Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group The Next Few Weeks

I understand the change of lifestyle that comes from not being able to do what had earned your money. I had plans. I had dreams. those are gone and I have had to replace them with something else. I take care of my folks as well as I can. I've moved them into my home. I had originally wanted to move them into this house while I worked elsewhere paying for the house and then eventually retiring here. Oh well, adapt and overcome.

I can make my base payments. My needs are small. There has been a change in law at the beginning of the year which allows the disabled to save up some money without the government confiscating it. It's called the ABLE act.

http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/201...vings-accounts/

Thanks for the replies and advice,
social security ticket to work program, I would be going back to the same job, Basically doing the same type of work, although we make a new and updated product. ( transmissions for jeeps )
If I can't do the job I would go back on Social security without reapplyin for benifits.
Life has been hard, I have been on extended time off before, but never this long. I have had to fight and scrap every day, never had any remission from AS. Somthing always hurts, whether I work or not.
My worst pain now is in the low back at night, all night. But I think it will get better when I can get a house or apartment. Sleeping in my parents basement, I feel like " that guy " loser in life...ect. not to mention twice divorced








I expect to fail at some
but I fear

I can afford to take care of me and myself, my daughter has been a financial burden on me. She has made some bad decisions and It's me who always has to pay. This has kept me from saving any of my meager income thus keeping me in my current living situation. At some point I need to take care of me, me, me! My dysfunctional family has been alot of stress through the years.
twice married and twice lived with addictions to my pain medication. That is a whole other topic but its just one aspect of how AS has formed my life.
Basically it comes down to this soon, if I work things will work out,
if not, then I get myself an 1 bedroom apartment and far enough away from where I live now, so that I can be responsible for myself and nobody else.
that sounds cruel and hard, but I only have maybe two options.

So it sounds like the program to test working again is a no risk deal if it doesn't work out? Have you made a decision on that? Whatever you decide, I wish you the best. It's really a struggle to continue working with AS but it can help with distraction from pain. But if it makes you worse/flare, you'll know it's not worth it. You can also check out your state department of vocational/rehab services as their are retraining programs available if you do want to explore options.

It lookks like a pretty good no risk deal, It'scheaper for the government to just reinstate the disibility than to go through the whole process again.

Cheaper for whom, Elmer? You're longterm happiness, or the government, or th employer? Think and worry about yourself, not the government or your employer. That's the only way to make decisions, to my mind.

Love and warm hugs,

Yesterday I went to see the plant doctor where I used to work.
Then I talked to my benifits rep today, I am going to retire next month officially.
When I hung the phone the tears began, maybe god is blessing me in his way, I just asuume this is the case. My body is shot, and even though I don't want to admit defeat, I lost a big round in my fight with AS.
If I close my eyes and concentrate, I can still hear the sound of that leaf as the wind blew it away. That was so many years ago.
This was meant to be, it's all just part of being. My situation will change eventually, and I will think of now in a different way, with a smile I am sure.

I'm sorry it isn't the result that you wanted. But, you adapt and overcome. When I was medically discharged without a hope of employment nor a clear understanding of what was going on with my body (the army downgraded all health issues and didn't acknowledge many) I didn't get but a pittance to survive on.

I've moved my folks into my house and we all help each other. Not ideal but what was best considering everything. We all have doors we can slam if we get pissed off-and we do at times
I couldn't handle the drive to their property nor all the chores I would have had to do once I got there.

We are on limited resources with limiting health concerns. But, pooling or limited resources we all give into a household account that takes care of the house bills and we save enough for a few life perks. We, also, arranged wills and insurance to enable the survivors to pay off the house and arrange whatever assistance they may need at that time or in the future.

If you can tolerate some people who may be in a similar situation as you but with different disabilities, perhaps you can set up a roommate situation like we created. Our different disabilities allow the other person's strengths to shine thru. And each of us keep more independence than having a carer come in because each of us get to help someone else.

Letting go and stopping work isn't an easy thing to do at least it wasn't for me. I worked until i just couldn't take the pain any more,pain management was not helping it was the end of the road. That was 6+years ago and it took 2 or 3 years for me to get used to the idea of not going to work. Now my full time job is trying to stay ahead of AS. What Pesami says sounds like sound advice.I wish you luck Mike

I singed up for the Navy when I was younger, but I felt guilty for not disclosing my true health, the recruiter guy was pretty mad at me after I told the truth.
My parents are getting feeble, my dad is getting ready for knee surgery.
My daughter is doing well in college and we are doing good as a family. I blurt things out here sometimes as a release.
I managed to save a little money in a retirement account, and a pension, not enough to get excited about but enough to get my own place if need be. So for now, I will keep doing what is best for my daughter, as best I can.
Iam very fortunate to be in this bad situation.
I thank you all for the kinds words and the wisdom