What 3 Factors Worsen Your MG?
What 3 factors worsen your myasthenia gravis (MG)? I bet we can all answer that question. Here are my 3: fatigue, infection, and stress.
Fatigue sets off other symptoms
When I get very tired, I get cranky. And when I get cranky, I get frustrated. The frustration aggravates the MG, then the MG sets off the asthma.
The stress of caregiving
For almost 4 years, I’ve taken care of my husband during his journey traversing one illness after another, I’ve lost count of how many. Although not directed at my husband, I am frustrated he is constantly ill. That has led to me feeling stressed and angry that I can’t seem to get him better! It’s horrible watching a loved one suffer and go downhill. Thankfully, he’s improving a little every day.
It has been as difficult getting adequate help for him as it has been for some of us with MG to get a correct diagnosis. The doctors wouldn’t listen to him, nor pay attention to the notes I wrote on his illness.
Much of his illness took place during the COVID days, so I wasn’t allowed to enter the office nor go in the room with him. That’s why I started writing notes to send with him. But I had to rely on my husband, who was usually incoherent, to give the medical team the paperwork and communicate back to me. As a retired nurse, I felt their communication could use some work.
Serious infections and MG
Several years ago, I had back surgery and developed a serious staph infection in my surgical incision called meticillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. Another time, I became septic with a different infection. These are both very serious and life-threatening infections.
During the second one, I was near death when I was taken to the hospital. At the time, I didn’t feel that ill, but I did tire easily and some of my MG symptoms returned, such as weakness, fatigue, and droopiness on the right side of my face. I also became so weak - my legs failed and I went to the floor and couldn’t get back up. We couldn’t get the doctor to listen to how serious we thought my infection was.
We couldn’t get the doctor to listen to how serious we thought my one infection was. With my other infection, I became ill so gradually that I didn’t realize I was ill! It took quite some time and strong antibiotics to bring me back to the living. I was also taken off CellCept during those times. Since then, I have educated my husband more and he now knows what to watch for so I can get treatment sooner.
Advocating for proper care
Our advocates and loved ones need to know what signs to watch for - not just MG symptoms, but potential infections and environmental triggers. Our advocate has to be able to recognize when we’re in serious trouble and seek medical assistance.
Traversing MG is no easy task. Those of us with this condition have become stronger than we ever knew was possible. However, we aren’t invincible.
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