Columns

A fear of being paralyzed makes me push myself too hard

Note: This column was updated July 31, 2025, to clarify that the author fears temporary paralysis caused by severe muscle weakness, as opposed to a permanent paralysis. Yesterday, my brain and body collapsed because I was too tired and exhausted — not due to a myasthenia gravis (MG) flare-up…

A sleep-deprived dive into the history of an MG treatment

This column describes the author’s own experiences with pyridostigmine bromide. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. A little-known fact about yours truly: When I was enlisted in the U.S. Army as a combat medic, I was studying…

Why empathy is important in a patient-provider relationship

Living with myasthenia gravis (MG) tends to make one familiar with the world of medicine. Since my MG diagnosis in 2020, I’ve researched many different aspects of life with the disease. Along with the medical triumphs that have improved many patients’ lives, I’ve discovered that successful treatment requires an…

As I get back to swimming, slow and steady wins the race

Two hundred measly yards. If you had asked 14-year-old me to swim 200 yards, I would’ve laughed, flipped down my goggles, and knocked it out before you finished the question. I was a distance swimmer. The 1,000-yard and 1,650-yard races were my jam. There were plenty of practices where my…