MS Strength

In the spring of 2006, I was having trouble with my old MS symptoms, and new, scary ones were evolving. I was participating in a clinical trial, but I felt that the doctors were just monitoring me and not treating my multiple sclerosis. I was recently out of work, due to sickness, and very stressed as well as depressed about my future. I had filed for disability in February of 2006, since I was having trouble maintaining even part-time work. Bill was teaching at the time (his third year as an alternate route candidate.) He didn’t receive tenure, which meant he would have to start again at a new school system or change careers. Since he didn’t go the traditional teaching route and had merely “tried on” teaching for fit and compatability, he decided that he would try something else, since he didn’t love it. More stress as we were (briefly) both unemployed.

When I started to experience a weird tingling sensation when swallowing, I began to really panic. I went to visit the doctors in the clinical trial, and the director informed me that I wasn’t having swallowing issues, because that is a symptom of a more advanced case of MS. He told me to take Neurontin, a neuropathy medication, and it would stop any tingling sensations I was experiencing. I replied that I know what strange swallowing feels like and isn’t such a new symptom evidence of an acute attack? I also stated that although I was only diagnosed in 2005, I’d had symptoms of attacks since 1998.

I was disregarded by the doctors and told to just continue taking the Betaseron, after having also been disregarded about the new vertigo symptom that started in the winter of 2005 – 2006. I was at my wit’s end with getting no answers, and decided to change my plan of attack: I sought the help of a recommended MS specialist in my area.

When I visited this doctor, he finally answered my questions. Yes, the vertigo and swallowing problems were probably signs of a new attack, and yes, someone as young as myself could experience swallowing issues (depending on the areas of my MS lesions, not on how long I’d had MS.) He sent me for MRIs and started me on my first course of IV and oral steroids. An interesting experience.

During the past 2 years, I have worked from home for a company that exclusively hires people with disabilities.  I found out about this company through a vocational rehabilitation counselor.  The National Telecommuting Institute, located in Boston, Massachusetts, provides online opportunities for home-bound people.  Most of the job opportunities are customer service-related, including order entry and sales help.  If people are receiving disability benefits, NTI works with them to keep their earnings below the allowed maximum.

I have worked on the Internal Revenue Service seasonal program these past 2 years from October until the end of March.  The job entails locating and ordering IRS forms, packages, and publications for individual tax payers, companies, and tax professionals.  This is all accomplished through a high-speed internet connection and a phone line.  The benefits of the IRS program include higher wages (depending upon your county) and an hourly health benefit contribution.  The IRS jobs are mostly seasonal (they are currently recruiting for the upcoming tax season), but there are other telecommuting job listings.  This is a great way to make some extra money while working from the comfort of your own home.

Last night, I went with Bill and my mom to see a local baseball game. This is the fifth time we’ve gone, and we always have a great time. My parents get tickets each summer, and Bill and I have also gone by ourselves or with friends. It’s such a good outing because the tickets are relatively inexpensive, and sometimes the proceeds go to a charity, including the National MS Society. The stadium is pretty new, and we seem to find seats out of the scorching sun because the place is never packed. So the three of us planted ourselves behind home plate (near the top of the bleachers under the overhang) and had to dodge several foul balls, which some of the kids delightfully caught. We had to shield my mom, who recently had eye surgery and couldn’t see well out of her protective “Ray Charles” sunglasses. No one got bonked on the head, so all in all, a good time was had by everyone.