Hi everyone, I'm new to the MS Community Board. I'll start with introducing myself. My name is Jenny and I'm 25 years old. I graduated with my bachelors degree in Environmental Biology this spring and am currently looking for a job.
I was just married on September 29th of this year, but have actually been with him since I was 16. Last year, while interning at a local wildlife refuge, I got my first physical symptoms of MS. It is actually a somewhat funny story because at first I thought I had rabies! I had picked up a puppy off the side of the road about a week before my symptoms started and he pooped all over me! So, when my whole right side went almost completely numb, along with ringing in the right ear, I looked up my symptoms on google and rabies has symptoms like this.
Anyway, the puppy didn't have rabies and he was adopted out to a family... I also thought it may have been Lyme's disease because I had caught numerous ticks on me. For about a year or so before the physical symptoms started, I had been very forgetful and easily distracted. I went to my doctor and he said for me to quit smoking (I smoked at the time), and I was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism which causes some forgetfulness, etc. Anyway, after rushing to get on Medicaid because my other insurance through my college was ending, I had to wait a couple of excruciating months before finally getting my Medicaid activated and being diagnosed in November.
I finally started on Avonex on in November. What a time that was. I hate needles! I did the first injection myself no problem, but the next week when I tried I tensed up when the needle was half way through and it wouldn't go in! So, after that I freaked out and wouldn't do it again. My husband did them for me after that. However, in April/May, I had another MRI and it showed two new lesions. I had a feeling it would because my right leg and side periodically would go numb and I felt tired very often. So, my doctor switched me to Copaxone, and I actually like it so much better than Avonex.
I don't get sick for two days out of the week anymore. I can also do it myself with the auto injector. What was funny was that Avonex came out with its auto injector the day after I stopped Avonex! So far so good. My next MRI is in December so we'll see. My current problem now is trying to find a full time job that offers health insurance. I am on Medicaid right now and can only make a certain amount every month to stay on it (a very minimal amount), and my husband's insurance would be too expensive for me to get on.
This is stressing me out a lot because I hate not working and feeling like I'm useless. I almost feel as though MS is controlling me. However, I do have vitiligo too, which is another autoimmune disease, and am on medication for this too. Is anyone else having this problem or have had this problem with insurance? I am stuck right now because there are not many jobs out there period, let alone descent ones that offer health insurance.
So glad to be here with others who understand! Look forward to reading all of your posts!
** Moderator's note - Post broken into paragraphs for easier reading. Many people with MS have visual difficulties that prevent them from reading large blocks of print. **
I was just married on September 29th of this year, but have actually been with him since I was 16. Last year, while interning at a local wildlife refuge, I got my first physical symptoms of MS. It is actually a somewhat funny story because at first I thought I had rabies! I had picked up a puppy off the side of the road about a week before my symptoms started and he pooped all over me! So, when my whole right side went almost completely numb, along with ringing in the right ear, I looked up my symptoms on google and rabies has symptoms like this.
Anyway, the puppy didn't have rabies and he was adopted out to a family... I also thought it may have been Lyme's disease because I had caught numerous ticks on me. For about a year or so before the physical symptoms started, I had been very forgetful and easily distracted. I went to my doctor and he said for me to quit smoking (I smoked at the time), and I was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism which causes some forgetfulness, etc. Anyway, after rushing to get on Medicaid because my other insurance through my college was ending, I had to wait a couple of excruciating months before finally getting my Medicaid activated and being diagnosed in November.
I finally started on Avonex on in November. What a time that was. I hate needles! I did the first injection myself no problem, but the next week when I tried I tensed up when the needle was half way through and it wouldn't go in! So, after that I freaked out and wouldn't do it again. My husband did them for me after that. However, in April/May, I had another MRI and it showed two new lesions. I had a feeling it would because my right leg and side periodically would go numb and I felt tired very often. So, my doctor switched me to Copaxone, and I actually like it so much better than Avonex.
I don't get sick for two days out of the week anymore. I can also do it myself with the auto injector. What was funny was that Avonex came out with its auto injector the day after I stopped Avonex! So far so good. My next MRI is in December so we'll see. My current problem now is trying to find a full time job that offers health insurance. I am on Medicaid right now and can only make a certain amount every month to stay on it (a very minimal amount), and my husband's insurance would be too expensive for me to get on.
This is stressing me out a lot because I hate not working and feeling like I'm useless. I almost feel as though MS is controlling me. However, I do have vitiligo too, which is another autoimmune disease, and am on medication for this too. Is anyone else having this problem or have had this problem with insurance? I am stuck right now because there are not many jobs out there period, let alone descent ones that offer health insurance.
So glad to be here with others who understand! Look forward to reading all of your posts!
** Moderator's note - Post broken into paragraphs for easier reading. Many people with MS have visual difficulties that prevent them from reading large blocks of print. **
. It is important (for everyone) to not let stress into their lives (easier said than done). Many here have had their fair share of insurance issues. I hope everything works out for you the easy way. And congratulations on your marriage! Good luck in your job search and good luck with the MS as well.
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