completely like I did is very psychologically hard. I had intended to get a job for about 15 hours a week, closer to home, but the recession hit and no jobs have come up in my sector (which was very suited to MS being sedentary), but maybe in time I'll get a few part time days a week to keep depression at bay and my head in use!
HTH
x

[harry1]

Hey Brave

Well i believe that i fit the profile that you were asking about although i don't have MS i do have CIDP a close cousin to MS and so i'm 46 and have been on disability since jan 2008 (goin on three years) as my feet and ankles are paralyzed which forced me to quit working and so while i'm grateful i have SSDI however it really has me down at times about not being able to go back to work as i was an appliance repair technician and i miss all my co-workers and friends on the job and out and about in town in my work vehicle meeting customers etc. as i guess i feel like i've lost my sense of purpose as i'm way too young to be disabled/retired so to speak.

As for what to do in my spare time well let me just say that the internet is my savior as i'm a member on numerous different forums whether they're chat to meet friends online or neuro disease forums like this one and i watch tons of free movies on different movie sites (stagevu.com), listen to internet stations from around the world (radiostationworld.com)whether it's classic 70's and 80's rock music or talk radio etc, i read online newspapers from around the usa and world (50states.com) and all my fave online science magazines (popular science, discover, new scientist, scientific american etc.) are online for free mostly and i'm always researching wikipedia.com about different subjects as for example i'm currently studying ancient greece on it (i love history) and so on and so forth as i think you get what i'm trying to say however yeap i took a hell of a paycut going on SSDI and again i really miss being active and at work and so i do understand what you're saying.

I'm putting all my hope into stem cells in the coming next few years as they're really advancing.

Anything else just holler at us !!
harry

[ppicklee]

hi Brave
I SO know how you feel. I quit work because it was detrimental to all involved. When my drivers license was taken away... I thought... great (with sarcasm) now I will have to take the test all over again when I can drive. grrr. Next I thought about what you may have thought about sometimes... "why me?"
p I said to myself, "why the heck not you? ". Thankfully I have a very supportive spouse and we laugh whenever possible. Which has caused more than one gasp by medical professionals. We have had more laughs because of it and it also makes for really great stories.
I hope you really feel supported. We are here.
p

[brave]

I appreciate your replies and I can relate to you fully as each of you had similiar concerns as mine. I learn from you how to deal with it with minimum impact on my life. thanks

[NHE]

I appreciate your replies and I can relate to you fully as each of you had similiar concerns as mine. I learn from you how to deal with it with minimum impact on my life. thanks

Hi Brave,
Here is an article which discusses some good tips on establishing a work-from-home telecommuting option.

http://blog.nwjobs.com/ninetothrive/201 ... _to_l.html

I hope that this is helpful for you.

NHE

[Loobie]

Brave,
I just retired. I have pretty much captured my decision making angst on my blog about 2 - 4 entries back. I hear you, it's a monumental decision.

[robbie]

Just got to work until you drop, not working is one of the hardest things on the mind.You somehow feel lilke your taking yourself out of being a productive member of society .

[jimmylegs]

hi robbieeee

[Brainteaser]

Ask Stacy: How do i work from home without getting worked over?
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[Loobie]

Robs!, Most definitely that's the attitude we should all take and you and I have had many of these discussions in the past. Being only fresh out of the workforce, Robbie is dead on. I spent about a week where I was getting around good enough to second guess myself, but then I'd walk about the distance it was from my office to the bathroom a few times and realized I made the right move. Never pull that trigger too early or you'll regret it; you can't get it back!

[brave]

wow, I didn't login here for few days and now, I'm excited by seeing your replies.

I'm one of those who believe in staying active is the best thing for MS.
In my case, my neurologist recommended me to quit, three years a go.
I can't walk even 2 steps without aid, I'm using scooter to get around and fatigue is a killing me by mid day , hardly drag myself to end of the day.
currently working from home and able to manage everything perfect but my employer has agreed on my remote working for one month.

I'm sure many of you have been in this shoes, it's sad to quit a good job/well paid in this economy.

Please keep sharing your experience and advice as I need to decide by end of Dec.

Thanks,
brave