@Lilypalooza 

Last reply

Lilypalooza

Help! Not sure what to do...

Hi all, I'm a newbie here! Brief summary of my MS journey...I had my first episode 8 years ago, had a ridiculous number of tests and one horrific lumbar puncture (6 attempts by a junior dr 😱)..but the diagnosis was unclear something along the lines of 'you might have another episode, you might not'. As it turned out I was stable for six years, had my daughter two years ago and all seemed ok, just retained pins and needles in my hands and feet. Then I had two episodes last year, and my routine MRI showed up more lesions resulting in my MS diagnosis in Feb this year! Why am I telling you this? Because I was unfortunately made redundant at the end of my maternity last year and have been job hunting ever since. Nothing like additional stress to help ease your symptoms! Now I've had my diagnosis it's made me rethink where I'm applying for jobs (I used to commute 2.5hrs each way - I know, nuts!) but also about how upfront I should be with potential employers? Does anyone have any tips - do I tell them in interview or wait till I've passed probation? Right now I desperately need a job but I don't want to appear dishonest by not being upfront but equally I don't want someone judging me before I've had a chance? At the moment most days I'm ok so I don't feel my ability to do my job is an issue (just for ref I'm a marketer so mostly at a desk). Any advice/tips greatly appreciated!
@katfight

@lilypalooza Hey 😀 I was diagnosed a few years back, I've been lucky with work in the sense I was already working when diagnosed, the sh*t came after.. so roll on a few years and I went for a few interviews and finally got a new job. I filled in the applications and each one said do u have a disability, yes / no... off course I wanted to put no but i guess you can't, however, i did put in the description that I would disclose if successful. I had 5 or 6 interviews and I did not mention it at all in the interview nor was i asked about any disabilities. On securing my new role, I then had more paperwork to fill in and I was asked to put what it was, then had a discussion about it with my now manager. It started of with him saying so I didn't have much knowledge but I've now read up on it and I can see this happens and so on, my response to that was I read up loads to when I was diagnosed and from what I read i thought my life was over but 5 years on it is nothing like I thought it would be so I politely ask you not to believe everything you read. Please drop me a message if you want to know anymore 😀

@Lilypalooza

@katfight Thanks very much 😊 Yeah it's one thing living with the symptoms where you don't have to disclose to actually being diagnosed where you have to just in case! I do like your approach with your new boss though - you can't neatly wrap up what MS is! Thanks to Covid19 i've had four interviews postponed so when this craziness ends perhaps I'll get to have that conversation! 🤞😊