How to Stay Safe During Warm and Humid Weather With MG

It is, ultimately, impossible to avoid warm weather outings when you live with MG. We all know the heat and humidity can be very stressful on our bodies, and cause significant flares. I currently live right outside of Atlanta, known to many as "HOT-Lanta!" I have had to learn to divvy my energy up before I even attempt to go outside and enjoy my day.

Planning ahead and gathering supplies

If I know that I have a family outing coming up on the weekend, I typically do all my big tasks early in the week. That way, I don't have to do them at the end of the week and potentially lose energy and strength. I have to save my energy for my outing.

Then, I proceed as normal, doing as little work as possible. I also have to prepare my supplies. I always carry my albuterol inhaler with me when I go out due to shortness of breath. My neurologist prescribed it to me and I am so thankful because it is definitely a life saver.

I also have recently invested in a rechargeable neck fan! You never know when you need a boost of cool air to help regulate your body temperature. Then of course, my medication, and I carry Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen with me to avoid any other issues as well.

Finding moments to save energy and having a crew

Since I’m at my strongest when we first head out, I use that mental and physical energy to scout ahead for shade and seating. My family is always with me when I go out for long and extended periods in the heat because of all the "what ifs."

Even if it isn’t the whole crew, I make sure to at least have one person with me. They also understand that breaks are needed to avoid any scary situations. If one of my older kids is with me and dad is at home or work, the kids also know who to call in the event things take a turn for the worst.

Preparing for warm-weather household tasks

Something I like to do (and always loved, even before MG) in warmer weather is cut my grass. We have a half-acre of land and our house sits on a large hill. While we do have a riding lawn mower, it is kind of older and is quite the headache to use, so I will use our push mower.

For me to use the push mower safely, I go very slow. I don't concern myself with keeping up with my neighbors. One of the last times I used our push mower it took me approximately 5 and a half hours to successfully cut the yard (that obviously included a lot of breaks.) I would break for about 30 minutes and use that time to ensure hydration, then go back to it.

It is all about preparing and preserving your health

A nice family day out, without any health issues, is something we all strive for. But let’s face it: those of us with MG have this internal fight to keep going and going. Remember that sometimes, it just takes five minutes to recover. Those five minutes can be the difference between life and death for us. Those five minutes will ultimately prevent us from going into a flare and potentially avoid us a trip to the local ER due to a crisis.

Preserve your energy!!! I promise that being a little "lazy" during the week before your plans will not be the end of the world. It may actually be the best thing to ever happen to you!

Stay hydrated, stay on top of your medications, rest as needed or as much as possible, and plan accordingly!