I’m the Head of English in an 11-18 county council school. I am still struggling to walk even with a stick and my left arm is very weak and gets worse through the day/after activities. I have had grab rails put in my bathroom and rail on the stairs to help me at home. I have had to surrender my driving licence but am hoping they’ll give me an automatic driving one. My other concern is mixing up words. It’s not awful (like bag/box, buyer/seller) it’s word association sometimes but for me, someone who is used to such a strength in choosing the most apt word, it is really frustrating. Hope all goes well for everyone on Monday. I am heading into school to do a “walk through” to identify potential issues around my work say- it’s an INSET day.
Yes, enjoyed the break too. One good thing about teaching is that it gives us long holidays to give us time to recharge our batteries.
I’ve worked in the same school for years and have progressed from no aids, to a stick and now I use a walker, with a carabina to hang my work bag on! I’ve also got a scooter to get along the corridor.
The children and staff are very helpful opening doors and getting things for me. Mind I have to carry my phone around at all times in case of fire or a fall.
School had to fill in a PEEP form.(Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan) , something all schools should have for disabled people staff or pupils. Worth making sure your school has one. They’ve also bought a EVAC chair, training next week!
I love my job and it gives me a reason to get out of bed. It upsets me that I can’t go on school trips anymore but I do as much as I can.
Good luck all teachers, only 6 weeks until half term!
Hi there,
Sorry to revive an old topic, but it seemed more sensible than creating a new one when a thread already exists!
I was recently diagnosed with MS. The NHS Trust in my local area is a University-paired research Trust, so I ended up going from my local GP surgery to A&E at one hospital (with pins and needles in both legs and difficulty walking) to Neurology at the Big Hospital (
) to contrast MRIs, lumbar puncture, initial diagnosis and IV steroid treatment all in a fortnight. So far, so brilliant - other than the MS! Still awaiting some results, including what particular flavour of MS I have, and my next neurology appointment is in a couple of months, but comforting to see the rapidity of the system when it’s working at peak.
I am, however, an Assistant Head of a relatively sizeable secondary school. It’s a brilliant place to work - and we’ve spent a long time turning it into the successful school it has become. I started there six years ago in my first senior leadership role, with ambitions of becoming a deputy Head after cutting my teeth.
My school - and, in particular, my headteacher - have been incredible. They’ve been mindful of the need for adjustments, careful in reflecting on the pressures of returning to work following the diagnosis, and patient as I find out as much information as I can about what it will mean for my day-to-day.
However, I find myself wondering what this will mean in the long run. I know that I can’t predict the future, but I do wonder if the diagnosis ultimately might limit my career - or even cause me to need to go backwards. I wonder how I’d break the need for a £20k pay cut to my mortgage provider - I knew I should’ve clicked ‘yes’ on Critical Illness Cover when I got my life insurance
I’ve read the stories on here and they give me hope for continuing in my current job for a while yet, but I mostly just wonder how anyone plans for an unknown future in what is a surprisingly (for anyone outside looking in!) demanding profession.
Thanks for reading my rambling first post! 
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It’s too bad you forgot to select the critical illness box on the mortgage policy (as did I) but that’s water under the bridge. What you do have (I assume) is membership of a decent pension scheme with a built-in safety net for what happens if your health breaks down. There’s lots going wrong in your life just now, and I am sorry for it, but that is one thing that you have got absolutely right. Knowing that safety net is there can give a person the confidence to press on and make the best of it at work for as long as possible. I hope that you have many active and productive working years ahead.
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Hi,
I can’t help too much with the planning for an unknown future in a demanding profession as my first two relapses were July then August 2020 and I only “taught” 1 lesson after that time. My fatigue made it impossible. I found the union and school very supportive to reasonable adjustments and a lengthy timeline to try to help me get back to work but after 1 lesson I fell asleep in the staffroom.
Like Alison says, we are very fortunate to have a decent pension scheme, which includes ill health retirement (different tiers depending on whether you can work but not in teaching role or no longer work at all). IHR does take into account stepping down from roles due to disability so if you are struggling but try to stay in a reduced capacity there is a box/form for that and I’d suggest giving it as your reason if you do need step down in the future.
I would say that mentally accepting the condition, support of family and friends and grieving the life I had imagined have helped me. My situation meant I’ve had to retire but I still enjoy my life - I’ve had to adapt a lot and make changes to expectations /things I can do/how frequently etc but there is still an enjoyable life to be had.
I noticed work friends/hobby friends might slip away but other friends and family stay. I thought being a teacher/head of English was a massive part of who I was… it turns out there’s a lot more to me than my job- a perspective I wish I’d had more when I was working! Remember these late nights don’t pay you any more and won’t be there to help bring you clean clothes in hospital or make your lunch at home 
Losing my ability to use my arm and leg gave me a very different perspective on the little things. I have a lot of gratitude and appreciation about the little things, which I wish I had been able to bring back to the classroom to be honest!
I think it would be sensible to make sure you pay into the pension scheme, consider the reality of your spending habits and ensure you have some savings built up but also do the things you want to do while you can.
Travelling is hard for me now but I am fortunate to have visited lots of places that I wanted to and done things that I would struggle to manage now.
All the best for your future.
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Hi everyone. I realise this thread started a long time ago but it describes exactly how I’m feeling. I was diagnosed in September 2022 with ppms. I was a full-time primary school teacher. I dropped to 3 days last year but I’m finding it increasingly difficult to keep up at school. My fatigue has got so bad. School SLT say all the right things but really just want rid of me as my needs are difficult when there’s no support staff!
Hi,
We understand that feeling. You are not alone. I’ve been medically retired a few years now. Just folding my laundry, washing up and sorting my monthly finances today has me worn out. Got to pick which activities are achievable any given day. I hope you have a good support system around you.
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I do have a good support team (my family and friends) luckily. I just couldn’t face going back to school next week so I saw my gp on Friday and he’s signed me off with stress and exhaustion until half term. A huge weight seems to have been lifted from my shoulders and I feel like me again. And it’s only been 2 days! It’ll give me some thinking time as well.