Just recently was diagnosed last week and coming off of a relapse in which I lost feeling from the navel down to toes on both sides and in my hands. I suffered cramping,muscle spasms, headache, fatigue and comprehension issues on and off. I feel like everything contradicts itself when it comes to this diagnosis but trying to educate as much as possible. My biggest struggle right now is see that 80% of people with MS are unemployed, or close to it. I’m a young mother of 28 and just found out toda that I got accepted into the Dental program. Is it worth it? I’ve regained much feeling in legs and feet but not full hands and not sure if I even will. What if a relapse leaves me disabled more? I don’t want to live in fear or let this contradict my life choices but are you employed? What are your struggles and how do you deal with them? What time of a career is reccommended with this condition?
Can I be a dental hygienist : Just... - My MSAA Community
Can I be a dental hygienist
I’m sorry about your diagnosis, but welcome you here.
I wish I could look into the future for you. None of us can tell how any one of us will progress, since it us so different for everyone.
I think your doctor is a good place to start looking for help getting a plan. He or she be able to assess you as you are now and advise you accordingly, but even doctors can’t guarantee how things will go for you.
You say you are a young mom, so I wonder about your support system. Is your family on board about school and work, understanding that they will need to support you during school, as well as support you as to helping you with problems from MS? Have you all had time to come to terms with the diagnosis?
No one can really tell you what you should do, but I’m sure you’ll look realistically and wisely at all sides before making your decision. I wish you well with it and hope you will let us know what decide. We are here for you.
Thank you dear, family is on board though worried about how stress with school will progress this quicker but think it’s worth trying! I am very fortunate that I have a great support system and my own children will be in school next year themeselves (6&4)! I don’t think any of us have come to terms as of just yet as this is so unknown and more or less in a “shock” stages! A few weeks ago I thought I would have had a bulging disk and a surgery and be fine! Thank you for your positive and encouragements!
Bless you. Those what ifs are corrosive. So what if you have a relapse? Deal with that if/when it comes, and at least you would have disability insurance and the satisfaction of a career you loved. What if your MS gives you another 15 years before the next one and you gave up on this opportunity for nothing? Living in fear is not living. Some of that 80% could work if there were simple accommodations made for them, but they were forced out, etc. The numb hands are a problem, but it's not game over. People with MS are fairly resourceful and creative in working around their issues, and many times no one else can tell.
I do not "work" anymore, but I left nursing to be a homemaker. When I did work it was in one of the most stressful areas of the hospital. I needed a ton of caffeine every morning to think straight, it took me forvever to read charts because of central vision loss and double vision, my legs were numb before lunch, I had to shorten my hours to 8, not work two days in a row, and take a nap as soon as I got home.
I think dental hygiene has great hours, benefits, and low stress if you're in a good office. Your neurologist should weigh in on this with you. Congrats on being accepted into a program!!
Thank you for all your encouragement and insight! Your personal experience is really helpful as literally during my unknown issues the day of my MRI I took the TEAS to maybe give nursing application a go as well. I struggled in the reading as I couldn’t comprehend which is frustrating because that’s so not like me! I scored actually really well! But in the end the science bit I realized I really needed to take that anatomy and physiology class before the exam 😬. Ramble—-anyways I’m sorry that this was how you felt during shifts as I can see how hard of work it is but I’ve been a stay at home mom for 5+ years and that is just as hard! Just was less appreciated sometimes ❤️ The great thing about your field is it’s vast and endless if you want to return and if not cherish your little! They don’t stay that way long, he’ll im tempeted to have more even now if I can get thier dad on board 😂
You're welcome! I don't see myself returning to nursing (I did bedside for 16 years, I'm so done!), and I'm loving my new Mom career 😍 It is a different kind of demanding (I can't clock out now!) and I certainly have more MS crap now to deal with, but we make it work. I'm still hoping for baby #2!
The reading struggle you experienced is not uncommon for people with MS, and the level of fog can vary greatly from day to day and morning versus evening. Figuring out your MS will be very important when you plan to study and what time they schedule your classes and exams. It also may go away completely as you recover, and I hope it does for you! Please keep us updated, I'd love to hear about what you decide and how returning to the workforce goes. I'm sure there are many mom's of littles here with MS silently stalking these posts who would benefit from your story also. 😘
None of us can guess the future 🤷🏼♂️. I was diagnosed twenty three years ago and worked twenty one of those till I was diagnosed with stage four throat cancer and quit working at 60. Have been on seven different DMT’s and just changed as they quit working and new advanced ones came out 👍. I was fortunate to have a boss that understood my problems. But yes quite a few of us kept working and raised our children and stayed positive about the future 😉. Lots of prayers and turn it over to the Lord. We are all different but together we are strong 💪. Get a neurologist that specializes in MS and a general doctor on the same page that will work together with you 👍. 🙏😉🐾 Ken
Thank you, I’m sorry to hear of your condition but glad to see you kept your work ethic and family life ❤️
Follow your dreams and don’t give up. There will be a few bumps in the road, but that’s life. You are young, go for it, if you don’t you will never know. All the best, and let us know what you decide. Blessings Jimeka 🦋 🍫 🤗
Thank you, take a chance ❤️
I say GO FOR IT! 😊
I agree with all that has been stated by others. And I will add this: If you don’t go ahead with school and become a dental hygienist then what will this teach your kids? That you stopped pursuing your dream because of the fear of the unknown? I say go for it. Don’t let the MS keep you down.
Agreed, I need to be a role model and need to try! Thank you
Yes, welcome to the wild & wacky life of M.S. & to this Precious supportive family of warriors, u are very Blessed & young w/ a whole great outlook on life, I say go for it, stay positive & healthy diet always helps, manage this monster all Naturall... Eat plenty of fruits, veggies, ; suppliments, u could even take up to 20,000 IUs of Vitamin D3 & Vitamin B12 Methylcobalamin, there's an awesome website for these products, tested tried & true healthmasters.com Keep us posted, & Many Blessings to U!❤💙💜😍😁---Jazzyinco
Thank you dear I’m looking into paleo die and seeking a nutritionist as well to see what I need to eliminate and my body can’t handle. I am on medication but hoping to regain what I’ve lost with this month long symptoms up to my diagnosis. Hoping my hands come back 🤞🏻
Look into the Wahls Protocol as well. She combines the best of Paleo and her own research for an MS diet. Dr Wahls story is amazing
Go for it, no regrets. I have been in a very good job for almost 15 years. Unfortunately I may be at the end of my career. I am too tired to continue in this role . now thinking of trying for social security. I never thought I would make it this long. Go for it
Thank you dear! And glad you had a Career through all this! Hoping for the best !
Go for it..........I'm a staff nurse in the UK I am looking at early retirement unfortunately, but u do what u want to do about ur career 🤗🤗🤗🤗. I loved nursing and have over 20 years experience but was diagnosed with very active RRMS in December last year and occupational health physician said no to coming back to work 🙄🙄🙄🙄. If u have the chance of a really good career then do it 😁😁😁😁.
Thank you dear for your experience! And so happy you had a wonderful career!
Like everyone else in this thread we have all been faced with our own “new normals.” I was diagnosed this spring, have my own business, two Littles and am not done with what I want to do. You can look at diet, establish a workout routine (even just walking), get on a DMT (talk to neuro)and find a balance with rest and work. There is nothing stopping you but you as you can make accommodations for yourself- it is ok to take a break, it’s ok to stop and take a nap, it’s ok to put something off cause you need to not always cause you want to. What MS really does is get you to re-evaluate WHAT IS IMPORTANT to you. When you start to ask what makes me happy? If I looked back and needed to say what did I accomplish? What kind of role model was I for my kids and family? Then you begin to 1- either do things yourself to change or 2- press forward. There is no living in fear as that will set you back. You can consider the future to be prepared but don’t dwell you cannot predict it. There will be good days and bad days and days of asking WHY? And WTF? But you’ll realize what matters, those that love you still do and you’ll find what begins to be your ‘new normal.’ Good luck!
Can you tell I’ve just done this myself 🤪🤔.....
Thank you as a lot of this is coming to my attention things I stressed about before don’t seem to matter now and their is a whole new appreciation for everyday that I do have the abilities to do things because someday there might not be. I’m pressing forward not just for myself but my children and I’m taking each day by the horns. Today I learned how to fillet fish as I’ve watched my fiancé do it for eight years, why? Because I can. Forward is the only place to go
You are very welcome 😊
Ditto on what everyone else has said. My career ended before my diagnoses so i was lucky on that score. But u r so young. Do what u can while u can. Learn ur limits and work with ur health care team.
Also, there r meds that can help clear the cog fog. I take Nuvigil. Some here take ADD drugs. I resisted taking anything but am glad i caved and started taking nuvigil cuz i still have some cog fog but its not so bad i cant fight thru it. (I am also on the cusp of alzheimers so ya know ....)
U know ur body better than anyone else. If u want to go for it - i say give it all u got and dont let MS kill ur dreams. 💜💜💜
The only thing I can tell you is my daughters pediatrician was diagnosed during medical school. He is in his 40s now and still a doctor. He only works part time now and really could use a cane but he's working. None us know the future, even people without chronic illness. I say go for it! They could find the right mix of meds and you could have a long career.
I would do like the rest of the people mentioned, go for it. We don’t know what tomorrow brings. Go ahead with your wishes. Best of luck with your choices 😊
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