Resolutions and Goal Setting Can Be Intimidating

Here we are into a new year! When everyone else is making personal or professional resolutions or setting goals, I wonder how many of us with myasthenia gravis (MG) are actually able to do just that? How many of us can actually carry them out?

At best, many of us have already broken those resolutions by day 3 and our goals are nearly as quickly forgotten once the holidays are over and we’re back to the "real" world.

The uncertainty of MG

The difference between the average healthy person planning their days and weeks and those of us with autoimmune diseases is that many of us can’t really plan ahead. Many of us don’t know, from day to day, how we’ll feel or what ugly MG symptoms will appear on any given day.

However, the uncertainty of our days should not deter us from having goals and resolutions. I realize how unstable the disease can be, but we have just as much right to be able to look ahead to a great future as anyone. We just have to plan differently.

Keep a journal

If you are recently diagnosed, it can be helpful to keep a diary on how you deal with myasthenia gravis. Keep track of when you start to become fatigued, what triggers fatigue, other symptoms, and how your symptoms are relieved.

Write it all down, regardless how insignificant they may seem. Go back periodically and compare the days, symptoms, and treatment or resolution. Check for patterns and causes - this can help you set realistic goals!

Adjusting your plans

I'm fortunate enough that I can try to do all my normal activities - or at least most of them. One of the few times I have to plan around MG is when it has flared up and I can't "ignore" it. I even garden and preserve food all spring, summer, and well into fall.

Though the heat does bother me, I’ve found as long as I’m not in the worst heat of the day, I can usually do pretty well. I am able to plan my days in the sun with few problems. I’m not supposed to be in the sun much, so I do try to plan my gardening when I have adequate shade. As far as the cold is concerned ... my plan? Stay inside!

Not giving up on goals

I love being around family and seeing my grandchildren and great grandchildren. There is one thing, however, I do have to consider for MG. I can't travel as I used to and it really bothers me.

My siblings and I are at the age where travel isn't easy anyway, but myasthenia gravis can make travel even more of an issue, especially if it’s flared up again. I’ve recently made so many resolutions to go visit my family and my husband’s family, who are about a thousand miles away, to no avail.

Either my husband is ill, or I’m afraid to travel because of the pain I’m in, as well as other myasthenia symptoms. Still, we are trying to plan a trip this summer, so we’ll see how things "play out!" We need to get together before it's too late!