Joe, I am really saddened to hear your story, you got kicked in the teeth by life at too young of an age.

Please don't give up, be as strong as you can be, you are blessed to have a true blue girlfriend and I am sure that she is making a huge difference in your life.

Find something that you can do that won't take a lot of physical power. Go back to school if you are able to, there are a lot of things out there that you can choose as a career.

Good luck.

(P.S. I think that you must have been a pretty lucky guy to have had a dad that you still miss after 4 years of him being gone...he must have been a really special man.)

awwww...joe..lilmarge is right. love for a father is a gift, and very special...

and times are very tough, soooo many people are struggling. a good job, good pay...you are not alone...doesn't seem like it should be so hard, does it?

it does sounds like you have a true inspiration tho...your sweetheart, she must love you very much!
loving and being loved keeps us striving. really, nothing is stronger than that.

peace...katie

Oh Joe, I am sorry that you have to go through all of this at your young age. However, do not let this get you down. It sounds like you have a great supportive person in your life. Use all of these things as an incentive to achieve the things you want. For instance if you don't have a degree yet, see if you can get it through an accredited online college. I hope you feel better soon.

HUGZ!!!!!

hi Joe, I feel for you, I was diagnosed, when I was 23, so, I know what it is like. I am now 46, and still doing ok, I am trying for postal disability right now. I figiure i can get odd jobs around here in Indiana, I'm trying to get a job at the indy500 track, I have worked there before, and they always need help, they would hire me, and it's not really work, plus you get to see all the races for free, (you get paid), for watching them. LOL. Hang in there, we're with you. Pat woods Ladoga Indiana.

Jo I just want to welcome you and let you know you have found a great place for support...
april

Tough situation. I'm glad mailman33 was able to answer with a long range view after being diagnosed at 23, himself. And he has posted how difficult it is to be a mailman with MS, now, I hope he does get disability. But it seems to me working for the federal gov is a very good employer to have when working with an illness/disability. But not many are able to obtain employment with the gov.

Something you can do, while you are sorting all these ideas through your mind is to listen to the Webcast "Letting Go of Your MS Guilt" on Thursday July 24 at 5:30 PM PST (7:30 CST)

I'm not sure what to do either, so I'm just scratching for possibilities. Here is how the webcast is advertsed.
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"Do you feel guilty about your MS when you think of its impact on your family or partner, when you ask for help, or when youre too tired to participate in activities? Tune in to Letting Go of Your MS Guilt as experts discuss why people with MS feel guilt, how to change negative thought patterns and why doing so is important for your health"
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I thought I saw there was going to be vocational rehabilitation in the webcast.


Here she is I just looked at it again:

Michelle Toshima, Ph.D.
Dr. Toshima is the clinical rehabilitation psychologist for the MS Center at Evergreen Hospital Medical Center in Kirkland, Washington. She focuses on helping patients maximize their potential while acknowledging change and loss. She understands that coping with medical conditions and physical or cognitive disability can be a major challenge to patients, their families and the community.

*******************************************
I'm hoping some answers will come floating out of it for me too!

http://www2.healthtalk.com/go/multiple-sclerosis/webcasts/letting-go-of-your-ms-guilt

Joe, I don't know if you've decided on a treatment for MS, but as a very long time MS'er, I'll tell you a couple of options you could consider.. Check ldn.org for info about low dose naltrexone. No needles & quite inexpensive. The other thing I've done for more than 20yrs is get a B12 injections weekly & I think this keeps me in remission.

Bye for now,
Lorna

Joe, I can only imagine how hard this must be for you. My son is 25 years old and was
DX last year. Are you currently on any medication? If you are having financial problems and cannot afford the medication, you could check with the drug company and see if they have any programs for financial assistance. I am so very happy you have a wonderful girl friend. It helps to know you are not alone with this disease. I am sorry about your father. It is not easy to lose someone you love and it is okay to be sad sometimes when you think of him and how much you miss him. I am sure there are times you think of him and smile thinking of all the good times you had with him. I agree, Mailman33 has some very positive words for you. You can still do whatever you want, it just might take you a little more time. My son is in College and doing fair. He struggles with some of his studies and has had to drop a few classes due to relapses. But...with the medication he is on, he has not had a relapse since July of 07!!!! Take care. Don't worry everything will fall in place for you. God bless you!

WOW THE AGE OLD QUESTION OF WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE...DO YOU LIKE COMPUTERS OR KNOW COMPUTERS...GOOGLE CCNA AND SEE IF THIS CAN PUT YOU ON A GOOD PATH AND WHERE YOU ARE ABLE TO CONTROL YOUR OWN CAREER AND DESTINY...I AM SORRY FOR THE LOSS OF YOUR FATHER...I LOSS MY MOTHER THE SAME YEAR AND IT'S TOUGH BUT YOU DO GET THROUGH...SORRY FOR THE CAPS BUT HAVING EYE TROUBLE RIGHT NOW...GOOD LUCK AND BE BLESSED!

I feel for you! I am 23 just got diagnosed last year at 22, I'd love to say it gets easier but physically it doesn't seem to cut you a break. Mentally you will adapt and it'll be normal. You are so incredibly lucky to have found a girl that will be by your side through all this! I wasn't so lucky! I am so sorry about your dad! Sounds like times are tough for you but keep your head up and try and be positive things can only get better :) Good luck finding a job! and good luck with the girlfriend! she sounds like a keeper for sure :)

"The greatest Gift I got from God
and I call him DAD"

My heart goes out to you. I lost my dad 8 years ago and still feel so much pain. I know that he is a tpeace and in a better place and we will reunite again one day.

I had a very emotional week last week. Teary etc and really mnissing him. I thought it was because I was about to turn 40. It suddenly dawned on me when my partner said that maybe I was feeling more because he was around me rather than just than just because I miss him. I felt him so strongly. Weird but I am fine this week.

Maybe your dad really is by your side helping you through this terrible time and that is why you are feeling it.

You are so young but attitude is definatley a big thing-Don't let it beat you down-turn it around and make it into a personal challenge to beat it.

I hope you are okay and welcome to the site.

Joe, I am so sorry to hear of the hardships you are facing. Just remember that the very strength you used to write this message is more than enough to carry you through these ruff times. I and the rest of DS family will be praying for you and your family and we are here every minute of the day when you need us. Everything you hope to achieve will come to pass!:)

"When you feel like giving up, remember why you held on for so long in the first place."

GodsSpeed
F68

So sorry to hear of this. Contact your state vocational rehabilitation office through the dept. of human services. Ask them for career guidance. They have oodles of money for education, training, placement, job skills development, assistive technology, relocation to a city where you can work, resumee costs, clothing costs for job hunting, and oodles more. Do not ever let them tell you that their funds are limited - they so have money. If you need any advice about dealing with them, do not hesitate for a second to contact me. I am occassionally gone for a day or two, but otherwise reply to my messages fairly quickly. Leanna

So sorry to hear of this. Contact your state vocational rehabilitation office through the dept. of human services. Ask them for career guidance. They have oodles of money for education, training, placement, job skills development, assistive technology, relocation to a city where you can work, resumee costs, clothing costs for job hunting, and oodles more. Do not ever let them tell you that their funds are limited - they do have money. If you need any advice about dealing with them, do not hesitate for a second to contact me. I am occassionally gone for a day or two, but otherwise reply to my messages fairly quickly. Leanna