Retirement With a Twist

WebMD Member Columns We asked readers of the Multiple Sclerosis newsletter to tell us about their lives with MS.

Hindsight Is 20/20 | Stories Shared | Order Out of Chaos | From Symptoms to Diagnosis | Attitude Is Everything | My Faith Is Strong | A Human Pincushion | Diagnosis in Just Months | A Better Perspective | A Glorious Task | Everything for a Reason | A Great Escape | We'll See What Happens | MS Is Not a Disability | Keep Your Head Up | Light at the End of the Tunnel | Retirement With a Twist | Coming to Terms With MS | Long Journey to Diagnosis | A Mountain of Strength

After working 30 years, I thought retirement would be enjoyable on the farm.

After retiring I found I tired very quickly. When I was working, I would frequently walk a three mile path to clear my head and exercise my body. When the retirement chores began to be tiring, I thought I would go for a walk on the old three-mile path. After the first half mile, I had to return due to my left leg tiring.

This began a series of doctor visits and tests for various things. The result (after a year of analysis) is that I have MS.

I am not sure what this all means. But I think it means I have to get up earlier and stay up later to get the things completed that I want to do each day. It takes me a lot longer to do a day's work because I have to stop and rest so frequently.

I am thankful MS did not manifest itself until I completed my career, which secured my medical insurance and provided a retirement income that, along with other sources of income, allow me to continue without noticeable financial pain.

Well, I had better go -- need to get started on today's activities.

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