Thankyou Jeff and everyone, please keep your views coming as I think this is a huge topic. The living normally as to not, is very interesting as I can see that it does not let you give in to the disease winning.

The many individual situations probably decide the matter for many, as not to work is an option that is not doable in most cases.

I myself have had 9 weeks of work and have returned slowly building up to full time in a few weeks. My work has been wonderfull in helping me.

I have to say that I am not coping really well and do question the more time out option. I could probably take a year or 18 months of but it would knock me back a lot financialy and no guarantee of a job to go back to.......tuff stuff and your thoughts and experiances are of a huge help.
Tony