I may have Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

November Update:
- Spent 2 weeks in Asia on business. Gosh, that sucked. It was so hard to keep up, and I collapsed in bed every night. I didn't even have time to explore two beautiful cities between the jetlag and MS fatigue
- OUCH! My health benefits are getting worse every year, and now I actually pay attention to them because of my MS. We are going to a co-insurance model. I think I am going to have to double my flexible spending allowance.

Does anyone have experience with CO-INSURANCE health care models for someone with MS?

October Update:
- Started my second month of Copaxone
- I was told that without insurance the meds are $2,200/month. Thank god for health insurance. There is no way I could afford it otherwise.
- It is time for employee benefits...I think this is going to hurt this year.

September Update:
- I started Copaxone on September 3rd, 2009.
- The daily injections don't hurt as much as i thought they would. They only sting for a few minutes after the injection.
- I did have one day where my stomach bruised severely, not sure why.
- I will say that Shared Solutions is great. I know they are in it for the $$$ from the drugs, but they are helpful, and send you enough free travel cases and such to help make life a little easier.

August Update:
- I got Life Insurance. I was unable to get cost effectived LTD b/c I am overweight (which is a problem I am addressing now).
- Feel like crap most days, although, my balance is improving.
- Starting Copaxone in a few weeks.

July Updated:
Right now I am trying to get private Long-Term Care, Long-Term Disability, and Life Insurance taken care of. I am in the middle of the whole process, and let me tell you, it is overwhelming.

I wish I had done this years ago, but hindsight is 20/20.

Keeping my fingers crossed that all of my medical records don't prevent me from obtaining LTC, LTD, and Life Insurance.

I'm in CA, and can't sleep. It is rough. I am so stressed about the insurance and these steroids are killing me. I can't wait till I get to taper off of them tomorrow. It has been 15 days now.

Back from CA. Filling out more LTD, LTC, and Life Insurance applications. I hope to make it through the underwriting process soon.

Doing more research on MS, and the relevant treatments.

Waiting for the underwriting process to finish. I had to release all my medical records, so I am not all that confident that i will get Long term disability insurance or long term care insurance.

Just joined Technorati to see if I can drive some traffic to my Lens. I have only had 4 visitors this week which is pretty pathetic.
Technorati Profile

I went to one neurologist yesterday for a follow-up, and he believes I have MS.He also mentioned an oral drug, close to FD approval called "cladribine." It would be 10 pills a year, instead of daily/weekly injections. Has anyone heard of it. I am wary as some of the people in the study developed cancer. Cladribine has been used as a cancer drug for years.

JUNE '09 Updates:
Still going through the underwriting process. However, one company did get back to me, and they want to increase the premium because my liver levels were slightly elevated and they think I could have liver disease. I totally didn't see that one coming!!!! My doctor laughed it off, but did some more tests as a precaution. I am waiting on those results, but my doctor thinks I just have a fatty liver.
I should find out from the second underwriting company today. I just want this put to bed.

Also, LTC insurance was going to be $3k/yr, which I don't think is worth it. Crazy things this insurance.

1. My own therapy; I think writing about all my feelings will be
cathartic. I'm sure that sounds pretty selfish, but if I don't come to
grips with everything, I will be such an emotional burden on my
family. Only my wife, my parents, and my one friend who is a doctor
know.
2. I may be able to help someone else going though the same thing. As
sad as MS, it isn't all that uncommon. Maybe if I can help just one
person cope in a similar situation, it will give my life meaning.
3. I want to be open to suggestions, which is why I am opening up my
life to the online community, albeit anonymously. I'm not the first
to be going through this, so maybe others can shed valuable insight.
4. I will attempt to earn some money to defray the cost of all the
private insurance I am pursuing. I am choosing Squidoo for their
charitable work.

I plan on expanding this into a variety of topics, probably via
separate lenses with this being the main overall lens with the
summaries.

While I am putting all my feelings out there, I need to thank my wife
and parents for their support.

From the very beginning, my wife has fought off the shocking news and
been 100% supportive. I don't know how she has put up with me. I'm
sure I would be an emotional wreck without the steroids coursing
through my veins. I go from hot to cold in an instant, and she has
been so forgiving. Once I get my emotions under control, I really need to make this up
to her. I know she is contemplating all the possible scenarios as
well, we are both too rational. She has been a godsend.

My parents, well, they have been great too. My dad has been helping me
with all of the financial planning aspects of everything. He has so
much going on at the moment too. They closed on a commercial property,
a second house, moved in, and all while taking care of my mom who has
been sick for almost a year. He truly is a special man, and I just
hope I can be half as good to my kids as he is to his. My mom has been
so good too, and I was so scared to tell her. She has been so
supportive, especially to my wife, and I will be eternally grateful.