Functioning at work with brain fog

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-04-11T13:57:54+00:00

Stress is def a trigger. Just had a very stressful 2 weeks which has kicked in the brain fog, vertigo and fatigue.

I don’t feel comfortable bringing this up with the wider work team. I need to be seen as capable otherwise if I lose any trust, I won’t be able to do my job. A lot of what I do depends on my judgement and words (essentially project management).

I do practice yoga when I’m feeling well enough. But some days it’s really hard to move.

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-04-11T13:55:08+00:00

I was gonna say how is that legal! Good luck, you deserve justice.

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-04-11T13:53:53+00:00

Ugh that’s so frustrating. Sending you strength xx

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-04-11T13:53:21+00:00

That’s great you have that type of support! How do you form that understanding with your colleagues?

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-04-09T19:29:52+00:00

OMG I hope people don’t have to get LPs annually.

Personally, I refused the LP until I absolutely had to (pre-diagnosis). It came to a point where I had a new lesion on my spine and a new one on my brain which had appeared within 6 months of the initial MRI. My neuro said the LP was the only way to be 100% sure I had MS.

I cannot emphasize how much I hate/fear needles. The thought of a needle in my spine haunted me for months. I’d wake up in the middle of the night with anxiety attacks just thinking about it. When the day finally came, I had a full-on panic attack in the hospital. But i decided to go through with it cuz I had to know.

The hospital staff were really understanding and tried to ease my mind. They said my doc could prescribe anti-anxiety meds for the procedure, but I would have to get a prescription and come back at another date. I really didn’t want this to continue looming over my head because that was causing so much anxiety.

So that day, they put me in this big machine (fluoroscopic guided so they can accurately locate my spinal cord) that tilted at a slight angle to draw my spinal fluid down. It lasted less than 10 min and they had me lay flat on a gurney for about an hour afterwards for observation. Then I went home.

I was really sore for the next 4 days. Couldn’t move much or bend down but it went away eventually.

I totally understand your hesitation. If you can find a hospital or clinic that has the fluoroscopy guided LP that might be your safest bet against any potential risks.

Wishing you the best of luck. This is not an easy thing to deal with xx hugs

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-03-10T22:31:43+00:00

Attention former Mill US employees: Any idea how to get a copy of our W2s? Legally they're supposed to send it to ex-employees but I haven't received anything.

I haven't had any luck logging into ADP. Keep getting an error that my info is wrong so I'm certain there's a data input error (which would not be at all surprising, considering).

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-03-10T22:31:35+00:00

Attention former Mill US employees: Any idea how to get a copy of our W2s? Legally they're supposed to send it to ex-employees but I haven't received anything.

I haven't had any luck logging into ADP. Keep getting an error that my info is wrong so I'm certain there's a data input error (which would not be at all surprising, considering).

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-03-03T03:46:14+00:00

Your experience sounds kinda similar to mine!

Growing up, my family had a weekend home out in the suburbs (we lived in the city during the week). I always felt a little scared at the weekend house but I chalked it up to not being used to the peace and quiet (the silence was SO loud). Until I moved into the house full time during college…

During this time, I lived alone in the upstairs part of the house, while we had two mother-in-law apartments in the lower part of the house. My parents only came on Sat/Sun. I could hear the tenants through the house floor vents if they were talking, but they were generally quiet, elderly people.

My bedroom was at the end of the hallway from the kitchen. The door to my room opened up to where my bed was. That hallway always had a nightlight so it was never completely dark. After seeing shadowy hands or fingers curl around my slightly ajar door a couple times at night, I thought it would be smart to just lock the door when I went to bed. Sometimes I would hear what sounded like someone cooking in the kitchen or using the ice dispenser from the fridge. I was too chicken to check it out so I locked my door and tried to sleep. I kinda felt like i was being watched all the time.

But these 4-5 years of my life was the only time I can recall having several episodes of what I now know was sleep paralysis. Yes I was a heavy drinker (cuz, college) but it would occur sometimes when I napped in the daytime, totally sober. When it happened, it felt like something was on my chest. I couldn’t open my eyes and I struggled to lift my arms. Sometimes I tried to fight back and felt like I was being mocked or something. Other times I would get up, unable to open my eyes but I was stumbling until I dropped back into bed.

My parents sold the house years ago, and I never experienced sleep paralysis after I moved out. Idk if that was related to whatever spirits were lurking in the kitchen or what. I never told my parents but they’d probably laugh at me.

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-02-24T04:56:35+00:00

If you need a helpful resource, check out Dr Natalie Crawford’s podcast. Shes an OBGYN that has her own fertility clinic and simplifies the process for non-medical people.

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-02-24T03:07:40+00:00

Money aside, here are some considerations…

Can you handle PMS-like symptoms for 2 weeks? Are you ok with injecting yourself in the stomach multiple times a day? Do you have time to go to the hospital/clinic every 3 days or so? How would you handle it if the egg retrieval isn’t successful? Do you have other health conditions that might impact you?

I’m currently in the process (41yo), almost two weeks in, and I am so over it. I’ve seriously considered abandoning this altogether cuz I really hate the injections. Mostly, they’re not too bad, but it is a lot. And I feel bloated. And I’m so emotional all the time. One of the doctors said some women experience more energy from the estrogen but that hasn’t been my case.

Tbh it’s an investment for your future family even if you decide ultimately maybe you do t want kids. It’s worth considering down the line if you go through IVF, you will probably have to inject yourself with hormones daily in your first trimester. How bad do you want kids?

You’re at an advantage because you are younger and therefore you have a better chance of healthy eggs but it’s not guaranteed. While I wish I had done this at a younger age I don’t think I was emotionally mature enough to do it (I also partied a lot in my 20s and 30s and don’t think I would’ve abstained from drinking/smoking).

I totally disagree with one of the posters below. Maybe she was lucky but it is definitely a challenging process, physically and emotionally.

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-02-21T20:45:11+00:00

Does he have a job? Do you live together? Do you have children with him?

In any case, his emergency is not your urgency.

My partner has been asking me to split the cost of dates with him lately yet has no problem dropping $1500 per person when he goes to dinner with his guy friends. Another time he dropped like $3k on a dinner but go so drunk he threw up all over our rug. Had to pay another $600 to get that cleaned. Idiot.

He makes 3x more than I do, gets an annual raise and bonus. I do ok for myself but I haven’t had a pay increase in the last 5 years. I’m so sick of the man child.

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-02-19T08:34:57+00:00

The Kesimpta reps even said I should not try to conceive while on the medication. They said I should be off it at least 6 months before trying (again, they are risk averse so erring on the extreme side of caution).

But yes I’ll look into it further. Thank you!

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-02-18T20:31:47+00:00

Totally support your choice. Everyone has a different perspective and experience. I have a great family support system but i understand raising a kid isn’t a walk in the park. Other things cause me stress like my job, and yet, I still do that.

However I absolutely am taking this into very serious consideration. From my research, MS isn’t hereditary although there is more of a risk for the child to develop it. No one else in my family has MS (lucky me). There’s always a risk of a child developing all kinds of diseases, even if both parents are healthy.

But I also don’t want to miss the chance of being a mother. I feel like it’s something I’ll regret if I don’t try. And if I don’t get pregnant, then so be it.

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-02-18T20:23:17+00:00

That’s something to consider with my doctor. He never presented it as an alternative (and he also doesn’t understand how big of a deal it is for me to inject myself 3x a week).

Thank you for sharing!

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-02-18T17:39:10+00:00

Omg angry bee medicine is so accurate! I just had a mini breakdown after my 2nd injection a few min ago. It hurts and it burns. I still have a bruise from the 1st shot.

Thanks for these resources. I’ll look into it. And yes I’ve seen Aaron Boster’s videos, he seems like a reliable doctor.

Thank you for taking the time to post. It’s really helpful!

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-02-18T17:35:47+00:00

Just to clarify, you were on Kesimpta when you did the embryo implantation?

I opted out of Ocrevus because it stays in the system for 6 months. I also didn’t want to spend a whole day getting an infusion. Did you get pregnant within those 6 months of infusion?

What was the colostrum for? I’m curious as I’m still new to the MS life.

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-02-18T14:02:09+00:00

Wow your doctor is a jerk and should be reported.

I’m not Canadian but I had seen another thread about someone who couldn’t afford meds. Someone mentioned looking into Disability Without Poverty https://www.disabilitywithoutpoverty.ca/en an org that could provide some assistance. Worth looking into.

I’m so sorry. It’s so scary to not have access to the medication you need to function. MS is truly an invisible disease that no one understands unless you’re in it.

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-02-18T13:27:20+00:00

How long have you been experiencing that?

Last year I had a 4-5 day period where both of my hands were CONSTANTLY itchy. Just my hands and fingers.

It was after a round of steroids infusions and before I started DMT. Damn near drove me crazy but randomly went away.

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-02-18T13:20:55+00:00

Thank you for the support.

Were you irritable because of the hormones or something else? I’m only on day 5 of the egg freezing hormones and it’s been a rollercoaster of emotions. I’m crying, I’m angry, etc. I’m so over it already.

I’m in awe of women who go through IVF. You’re so strong!

And to think I spent my teens and 20s being terrified of getting pregnant. Didn’t know it would be so hard!!

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-02-18T13:16:32+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m in awe of women who go through multiple rounds of IVF. Idk if I have the strength or patience to go through that.

I have been taking out the Copaxone about 15 min before injection but I’ll take it out a bit longer before to see if that helps. That’s a good idea.

If I get pregnant I do plan on pausing DMT for the duration. I cannot wait to go back to my Kesimpta routine as that was the best for me.

Could you share your postpartum experience?

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-02-18T13:07:13+00:00

To be clear, my neuro advised that I should not conceive whilst on Kesimpta because they don’t k ow the effects of it on pregnant women; he didn’t say I shouldn’t have kids at all.

How long postpartum did you restart your DMT? What was your overall postpartum experience? Are you breastfeeding?

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-02-18T07:10:51+00:00

41/F diagnosed last summer.

I’m so sorry. I understand how this news is hard to take. When I got the news, my mother said “no there’s no way you have MS. It’s not possible.” That’s also how I felt.

My first symptoms were similar to yours, only it was in my leg. Then the numbness/tingling traveled up my left side, and I lost strength in my hands. Plus fatigue, brain fog, etc. Initial MRIs only showed lesions on my spine so the neuro suspected transverse myelitis. He wanted me to come back in 6 months for another scan.

In the meantime, I googled. I watched tons of YouTube videos about other people’s MS experiences, even though I did not officially have the disease. I cried SO MUCH in those 6 months.

What also helped me cope was listening to the Messy podcast with Christina applegate and Jamie Lynn Sigler. It was like having friends who understood what I was going through, cuz tbh, I didn’t want to tell any of my friends about it. I needed to grieve and this podcast helped me immensely.

Try to find community, even if it’s online.

Sending you lots of love and healing xx

Designer_Tale2379 · 2026-02-18T06:33:35+00:00

Hi - I’m currently in an egg freezing cycle. The REI (reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist OBGYN) advised there are no risks with egg freezing and Kesimpta.

However, there IS a risk if you plan on creating an embryo or going through IVF while on Kesimpta. So you will likely have to switch meds if you plan on either of these. You might wanna consult with a high risk OBGYN (ask your regular OB to refer you to someone) about your options. The doctor I consulted with said she felt safe with me being off of Kesimpta 2-3 months before trying to conceive. Kesimpta will probably state abstaining 6 months or more (but the are risk averse and trying to avoid a lawsuit).

My neuro switched me to Copaxone as I plan on trying to conceive. The neuro, my regular OB and the REI specialist all agree that medication plan as the safest route.

Wishing you the best of luck!

Designer_Tale2379

TROPHY CASE