| Living with multiple sclerosis or any progressively | | | | nowadays as a healthy person. When you or a |
| chronic disease is a multidimensional task. Life can | | | | family member has MS, everyday can be a |
| be complicated and difficult enough when you are | | | | challenge. Family finances can be strained to the |
| healthy. If you are one of the 400 million people | | | | limit when health care costs come into the picture. |
| to be diagnosed with MS, then there are so many | | | | And if you have always been the sole income |
| issues and questions that you will probably have | | | | earner or even the second income, what do you |
| to deal with in your day to day life. | | | | do if you can no longer work? |
| Multiple sclerosis is not a death sentence, but | | | | Again, preparation is the key. Expect the best, but |
| when you don't know the first thing about what it | | | | prepare for the worst. Make sure your finances |
| means or what can happen to you, a diagnosis | | | | are in order. Begin now to make plans for the |
| can be very frightening. Once you get over the | | | | future. Even if you never become disabled, being |
| initial shock of having MS, you can eventually get | | | | prepared is still a good thing. It definitely can't hurt. |
| on with the business of living. The questions below | | | | Emotional and Physical Issues |
| are meant to give you some things to think | | | | Managing the stress of daily living as well as your |
| about. It is by no means the only set of questions | | | | symptoms can sometimes be difficult on your |
| you will have, but it is a place to start. | | | | own. The emotional and physical issues associated |
| First of all there are the possible symptoms | | | | with MS may eventually require the help of |
| associated with MS - fatigue, imbalance, | | | | professionals. It's not a sign of weakness to know |
| weakness, bladder problems; etc. These are | | | | when you may need a little help. Making the |
| probably what led you to the doctor in the first | | | | ultimate decision to turn to a professional is best |
| place. Add to that the medications and doctors to | | | | made with the help of your family and your |
| treat your unique set of symptoms. Then throw | | | | doctor. |
| in social, housing, and employment issues These | | | | To deal with physical issues, your doctor may |
| are just a few of the many issues you will deal | | | | suggest a physical or occupational therapist, or |
| with on a day to day basis, if you haven't begun | | | | both depending on your needs. Emotional issues |
| to already. | | | | may range from cognitive problems to severe |
| Family Issues | | | | depression. Cognitive impairment may be helped |
| If you have a family and you are the parent with | | | | by daily planning, learning memory tricks and |
| multiple sclerosis, many questions have probably | | | | organizing. The treatment for severe depression |
| crossed your mind. Depending on the ages of | | | | may be medication and or professional help. There |
| your children at the time you are diagnosed with | | | | is help, so you don't need to suffer needlessly. |
| MS, you will probably ask the following - How do I | | | | Employment Issues |
| tell my children that I have MS? How much about | | | | If you have gotten to the point where you feel |
| MS do I tell them? When should I tell them? You | | | | you can no longer work, then what happens |
| know your children and of course you don't want | | | | next? Does your job know that you have been |
| to frighten them. Talk it over with your spouse, | | | | diagnosed with multiple sclerosis? If so, have they |
| partner or a family member. Together you can | | | | made every reasonable accommodation to help |
| decide the best way to handle talking to your | | | | you keep working if you want to? The Americans |
| children. The best thing in the long run, is to tell | | | | with Disabilities Act has put several laws in place |
| them the truth. They know that something is | | | | to deal with these issues. Learn about your rights |
| wrong, if you are always tired or canceling special | | | | and what is available to you. |
| events. They deserve to know if something is | | | | If you have health insurance, is there a disability |
| wrong and how and if it will effect them. | | | | clause? Will it be enough to cover your health |
| Women with MS | | | | needs and expenses if and when you decide to |
| As a woman with multiple sclerosis, you no doubt | | | | stop working? These types of questions should |
| have many questions as well. You may ask | | | | ideally be asked before you let your employer |
| yourself can or should I even have children? How | | | | know and if possible even before you receive |
| many children can I have? Will I be physically able | | | | your MS diagnosis. That way if you need to make |
| to take care of my child? Should I continue my | | | | changes to your insurance you can do so before |
| medications while I'm pregnant? How does | | | | you become disabled and are no longer able to |
| pregnancy effect MS? If you already have | | | | work. |
| children, you wonder whether you will be able to | | | | If you have made the decision to stop working, |
| care for them as they get older. | | | | and know that you won't have insurance, the |
| Again, having a spouse or partner to work | | | | question of Social Security Disability Insurance is |
| through these questions is very helpful. If you | | | | an inevitability. Applying for it and getting |
| don't have children yet, your decision to have | | | | approved can be a daunting task. It doesn't have |
| children will ultimately effect them anyway. You | | | | to be. Doing your homework before you leave |
| need to take into account your total situation. This | | | | work, will make working through this task a whole |
| includes your current health and abilities. Several | | | | lot easier. |
| women I know have had children after receiving | | | | Find out everything, and I mean everything, that |
| their diagnosis, so it is possible to have and raise | | | | will be required and follow it to the letter. Answer |
| children even with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. | | | | every question on the application truthfully and |
| It helps if your spouse or partner is in complete | | | | thoroughly. Follow-up with your doctor to make |
| agreement and support of your decision. | | | | sure they have submitted everything they need |
| Men with MS | | | | to submit. If you are not approved the first time, |
| As a man with MS your concerns may be similar. | | | | try again. And above all, don't give up. You will |
| Although you won't physically have children, the | | | | succeed. |
| thought of raising a family as a man with multiple | | | | Social Issues |
| sclerosis may seem overwhelming to you. Will I | | | | For those of you who have stopped working, |
| be able to continue working? How can I work and | | | | what do you do with your time? Depression and |
| raise a family if I can't walk? Will my family think | | | | loneliness can become a big problem if you have |
| less of me if I can't work? How long will I be able | | | | limited mobility and no longer feel like going out. |
| to satisfy my wife? Will I eventually become a | | | | Many people with MS, have led active lives and |
| burden on my wife and family? | | | | while some can continue to do so, others just |
| These questions are not at all unrealistic. And as | | | | can't. There are several ways to get around this |
| difficult as they may be to answer right now, you | | | | issue. |
| will, at some point, need to come to terms with | | | | First of all, are there support groups in your area? |
| them. One of the best pieces of advice we | | | | Have you joined your local National MS Society? |
| received about living with MS was to expect the | | | | They are a great source of information and |
| best, but do all you can to prepare for the worst. | | | | support for events happening in your area. If you |
| Talk over the concerns you have with your | | | | have a computer and internet service, get on-line. |
| spouse or partner. Working through many of | | | | There are many support groups and several chat |
| these questions can help alleviate much of the | | | | rooms where people with MS get together |
| uncertainties that go along with them. Continuing | | | | regularly. |
| to dwell on them on your own will only lead to | | | | If you are still mobile, (and about 75% of people |
| depression which is all too common in people with | | | | with MS will never need a wheelchair), consider |
| MS. You need to take control and plan and | | | | doing yoga or some other exercise to stay |
| prepare for what can happen. | | | | healthy. The MS clinic in our area offers a water |
| Children with MS | | | | exercise class, yoga, and a Tai Chi class as well. |
| Believe it or not, there are children with MS. If | | | | All of these are geared toward multiple sclerosis |
| your young child has been diagnosed with multiple | | | | patients and people with limited mobility. So |
| sclerosis, you face a unique set of problems. | | | | whether you can walk or even if you can't, there |
| Emotionally this will be a hard thing to deal with, | | | | are ways to be involved in these types of |
| especially in the beginning. In spite of your own | | | | classes. You can learn something new and meet |
| feelings of why did this happen to my child, you | | | | new people in the process. |
| will also need to help them deal with their feelings. | | | | Housing Issues |
| They may take it quite calmly or they may be | | | | Accessible housing may be something that you |
| frightened and upset. A lot of this depends on | | | | may never need to worry about. But our little |
| you and how you handle the situation. | | | | mantra comes into play in this area, too. Expect |
| The questions you have may be along these lines. | | | | the best, but prepare for the worst. It won't do |
| How much and when should I tell my child about | | | | for you to have a dream house planned for your |
| their diagnosis? Should we tell their teachers and | | | | retirement that has multi-level living. If you |
| friends? Will my child eventually be able to care | | | | become disabled to the point where you can no |
| for themselves? Or will I always be their | | | | longer navigate the stairs, what will happen then? |
| caregiver? And if your child is an adult and you | | | | Plan your dream home for this eventuality and |
| are their caregiver; what will happen to my child if | | | | include things like wheelchair ramps, accessible |
| something happens to me? | | | | bathrooms with grab bars and kitchens with easy |
| This is such a difficult issue to even imagine, let | | | | to reach counters and cabinets. Wide open |
| alone having to deal with the problems your child | | | | spaces, hardwood floors and tiles, are other things |
| will probably face from day to day. But as a | | | | you may want to consider when planning your |
| parent, we are uniquely equipped to handle | | | | home. Condominiums may also be a good choice |
| whatever our children bring into our lives. A child | | | | so that yard work won't be an issue. |
| with MS is no exception. Love them, support | | | | As you can see, living with MS brings up a myriad |
| them and let them know you will always be there | | | | of challenges that you as a person with multiple |
| no matter what happens. Also, make sure they | | | | sclerosis will inevitably deal with from day to day. |
| know that they can come to you at any time. | | | | But living with MS is not impossible to do. |
| Whenever they have questions or feel like they | | | | Watching my husband live with this disease has |
| are experiencing a symptom they've never had | | | | taught me a lot of things. One thing stands out. It |
| before, encourage them to always let you know. | | | | may not always be easy, but people with MS |
| Financial Issues | | | | have the strength and determination to live |
| Raising a family as we all know, is hard enough | | | | fulfilling lives in spite of having multiple sclerosis. |