Anyone With MS Homebound ??'s

[Harry6464]

I was referred to the MS Forums from where i first posted in the Amxiety/Depression Forums from a very friendly member ''greenlydia''.. Just wondering if anyone with the Chronic Progressive form who is/has been housebound and wondering how you deal with it. I'm 44 and have worked since i was 17 when i joined the Navy in 1980 and loved to stay busy as a tradesman and also recreate all thruout  my life (wieghtlifting, racquetball, swimming etc..) and now since dec i have been home since my paralysed feet/ankles keep me from working and getting out much. Friends i had have disapeared and family is not invlved in my life. I did get approved for SSDI so i'm grateful but just having a hard time at home alot.

I do go to a city park nearby with my cane and hang out there but i'm just getting bored and lonely and are any others out there and have any thoughts good or bad as it's good just to gab about it.

Thanks so much !!
harry

[Quixotic1]

Hi, There!  Wow, what a lively discussion you brought to us with your questions!  I didn't know all this stuff existed either.  WELCOME to our forum!  We really do have a great group full of ideas and experiences!  I am Quix, the local medical expert.  I was a pediatrician in my former life - before becoming pretty much house bound.  So, mostly for my recreation I play with my forum here and write up informational stuff about the World of MS.  I'm sorry this disease rose up and slapped you down.  The first year is definitely the hardest as you try to wrap your mind around what is happening.

I have been pretty much homebound for the last three years.  Mine is due to severe reactions to the motion of the car.  And recently with being unable to lift my foot to the brake because my hip flexors are weak.  I also have foot drop, but just on one side.  They made me a lightweight plastic brace, called an AFO, that keeps my toes up and allows me to walk so much better.

One of our members, T-Lynn (screen name young at heart) wears braces on both legs and gets around fairly well.

Have you been in physical therapy?  That can be so useful in retraining your gait.  It also gets you out and talking to people.  Also, if there is any difficulty in lifting your foot to the brake while driving, you can have your car adapted to have hand brakes.  That's one of my next chores, because many days I can't lift my right leg that far.

I also qualified easily - in my case - for SSD.  I gathered up all of my medical records from the prior year and sent them with my application.  I sent them two cases of records.  I was approved within 4 weeks.  Since you have a diagnosis that is on their list of disabling illnesses, it should be easier for you.

Well, I also have four cats, and a sister that will run any errand I wish.  She's a gardner and handles the yard, too so I am very lucky, but I only leave the house 3 or 4 times a month.  Just to make you smile, you can go to my profile and click on it.  The first photo I have up is of my demented little Teddy cat peeing in the toilet.

Glad to have you among us!

Quix

[Harry6464]

Thanks for the info on your cats and the costs to have them as that sounds very good. I grew up with Black Labs and cats as a kid so i'll explore in the near future about acquiring one. Yes i'm renting but i may relocate as the rent is too high for me now so i'm searching different places in albuquerque and may go to southern new mexico or arizona where it's cheaper to rent and live.

That really sucks about your spouse doing that as it makes me wonder about the marriage vowel ''til death do us apart'' ??? Especially when you need support the most and people bail out as it really just sucks......

I checked out firefox and played the Tennis game as that was cool as there are many others so again thanks as i appreciate the game sites...Sue.

I do appreciate the nice offer of gabbing whenever i need a shoulder as i'll keep that i mind and again thanks for all Sue........

harry...

[Sue31961]

Here's the end of it (after the 3rd = sign):

utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

[Sue31961]

Here you go.  I googled online games and here's what came up:

http://www.google.com/search?q=online+games&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Enjoy!!!

Sue

[Sue31961]

Harry,

In response to the comment you left for essdipity, any woman who wouldn't want you because of your disability isn't a woman you'd need in your life anyway.  I'm someone who wouldn't care a bit about whether someone had a disability.  There are more like me out there.  What's important is who you are and how you treat and love others, not what disability your body has.  Don't forget that, ok!!  That's an order!!

Sue

[Sue31961]

Harry,

I have 2 cats.  I really don't spend that much on cat food or litter.  Their companionship and having an animal to care for and give me some purpose is worth so much more!

I do understand that you're living on a limited income though.  You're renting, right?  You may have to pay a monthly deposit to have a pet.

In 2001, my ex-husband divorced me, because of my illness and not being able to give him enough attention.  He was like a small child and required a lot of attention!!  LOL

Anyway, I had to live on $450 a month for about 1 1/2-2 years, while waiting on either SSI or SSD.  I had to get Section 8 and food stamps.  They denied me at first, so I got an attorney that got payed only if I won (and only got up to a certain amount).  Then, they offered me SSI.  My attorney told me I could accept that or fight it and keep trying for SSD and possibly end up with nothing.  I decided to fight it.  Boy was I scared!!!  I ended up getting SSD in the end.  You might want to find an attorney in your area that specializes in Social Security cases.  You may be able to still get SSD.  I got it, even though I hadn't been able to work for over 15 years!

Try to find something to pass the time.  It would be less expensive to play games at iwon or pch.com.  Check them out.  You may also try paint-by-numbers, making models or something like that.

Feel free to write back anytime or send me a message directly from my profile.  I'll get back to you as soon as I can.  I usually get on the computer every day.

Sue