Why I'm Here/Out of Lurk/Friend

[Guest guest]

I don't have MS. I thought I could just "lurk" and listen. How many times do you hear, "I have a friend, her husband has been diagnosed with MS?" That's who I am. I have a friend, and her husband had problems with his ankle, walking, keeping balance. They gave him an ankle brace, and started with "tests." The MRI came back with the doctors concluding that he had MS. So, the spinal tap was done. Well, as some of you had mentioned, nothing showed up. Or at least not enough for her husband. Now, he's in the "maybe I don't have it" stage. The bigger problem is he's a soldier. His unit is about to go back to Iraq, so he wants to be put back on "deployable" status! From what I was reading online, I gather that heat doesn't help MS, but he will tell you (he's already been over to Iraq) he felt the best he ever felt while in Iraq. Also understand, they are dealing with Army doctors. Without scaring her, what information can I give her, where can she go, she has already stated that she doesn't like the Neurologist her husband is seeing, seems he doesn't have the time to answer all of her questions. This is also the doctor that dangles the "staying on active duty" papers. If there is anywhere she can go to get more information or a webpage where she can do her own research please feel free to send them to me and I will pass them onto her.

And, no, this isn't me...there really is a person out there that doesn't want to join the list, it's all too new. I'm one of only two people she has told. I came here because it's hard to have to help without talking to other people about it, for me, anyway.

Thanks!

Connie Steffens

[Guest guest]

Hi Connie and welcome to the group feel free to ask any question about MS. My name is Bill and I have had my MS now since Aug of 99 and I am 42, I am also now on disability because of my MS.

Here is my personal web page and you can read more about my MS and diabetes, I have that also.

http://home.insightbb.com/~msdiabetes/

A good person to talk to in the group is Dave he is in the Air Force and recently found that he has MS and the Air Force is making him get out of the military because of his MS. I hope Dave gets back with you he can probably give you better details how the military will deal with him.

Bill

Why I'm Here/Out of Lurk/Friend

I don't have MS. I thought I could just "lurk" and listen. How many times do you hear, "I have a friend, her husband has been diagnosed with MS?" That's who I am. I have a friend, and her husband had problems with his ankle, walking, keeping balance. They gave him an ankle brace, and started with "tests." The MRI came back with the doctors concluding that he had MS. So, the spinal tap was done. Well, as some of you had mentioned, nothing showed up. Or at least not enough for her husband. Now, he's in the "maybe I don't have it" stage. The bigger problem is he's a soldier. His unit is about to go back to Iraq, so he wants to be put back on "deployable" status! From what I was reading online, I gather that heat doesn't help MS, but he will tell you (he's already been over to Iraq) he felt the best he ever felt while in Iraq. Also understand, they are dealing with Army doctors. Without scaring her, what information can I give her, where can she go, she has already stated that she doesn't like the Neurologist her husband is seeing, seems he doesn't have the time to answer all of her questions. This is also the doctor that dangles the "staying on active duty" papers. If there is anywhere she can go to get more information or a webpage where she can do her own research please feel free to send them to me and I will pass them onto her. And, no, this isn't me...there really is a person out there that doesn't want to join the list, it's all too new. I'm one of only two people she has told. I came here because it's hard to have to help without talking to other people about it, for me, anyway. Thanks! Connie Steffens

[Guest guest]

Connie a lot of time when someone is new to MS they will go through a time of denial that they have the disease. If he is having real health trouble he may not have much of a choice but to deal with it.

Heat is one of my biggest enemies and can really run a person down if they are sensitive to it.

Many with MS have fatigue problem's, I am lucky I don't get tired much at all.

With MS many have short term memory trouble.

This disease treats everyone with MS differently, I have bladder trouble and I have no balance now so I use a walker to get around.

I was lucky I had both short and long term disibility on my companies insurance. I am still on my old companies long term Insurance and I also was able to get on Social Security the first time I applied.

Here is some good info about MS.

http://home.insightbb.com/~msdiabetes/msgrouphelp.htm

Does your friend also use the internet? She may want to hook up with our discussion group to learn more.

Bill

Why I'm Here/Out of Lurk/Friend

I don't have MS. I thought I could just "lurk" and listen. How many times do you hear, "I have a friend, her husband has been diagnosed with MS?" That's who I am. I have a friend, and her husband had problems with his ankle, walking, keeping balance. They gave him an ankle brace, and started with "tests." The MRI came back with the doctors concluding that he had MS. So, the spinal tap was done. Well, as some of you had mentioned, nothing showed up. Or at least not enough for her husband. Now, he's in the "maybe I don't have it" stage. The bigger problem is he's a soldier. His unit is about to go back to Iraq, so he wants to be put back on "deployable" status! From what I was reading online, I gather that heat doesn't help MS, but he will tell you (he's already been over to Iraq) he felt the best he ever felt while in Iraq. Also understand, they are dealing with Army doctors. Without scaring her, what information can I give her, where can she go, she has already stated that she doesn't like the Neurologist her husband is seeing, seems he doesn't have the time to answer all of her questions. This is also the doctor that dangles the "staying on active duty" papers. If there is anywhere she can go to get more information or a webpage where she can do her own research please feel free to send them to me and I will pass them onto her. And, no, this isn't me...there really is a person out there that doesn't want to join the list, it's all too new. I'm one of only two people she has told. I came here because it's hard to have to help without talking to other people about it, for me, anyway. Thanks! Connie Steffens

[Guest guest]

I think the scooba diving is an excellent idea as long as he goes with a buddy.

Patti

Isn't there work he can do in the military that isn't so active? What will he do when the day comes that the heat has him paralyzed and he has to get out of wherever he is?Well, I didn't say he was "fighting" in Iraq, there are a lot of soldiers over there doing the "Paperwork." I would say he already had a "desk" job, nothing like my husband. Oddly enough the doctor said scuba diving would be a good thing for him (he does that recreationally, has nothing to do with his military job). I never ask exactly what people do in the military unless they want to volunteer information, but from what I've heard, he's not jumping out of any airplanes any time soon. Connie, Don't Let Success Go To Your Head or Failure To Go To Your Heart

[Guest guest]

Are his quarters and work area air-conditioned? If not, can he obtain A/C

for medical reasons? If he can, then why not encourage him to work? Many of

us have had to quit our jobs because we *can't* work, let him " enjoy " it

while he can.

I miss teaching. There are so many jobs available here and people keep

dangling job offers in my face--problem is that I know that I'll end up

quitting because of MS symptoms--It's happened before and will likely

happen again as my eyes are too unstable...so goes life.

I know that going to Iraq might be scary for you (and anyone) and I don't

blame you for wanting to convince him to stay out of it. But if it's what

he really wants and he's able to do it then MS should not be used as an

excuse until it's REALLY a reason to stay out of it because I'm sure that

eventually--(maybe not now but maybe 10 or 15 years from now) he won't have

a choice about not working.

At 10:04 PM 09/02/2004, you wrote:

>In a message dated 9/2/04 2:57:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

>ilhamdolilah@... writes:

>

>

>>Isn't there work he can do in the

>>military that isn't so active? What will he do when the day comes that the

>>heat has him paralyzed and he has to get out of wherever he is?

>

>

>Well, I didn't say he was " fighting " in Iraq, there are a lot of soldiers

>over there doing the " Paperwork. " I would say he already had a " desk "

>job, nothing like my husband. Oddly enough the doctor said scuba diving

>would be a good thing for him (he does that recreationally, has nothing to

>do with his military job). I never ask exactly what people do in the

>military unless they want to volunteer information, but from what I've

>heard, he's not jumping out of any airplanes any time soon.

>

>Connie,

>Don't Let Success Go To Your Head or Failure To Go To Your Heart

>

>

>