Eloise I went 13 years before I had to quit. All my lesions were spinal cord so I had paralysis. I hwd to go to a scooter and went 5 more years after that. My fatigue and my loss of function in my right hand made it just too hard to continue I have been off work for a year now. I am adjusting. RobinS

I left just 2 months ago and less than a year after I was diagnosed. It was too stressful for me so now I'm a full time Mom with 2 kids.

The symptoms that caused me to quit were - fatigue, burning and numbness down my left side and memory and concentration loss, all worsening with increased stress.

I know there's a lot of people here that are sicker than me, and I'm lucky to have a company sponsored permanent disability program. But I'm pretty proud of myself to have been so attached to my career; then realized it wasn't worth my health or sanity. I know I made the right choice.

Hope this helps - take care!

Most of my symptoms started at work and with the stress would start as soon as i got there.

i was in the hospital a few times and evertime I went back to work I would have to take another week off. I would say i quit working around the first month of my diagnosis.

I was diagnosed in 2000 after nearly two years of declining health, but I have continued to work full-time with missing approx. 2 days/month the first two years following diagnosis. Unfortunately, I am in the midst of a very bad attack and it is getting more and more difficult to function and ignoring it just wasn't working anymore. My boss has been very compassionate, but I know that it's only a matter of time before I have to quit due to being unable to fulfill the tasks of the job. I have been experiencing severe pain, numb/tingling, headaches, extreme fatigue and weakness. I haven't received very competent medical care so it will be more difficult for me to get sick benefit employment insurance or CPP disability insurance until I can find a good doctor. I have been referred to an MS Clinic, but have yet to be called with the appt. date.

My MOM has Ms and she told me after the doctors said they thought I had MS to apply for disabity right away. I did not exactly listen to her.

The reason she said that is because it takes about a year for them to gather all needed information. In other words just get the ball rolling. sometimes it can take a very long time just to get an appointment which is usually over the phone. As time goes by and you see other doctors you can have the records submitted to them.

From the day i applied and recieved disability was about 18 months.

make sure you keep track of every doctor you see and all your medical records. they will ask for every doctor including hospitals to get your records from.

I am a teacher as well. I was diagnosed about a year ago. Sometimes I feel like I could teach until I die of old age, other time I don't know how I am going to make it through the day. Fatigue and pain are my two biggest issues. I try to pace myself and work 1/2 days when I am low on energy. Although my students don't know that I have MS when I am tired I just tell them I'm tired and make them come to me. I am going to work as long as I can. My job makes me happy, and it is far less stressful than home.

I worked up to 5 months ago, I was diagnosed 8 years ago and did okay until just recently when the stress and fatigue were just too much for me. I have not received or applied for any disability. Here in Massachusetts it is very difficult to get disability.

Hey Eloise! I think it depends on what grade level you are teaching and what kind of support you can get from Administration. I taught English at a Title 1 school, and the stress, fatigue, pain was too much for me. I hope that you can work it out that you can stay in your classroom and be healthy, especially under the ever-changing NCLB guidelines! Take care and good luck with your Masters. I am hopefully going to use mine again in the future!!! Luv, Julz :D

I did not want to make it sound like getting disabilty is easy because for many people it is not. sorrry if I made it sound as if it is.

But having your ducks in a row will help with the process and nothing is guarenteed. many people they denied first time around as my mom was.

It does not come close to what i was earning but every dollar i am grateful for.

I def agree with Julz and what she said about the cooperation of administration. You really are going to have to weigh if the stress and physical exeration are worth staying for. Just listen to your body, you will know when you just cant do it anymore.

Thank-you so very much for all of your replies! It is so difficult to determine what to do. On the one hand, I feel that I should be able to continue to work. On the other hand, I wonder if the stress of the job is taking its toll on me? I just don't know.

I teach high school and I really enjoy my students. For some reason, I can relate to teens (well, most of the time). The stress comes not so much from the students, but from all the hours that teaching demands. It is not unusual for me to be at the school from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. I am quite used to 12 hour days, but am not sure my MS is disposed to this type of work schedule. I also have Diabetes II and between the two of these diseases, wonder if I'm playing with fire, so to speak, in continuing to work?

On the other hand, I think I'd go crazy if I didn't work! I guess my job is a huge part of my identity and I am afraid of losing it. Does this make sense to anyone? Also, I am worried that any disability I might get would be too little for this two paycheck family to live on...not to mention the insurance benefits that I would lose.

So...I still don't have any answers, but some food for thought. I had forgotten that my school district has a disability policy for every employee. This is something I need to check into.

Thanks again for the wonderful responses! You are each soooo special!

Check that disability insurance!!! If that is in effect, you can keep working. If all fails, you can always make an arrangement to teach 3 or 4 periods instead of 6-7 (I was offered that option). It'll cut your pay, but your insurance should still be okay. Remember that the Union will back you. Inform your site rep and see what your union will do to keep you on the job and keep your Admin honest. If you want to work and your school wants to keep you (and I'm sure they do, especially ones that put in 12 hour days!), you all can make some kind of arrangement that keeps everyone happy and healthy. Good luck!!

I hope they want to keep me--my last evaluation was fantastic--but I don't know if they know how many hours I put in--they're usually not around when I am.

I plan to sign my contract for full time next year--and then I can always ask for part time if it just isn't working out. I learned the hard way many years ago what happens when you DON'T sign your contract and you are working with an administrator who sees you as a thorn in his side (different system/different circumstances, but a very hard lesson nevertheless).

So..I will be looking into the disability insurance as soon as I sign my contract. We are too 'small' for me to look into the disability without the admin. learning about it.

I see that I do have some options. Thanks!

Eloise: When I quit work in april of 2006 I applied immediately for SSDI. I received my acceptance in November. I had minimal problems short of waiting the 7 months. I only had 2 time off for relapses in the 7 years I worked but being a nurse after I took a desk job I was able to give my own treatments and continue working. I do know that once you make the decision to leave it is difficult to go back. Good luck RobinS