Would anyone else like to talk about MS?

I have had it for 4 years that I know of. I am almost in secondary stages. I was diagnosed on January3,2002.I had a hard time getting on SSd at first but I got on it.

It shouldn't be hard to get SSI or SSD. I don't personally have anyone in my family with it, but I give all the best to you and hope that everything is ok.

Actually I have never heard of this, wish I could help you out. What exactly is this if you don't mind me asking.

i have yet to be diagnosed with it, but i am pretty sure i have it. i've always had health problems which i now know are symptomatic of MS. seems that most of my symptoms have really hit hard this past year. i have been having major vision problems, such as seeing a 'white cloud' or a spot between my 2 eyes that basically fade away...it lasts for about half an hour and then goes away. sometimes the blind spot shifts during that time, but it usually doesn't last longer than that. i suspect occular neuritis. i have previously had other eye problems which perhaps nobody linked to MS. scarring and damage to the optic nerve doesnt sound very 'normal' just because i have high myopia ;) i have also always had loss of sensation in limbs, originally thought to be linked to nerve damage from a spinal problem. but now, looking back, perhaps MS is what caused it in the first place. lately i have been waking up dizzy for no apparent reason, feeling minor malaise, i've had bouts with disturbed sleep patterns and minor depression...you name it, i've had it. the only thing left for me to go through is major trouble walking. i do sometimes have trouble, but i always blamed it on my back problem and natural clumsiness due to the bad eyesight. my boyfriend's mom has had MS for over 10 years, but is not wheelchair-bound. apart from fatigue, every time i have met her, she has seemed coherent, able-bodied, etc, but i've heard about the days when she stays home, what we call 'bad days'. i'm not sure which meds she is on, but she definitely has improvement when taking them. as for SSD, i don't think that they would refuse you because you have MS in particular....rather, they do give everyone a real hard time. i was on the canadian equivalent of SSD at the beginning of this year (due to what i thought was headaches, migraines and eye strain, but now i think it might have been the onset of MS), and i had to fight extremely hard to get it. they refused me once due to not having good enough documentation from my doctor and my jobs. i also had a slack@ss agent who i may have gotten fired for her verbal abuse and lack of wanting to do anything to help me. i think they basically want you to give up because it's such a pain to deal with them, but if you persevere, they should eventually give in, if nothing else, at least to shut you up temporarily LOL. good luck with it!

I have MS also. It started with relapse remitting and moved into a secondary stage and I went on chemo for it (a new treatment they use is chemo now). It did slow it down, but it was definitely a hard time for me, and my family. I would love to talk with others that have ms. I havent applied for SSD because I am not sure if they would go by my hubbys income. One thing you definitely can do is apply for discounts on things like your PG&E (whatever power company you use) they will give that to you no matter your income. I live in southern ca, so here that was a HUGE help. Good luck and youll be in my prayers!

I am always open to talking about MS. There is so much to it, that it is nice to have a support group.