How to pick the best seat on a plane when you live with MG
Do you prefer a window seat or an aisle seat when you travel? Before I got sick during my deployment to Iraq (2009-2010), I used to love to travel. I never had to give…
The Whispered Roar
— Shawna Barnes
Shawna N.M. Barnes is a writer, accessible website designer, and disabled veteran living in Cable, Wisconsin, with her husband. She was diagnosed with seronegative generalized myasthenia gravis (MG) in 2018 after seven years of advocating for herself within the VA’s medical system. She hopes that through her transparency, bluntness, and no-nonsense way of writing about life with her disease that she can help others see that there is hope after an MG diagnosis. Sometimes, we just have to get out of our own way to live our best lives.
Featured Post
How quicksand, elephants, and sirens relate to living with MG
Close your eyes and imagine that you’re in a diving suit, swimming in a warm and comfortable lagoon. You find yourself drawn into the depths of the beautiful teal water by a siren. At…
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A day in the life of having MG while owning a business
It happened again. I received this comment, intended as a compliment, I think: “I don’t know how you do it.” It was made by a friend of mine who stopped by my business,…
For me, tapering off prednisone is the story that never ends
Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with prednisone. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. Do you like roller coasters?…
I’m learning to listen to the universe when it comes to self-care
Have you ever experienced a period of your life when the universe seemed to be sending signals that were subtle at first, but then — bam! — they were in your face and hard…
A self-care day results in unexpected troubles, new lessons
For the first time in a while, I decided to do something that was low maintenance but would help me feel like the “old Shawna.” My thought process was good: I’d practice self-care…
My new workout plan is reminding me to take ‘messy action’
My husband, Justin, works in fitness. Six months ago he opened a small-group personal training gym in our little Wisconsin town, and he’s been working to grow his membership, which now includes me.
My new snowflake tattoo is sparking conversations about MG
Snow in September? Last week I got a new tattoo. The session was my husband’s gift for our anniversary this year. I told the tattoo artist that I wanted something to mark…
What to consider when choosing a hairstyle with myasthenia gravis
When living with myasthenia gravis (MG), sometimes even the simplest tasks, such as choosing a hairstyle, can feel like climbing Mount Everest. Today, I’m diving into the world of hair — short and…
In an unpleasant surprise to me, wasp stings provoke an MG flare
I’ve never been one to be afraid of insects of any kind. Growing up as a farm kid and then becoming mom to a boy helped rid me of all “ickiness” factors of the…
‘I’m not ignoring you’ (bulbar symptom edition)
I’m not ignoring you. I’m just ignoring the chance to talk to you on the phone. Cue phone ringing beside me. I look at caller ID and identify that it’s not an emergency. *send…
My summer tricks to tame MG and heat intolerance
I’ve never understood how other people with myasthenia gravis (MG) can live in warm climates. One of the things that exacerbates my MG symptoms the most is heat. This summer, I’ve taken…
