Multiple Sclerosis: Any nurses out there dealing with this disease and still working?

[ValerieB]

I want to know how other nurses are dealing with having Multiple Sclerosis on the job. I was diagnosed in 2000 as " mildly affected". The symptoms I have are tingeling, some mild numbness and spasms ( few and far between). If I didn't tell anyone I had it ( lots of people know ), they wouldn't know. Recently, I started having problems walking and was put on some prednisone and am on FMLA. I haven't had to do that in 5 years, nor have I ever had to use it in 5 years. I'm a little scared because I love my job as a bed side nurse and am hoping this is just short lived exacerbation. Any advice or words of wisdom would help. Does anyone have a support group at their hospital for nurses with MS?

[southern rn]

Hi there, sorry you're having problems! I do not have MS but my twin sis does also an RN. She doesn't practice anymore unfortunately but I know the struggle she went through when she was first diagnosed and still working. I do remember reading or being told that the disease is most active early in its course so if you have been diagnosed since 2000 chances are your symptoms will continue to be mild. Try and rest as much as you can, this will help with symptoms some and as I am sure you know fatigue can be a big factor in this disease. Maybe try shortening your workdays or workweek when you retu

rn from FMLA? I don't know of any hospital based support groups or for nurses per se but there is one message board called braintalk you should be able to find online pretty easily, they have sites for lots of different conditions on it. Also my sis posts regularly on an online Christian based MS support board, but everyone is welcome to join. PM me if you want the web address, I will have to pull it out of my favorites. Hope you get to feeling better soon.

Tracy

[Nesher, BSN, RN]

You stated that you are on prednisone - my neurologist gives me methypred 1 gm IV for 3 days if I have an exacerbation. Works like a charm and boy does my house get clean!

Are you seeing a neurologist with experience working with MS?

Are you on any of the available drugs for MS?

PM is you would like.

[ValerieB]

You stated that you are on prednisone - my neurologist gives me methypred 1 gm IV for 3 days if I have an exacerbation. Works like a charm and boy does my house get clean!

Are you seeing a neurologist with experience working with MS?

Are you on any of the available drugs for MS?

PM is you would like.

Thank you for responding. I am currently taking betaserone and have been for 5 years. This is the first real exacerbation since I was first diagnosed 5 years ago. I am taking 50 mg's po prednisone for the last 4 days and the weakness is getting progressively worse ( totally new symptom for me). I am calling my neurologist on Monday ( yes, he specializes in MS) and talk to him about IV drugs. I had to do that initially 5 years ago for 4 days. It gave me a funky metallic taste in my mouth that lasted for weeks. Yuck!.