@PatOMS 

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PatOMS

To Career or Downshift

Hi everyone, I was Dx'ed 2 months ago. I have active lesions in my brain and spine. My body got hammered by the MS: optic neuritis, balance gone, barely walk, numbness in hands and feet, internal plumbing askew. I couldn't work. Right now I'm taking time off to rest and heal. I've regained a lot of my previous health, but I still don't have my previous energy level. Not even close. How many of you have continued to work full time, changed to part-time, or have downshifted to something completely different and non-stressful. I turn 50 this year, I have 2 daughters 12 and 15. I'm tempted to try to continue my career, but if the stress and brain fog become bad, I ask myself, what's the point. My wife works full time and we have the financial means for me to downshift. What does everyone recommend for me?
@Stumbler

Hi @patoms and welcome. Well, looking at your previous forum replies, you've got your health and MS management under control. You also understand the interaction of stress and MS. You're right to be resting up at the present time. Your body needs time to recover. It is possible to continue to work fulltime. Just manage your hours effectively, scheduling occasional rest breaks. But, can you avoid the stress? After all, you have two daughters, who are fast approaching becoming ladies - how stressful could that become over the next few years........... There is more to life than work. It really is a means to an end, but you already have the means............ See how you recover, then play it be ear, adopting a flexible approach.

@Vixen

Hello @patoms, I am in exactly the same position as you - age, careers conundrum, diagnosed 2017. Part of my recovery involved me and husband sitting and thinking; OK, all things permitting, what do we want to next 5 years to look like? We both feel at our age we want to focus on quality. We’re not wealthy by any means but have looked at a way to move to want we both would like, which is to work less! So we’re in the middle of a big financial reshuffle to make that possible. I guess that’s one poor excuse for having a diagnosis at our age; at least we’ve done the career setting and mortgage responsibilities etc. Try to give yourself breathing space as you recover, then plan a major evaluation of what, given improved health, you want from the next few years while you adjust to the diagnosis. Good luck! X