Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Do you ever use your "MS card"?

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    #46
    I see nothing wrong with what you did. You stated you needed to see the Dr and your concern with your MS.

    I admit that I have not just shown up at my PCP's office and requested to be seen, but I would if I am sick and cannot wait a few days. I personally don't care if I have to wait a few hours, I want to be seen.

    You know your own body and what you are feeling. If you are concerned that the wait is not a good idea for you then do what you feel is best.

    No one can say how you feel better than you!

    Comment


      #47
      ms 'card' - what's that?

      there's no such a thing as an ms card.

      it's a real disease with debilitating symptoms. and not only that, relapses have a time-sensitive element that is not to be taken lightly.

      no one truly knows what anyone else with ms is experiencing, so whatever one has to do to get relief or treatment is par for the course. it's bad enough that some neuros accuse ms'ers of seeing pink elephants half the time...

      so don't hang yourself on the cross for what you do, or let anyone else do it.

      as a single mom who operates 99% of the time as if i don't have ms (even when i'm in terrible pain), i wouldn't lose a wink of sleep for revealing my medical information to get some help. when is that a reason to pay penance?

      i'm appalled at some of the high-handed responses this post has gotten. wow.

      Comment


        #48
        I have and I don't see anything unethical about it. When I get sick, especially when a fever is involved, I do suffer. I have six children to take care of on my own, plus I run a home daycare.

        Comment


          #49
          I just got around to reading this thread, and I think that with MS, and the complications that can be brought on with being "sick"...that it is valid to use the MS card.

          What I'm envious of is that it worked for you. It sure hasn't worked for me, and I've tried to use it to get a sooner appt. with my GP, and even with my neuro. Guess I need new docs (I am in the process of changing my neuro.)

          I have had the experience of coming home from the hospital and being told by the hospital that I needed to be seen in 10 days by my GP, but not being able to get an appt with the GP for a month (even though I used the MS card, the MRSA infection follow up card, and the hospital said I needed to be seen card.) When I finally saw him at the one month mark, he called an ambulance and sent me straight to the hospital.

          My neuro is just as bad, they say they don't have an appt and put you on a cancellation list, but then never seem to have a cancellation.

          My doctors seem to rely on the ER for anything that is urgent. I've been told more than once to "go to the ER"...when I called with a problem that I believe could have been dealt with in the office.

          This isn't an unusual situation where I live, doctors are all booked up, and my friends with other medical conditions seem to deal with the same problem.

          My only doctors that are same day responsive are my physiatrists who manage my pump.

          So I say, if playing the MS card works...then by all means go for it.

          Comment


            #50
            What you did is no big deal! Some of the people here are taking this way too seriously. I've had MS since 2007 and you better believe I've played the "ms card" here and there. I figure if I have to be stuck with this I should be able to get out of a few things like say, lunch with my mother-in-law because I'm just too tired.

            Comment


              #51
              Originally posted by zebulun View Post
              there's no such a thing as an ms card.

              it's a real disease with debilitating symptoms. and not only that, relapses have a time-sensitive element that is not to be taken lightly.

              no one truly knows what anyone else with ms is experiencing, so whatever one has to do to get relief or treatment is par for the course.

              i'm appalled at some of the high-handed responses this post has gotten. wow.
              WELL SAID & I COULD NOT AGREE MORE
              You never fail, until you stop trying__Albert Einstein

              Comment


                #52
                am I supposed to have a card????

                Didn't know I was to have a card where do I apply? Seriously, IMHO there is NO MS card (perhaps this is what set several posters off)???? My dh says I always have to have ALL THE FACTS, TONE and CONTEXT of a situation before I pass on my opinion (it's just like ***** EVERYONE has one) usually.

                After much reading, you stated a fact you have MS, there WERE NO other patients in the room, you were concerned about your OWN health (it's up to you to take care of yourself) unless you are unable to speak or do not have your mental facilities as no one else EVER knows how you feel as we are ALL different on different day it's the nature of this delightful illness, disease, condition or whatever you want to call it.

                Just FYI I have a HC license plate but DON'T use it when I don't need it but do when I do need it (during the heat). Or when I have just had back, knee whatever surgery. Also use the wheelchairs then too as I have given up trying to prove I'm fine when I'm not. Sure doesn't help me and no one else cares I'm quite sure.


                I tend to operate on the ignore it till it gets over the level of a 5 on the 0-10 of pain or seriousness. Thus the following example: coughing badly called PCP & ask for cough syrup (after office hours). He called it in and told me to come in and have an X-ray next day if not better. An hour later after taking cough syrup, could not stop coughing or couldn't breath well.

                Dh says do you want to go to ER, shake my head yes. He says get ready and I'll take you. I shake my head no!! He says "What do you want me to do call an ambulance?" I shake my head yes. It comes, am waiting like rest at the ER & trying to write down bills that need to be paid for my dh while waiting and he says you won't be staying. Two hours later, numerous x-rays,blood work, CScan, etc. etc. I am admitted for a week with collapsed lungs.

                Sorry for the lengthy saga but my ? is this------- When dh said do you want me to call the ambulance (in a smart aleck tone) should I have just shook my head no and sat there coughing and peeing in the chair or indicated I actually did need an ambulance? I think not and to this day IF I bother to share anything with him he DOES believe me. Others that don't know you or your medical condition can't possibly know you have MS or what that may or may not cause (unless you have" I have MS" in a tat on your forehead/you didn't say do you just wondering).

                Another point just FYI running to the ER for a cold, virus, flu is NOT what the ER is to be used for IMHO and also theirs as they often say on TV. Those are the conditions you are to see your PCP for unless the flu turns into pneumonia and you have to be hospitalized three times like I was during a one month period! And yes I do tend to try and ignore most things unless I just have to admit there is something wrong with me. I can be found sailing down that river of DENIAL most of the time. If ignored, it will eventually go away. Yes I have learned some from this continued pleasant view of life. Not much but some.

                If I don't take care of me no one else is going to step up and do it because I live inside me and no one but me actually KNOWS how I feel.

                I am glad you took care of yourself and would encourage to choose your words carefully and EXPLAIN the entire scenario when posting a ? or asking someone a ? Thus you could get entirely different answers.

                Lastly if you ask a ? here or anywhere else you must be ready for ALL opinions or perhaps you might not want to ask the ? We are not all going to agree on all things just as MS does not affect all people the same way or each person the same way every day. Just my way of saying we all have different views and different experiences and that DOES affect our perspective on most issues.

                Comment


                  #53
                  I have never done it with my PCP, but she is so nice, she was the one to give me my dx and when I call, I can get in right way. I think she feels bad for me so she always gets me in quickly.

                  I have used it when I do not wnat to see the relative, I tell them I am really not feeling well...

                  I do always use my handicapped placard, cause if UI feel okay when I get to the store, I am usually dragging by the time I get out of the store. My hairdresser walked me to my car last week cause I did not have my cane and there was a light coating of snow on the ground.

                  You have to do what is best for you. I never felt I had to play the MS card,k butI find myself using it more often than I used to.

                  JudySz

                  Comment


                    #54
                    I have that coughing cold crap..

                    And I sure feel like using it today
                    I think there was a movie once titled 'They shoot horses' don't they?' about who could stand up and slow dance the longest.
                    Never saw it but that's how I feel today
                    techie
                    Another pirated saying:
                    Half of life is if.
                    When today is bad, tomorrow is generally a better day.
                    Dogs Rule!

                    Comment


                      #55
                      I recently returned from a cruise. I "used"my MS simply in the fact that I requested assistance and got more than I dreamed of. I had called their special needs department because I had heard you could ask for a sharps container and the person asked what else I might need. I asked if there was seating in the area or if I could have a wheelchair to use while I stood in line. She said to just tell the first cruise line employee that I saw that I needed a wheelchair.

                      So I did. She was very rude but everyone else was amazing. It was my goal to not have to STAND in line but we didn't even have to wait in line. We were taken to the front of the VIP line. I was totally shocked!

                      Comment


                        #56
                        Jworth, I know what you mean. When I went home for Christmas, all I did was mention I would need some assistance because of the kids and the car seat. I mentioned that my problem was MS, so carting kids plus car seat plus carry on could be difficult.

                        Next thing I know, me and my cane are on a wheelchair, and there are two associates carting all my stuff. THEN we get boarded first, and the associates are helping buckle the kids in and get everything settled. They actually moved one of my seats to the bulkhead so we would have more room.

                        The flight back, however, was not so convenient.

                        Comment


                          #57
                          Good for you Jbell

                          Many others will think ill of me but YES...I play the "card" AS NEEDED...Sometimes can't stand in a long line....sometimes need a seat on bus...yes, if the "card" will get me in to see PCP I will use it..there have been times that I put my "best limp on" and let them react..think what you must..didn't ask for this stinky disease
                          [I]Tellnhelen
                          Progressive Relapsing MS

                          Comment


                            #58
                            I've only used it when it's relevant, e.g. when I needed to get out of the 105 degree heat because it was making my symptoms flare up, or at times when I was experiencing MS fatigue or other symptoms that limited my ability to do something a healthy adult could do.
                            2001: 1st 2 relapses, "probable MS." 2007: 3rd relapse. Dx of RRMS confirmed by MS specialist. Started Cpx. (Off Cpx Feb 08-Mar 09 to start a family; twins!) Dec '09: Started Beta. Oct '13: Started Tecfidera. May '15: Considering Gilenya.

                            Comment


                              #59
                              I've never used my "MS Card" to obtain or participate in things to which I wouldn't ordinarily have access. However, I use it all the time to help keep my MS in check: I get out of raking leaves in the spring clean-up (fatigue), I don't use certain cleaners at work (the headache always messes with my left-sided numbness), I don't do the heavy lifting at work or at room (literally; because of fatigue and a weak left arm/hand, I'd probably just drop stuff anyway). And of course, I always use it to get the seat in the shade at ball games. Or if seats are all in the sun due to poor planning, I use my card to get other people to make frozen lemonade runs for me.

                              As for the OP, I wouldn't have handled it that way, primarily because while your MS is special to you, everyone else has something that makes them a special case. Just because no one was in the waiting room doesn't mean the exam rooms were empty, or that the staff was all on lunch, or whatever. At the family practice I worked at for years, we reeeaally disliked the walk-ins. Patients could always call and ask to be squeezed in for an appt or have the doctor address their concerns over the phone. It's the rare patient who actually bothers to make an appointment, or at least call the office, when their symptoms start, instead of waiting until the last minute or until they feel it necessary to show up unannounced. In your place I would have called first for the doctor to address my concerns.

                              Comment


                                #60
                                Originally posted by hope32 View Post
                                I've only used it when it's relevant, e.g. when I needed to get out of the 105 degree heat because it was making my symptoms flare up, or at times when I was experiencing MS fatigue or other symptoms that limited my ability to do something a healthy adult could do.
                                This, exactly.

                                There are two different concepts being thrown around in this thread. One is using MS to see a dr early or without an appt in regards to an illness which is not related to or complicated by MS, therefore the same as everyone else with the same illness. The other is getting in to a dr when one is seriously in need of a dr, period. I think much of the "controversy" here is coming from mistaking one for the other.

                                I wouldn't use my MS card to get into a dr for an everyday illness. MS itself doesn't complicate a flu or cold. A flu or cold could trigger a relapse, but once you have it, the deed is done and seeing the dr won't change the risk.

                                To me, I wouldn't see a reason to try and get in based on MS for a flu. Yeah, I might have a pseudo exacerbation, but so what? Everbody suffers with the flu. I'm no different from any one else.

                                Now, if I had the flu or cold and had sx that indicated it could be something worse, I'd try to get in, but that would have nothing to do with MS.

                                I don't see any thing wrong with using the MS card to sit in line or politely ask to jump ahead in the ladies' room, but that isn't really "using the MS card" IMO. That's asking for assistance needed and not using MS to an advantage.

                                Asking to see the dr for an early appt or trying to get in with no appt while sick is certainly appropriate, but saying something to the effect of needing to be seen before others solely because of MS would not be.

                                I'm not saying that's what the OP did, just that to me and I guess a few others here, that's where the line is crossed. If the person is trying to see the dr based on serious illness or risk due to complicating factors like being on immuno-suppressants, for example, that's one thing...but someone saying they should see the dr ASAP solely because they have MS is another. That would be akin to a wealthy person feeling entitled to special treatment because they have a fatter wallet than the rest of us.

                                Comment

                                Working...
                                X