Hi everyone!
Dx with RRMS 11/12/13 (nice and easy to remember.) I'm 28 and have been an ICU RN for 5 years. Noticed S&S for about a year prior but nothing i couldn't ignore or blame on shift work (oops).
I love my job and just thinking about having to leave makes me want to cry. I know i need to take care of myself before i can take care of anyone else, and now is that time. So, here i go.
After my 1st dose of steroids in December I felt great. (I could see again and had energy) I worked for about a month with out a problem, 12 hour Day & night shifts, on the Code team with no problems. Then i gradually got more tired, weak, numb (feet->ribs and lower arms). Ive also got a noticeably off balance gait and tremor in my hands and head. I feel like I have a Parkinson's tremor. My speech is choppy at times and i find that i cant say what i want to, when i want to.
This dose of steroids has stopped the room from spinning when i walk. Numbness, fatigue, weakness, tremor and poor balance are still there.
I can barely stay awake at home for more than 8 hours. If i do stay awake, my tremor increases and i can barely walk. I can barely hold a pen or type. Driving is out of the question. Walking is short slow trips, especially shopping. I can only imagine trying to work right now, lol. Spiking an IV bag right now would be a whole new adventure.
Here is my question. Should I be applying for Disability? Btw, i live in Canada. I have sick time and a Long-term disability program at work. With Long term Disability, there is a 120 day waiting period. I have just enough sick time and Vacation to get me to that point. I can continue to have income and eventually do a graduated return to work (RTW) program at some point. With the RTW i can work what ever hours i can tolerate and still be paid my top up Disability amount.
My other option is to work what I can and take my sick time when i need to. However when i run out of sick time, i run out. I'm starting Aubagio next week. Of course I hope, like all of us here, there are no more flare ups and the drugs will fix everything and this will all go away.
I do not want to be seen as lazy for taking the disability route, however i don't want to put my self in financial turmoil b/c i have no sick time when i need it.
So, as i write this out, it seems more obvious to me the better choice. However, any comments? How long did it take your DMD's to help stabilize your symptoms?
Dx with RRMS 11/12/13 (nice and easy to remember.) I'm 28 and have been an ICU RN for 5 years. Noticed S&S for about a year prior but nothing i couldn't ignore or blame on shift work (oops).
I love my job and just thinking about having to leave makes me want to cry. I know i need to take care of myself before i can take care of anyone else, and now is that time. So, here i go.
After my 1st dose of steroids in December I felt great. (I could see again and had energy) I worked for about a month with out a problem, 12 hour Day & night shifts, on the Code team with no problems. Then i gradually got more tired, weak, numb (feet->ribs and lower arms). Ive also got a noticeably off balance gait and tremor in my hands and head. I feel like I have a Parkinson's tremor. My speech is choppy at times and i find that i cant say what i want to, when i want to.
This dose of steroids has stopped the room from spinning when i walk. Numbness, fatigue, weakness, tremor and poor balance are still there.
I can barely stay awake at home for more than 8 hours. If i do stay awake, my tremor increases and i can barely walk. I can barely hold a pen or type. Driving is out of the question. Walking is short slow trips, especially shopping. I can only imagine trying to work right now, lol. Spiking an IV bag right now would be a whole new adventure.
Here is my question. Should I be applying for Disability? Btw, i live in Canada. I have sick time and a Long-term disability program at work. With Long term Disability, there is a 120 day waiting period. I have just enough sick time and Vacation to get me to that point. I can continue to have income and eventually do a graduated return to work (RTW) program at some point. With the RTW i can work what ever hours i can tolerate and still be paid my top up Disability amount.
My other option is to work what I can and take my sick time when i need to. However when i run out of sick time, i run out. I'm starting Aubagio next week. Of course I hope, like all of us here, there are no more flare ups and the drugs will fix everything and this will all go away.
I do not want to be seen as lazy for taking the disability route, however i don't want to put my self in financial turmoil b/c i have no sick time when i need it.
So, as i write this out, it seems more obvious to me the better choice. However, any comments? How long did it take your DMD's to help stabilize your symptoms?
Comment