Hello, So just need to vent any advice would be appreciated. So a little background 26 year old female was diagnosed with rrms age 19 relapse roughly once a year but my ms does disrupt the quality of my life on a daily basis. I am able to walk but have terrible balance and co ordination. I find stress is a major trigger for me and at 26 trying to work full time have a social life boyfriend friends, proving to be very difficult trying to keep stress at a minimum. Ok so last year I went in hospital for a simple day surgery cyst removal but ended up spending 3 months in hospital as after surgery I got a terrible infection in my stomach. I had a 2nd surgery where my appendix and part of my bowel had to be removed due to damage caused by the infection. After the 2nd surgery I got another infection and reactive arthritis in my knees and ankles. I have recovered feom that now but am having a relapse. Docotors have been trying to get me on tysabri but im really scared especially with my history of complications, docs are basically tellin me tysabri or nothing. I really dont know what to do. Also I applied for support from the government but was told im not eligible due to me being able to walk ect. But im killin myself trying to work 40+ hrs a week, im constantly unwell so calling in sick my stress levels are unreal right now. I just cant afford to live on my wages I dont get paid for being sick. Im feeling sooo stressed iits borderline depression 
Hi RaRa
I’m sorry to hear you have been having such a rough time of it over the past year. Having MS is such a grind anyway without the extra burden of all the complications from what should have been routine surgery. No wonder life is getting you down …
I don’t have any experience of tysabri but there are several members on here who have. I’m on Gilenya after Rebif stopped working for me last year and I wonder if it’s worth asking your neuro if that is an option for you? It has shown in trials to be twice as effective as the first line treatments in reducing relapses. If that proves ineffective for you at least it gives you a bit longer to come to terms with the thought of tysabri.
Regarding the career, I don’t know what to suggest. I think you may need to consider looking for a different job that does provide sick pay or reducing your hours to something more manageable. Or discussing reasonable adjustments with your employer that can help you manage your workload to ease the fatigue. Of course, if you reduce your hours you may be able to claim Tax Credits (depending on your circumstances) to top up your earnings but less income means you would be putting less money into your pension for later life. Lots to think about … It might be worth taking a look at the MS leaflet ‘MS and work’ available under publications. In the back of it there are details of organisations that are there to help disabled people find work or stay in work. The whole booklet is full of useful information regarding balancing MS and working life and it might be worth reading anyway before you open discussions with your employer.
Take care
Tracey x