In the beginning....

I realized it has been over 2 mths since my last post!  Wow!  I think that says a lot about what has been going on!

 First, my new job.  It is, without a doubt, amazing!  I am thankful every day that I get to get up and go to it.  Corny sounding, but true.  I just completed a degree in this type of work as my MG symptoms were baring down on me.  So to have completed that, and successfully landed a job I love, it makes me so thankful.

 I work with an amazing group of guys.  I have shared with 2 of them that I have MG, and again I was so thrilled by their responses.  While one is a tad young and naive and doesn't totally get that I can't "will" myself through it, both have been completely accepting even asking what med I am taking if they see me take it, and what it does.  And not in a noisy-in-your-business kind of way, but more of concern.  Best part is that they don't treat me any different since finding out about MG.  I like that.  I have an autoimmune disease, that's it.

 Symptom-wise has been a rollercoaster, both literally and figuratively.  I discovered severely weakened neck muscles when I took my children (teens) to a theme park.  The fact I dared take them as the only adult felt like a feather in my cap!  But the rollercoasters proved too much for my neck and I got whiplash.  I honestly never thought about my neck muscles not being strong enough to ride rides.  That part saddened me a bit, but what can you do.  I'll work to strengthen those muscles as much as possible but will have to seriously think before riding rides like that again.  

Physically, I have admittedly been pushing.  I've had a lot of motivation to drop the weight I put on after landing in the hospital with the crisis back in January.  I've been doing yoga mostly, with strength training and very light cardio as I feel able.  One bit of cardio has been to walk the stairs at work during my lunch hour.  I started with just 2-3 flights (I have a 2 story house, so I figured that should be safe).  I'm currently up to 4 flights of stairs 3 times!!  They aren't perfect.  I may stop at the top for a moment to rest, and I'm certainly not running!  My legs muscles make freak a bit while doing them too, making me stutter-step, which is why I hold the railing!  But I am very pleased that I have been able to do this.  And I have lost all of the weight that I gained!  I do still need to reshape the changes that occurred, but I know I'll get there.

 Breathing.  Breathing is still an issue.  I find I look at it differently after the crisis.  For better or worse, I don't fret over it so much.  It's a weird feeling and I don't know if it is the same for everyone.  For me, it often feels like I have holes in my lungs letting the air escape as I breathe in, or like I just can't expel all of the air when I breathe out.  Either way, it is more of a constant right now, which I am attributing to air quality alerts in my area.  I've still done yoga, but not pushed.  That feeling doesn't improve whether I'm resting or moving, so I may as well be moving and making sure I take my meds on time & increase them as needed.

 My breathing talking may scare some people, and make them think I don't take it seriously.  Oh but I do.  Once you've landed in the hospital for having trouble breathing, and they really do nothing but poke you all day and night, you realize you're ok.  I'm not doing anything I shouldn't, and I've consulted with my neuro on all of this.  Exercise, esp yoga, is at the top of his list.  

 What else?  I should say, too, that I have been faced with some daunting situations lately, that in the past would've sent me into an anxiety attack.  I have to say, knowing that stress can make MG worse, I have been so pleased with how much better I deal with things.  It helps to have some supportive, caring people surrounding me.  You find them in the most amazing ways sometimes.  

One last note before I sign off for the night.  I have to say that I truly believe none of this would've been possible without cellcept.  It has changed so much for the better I think.  Minus the acne, which has been really bad and discouraging, cellcept feels like it has given me a new lease on life.  I only hope it will continue.