The Whispered Roar – a Column by Shawna Barnes

What does ‘disabled’ look like with myasthenia gravis?

“That spot is saved for someone who really needs it, someone living with a disability.” You can unclench your fists and stop gritting your teeth now. If, like me, you’re a young(er) person with myasthenia gravis (MG) and utilize accessible parking spots, you’ve likely heard the above quote, or…

What I wish for in a patient-provider relationship

Doctor to patient: “I went to medical school. I think I know what I’m doing and what is best.” Patient to doctor: “My [arbitrary number of years] living with [rare disease] trump the 15 minutes you spent learning about it in class. I think I know my body and what…

3 ways I manage PTSD as someone with MG

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of those taboo topics many people don’t seem to want to talk about. Good thing I’m not like most folks. I have PTSD from my time in the U.S. Army as a result of combat, surviving assault, and a sprinkling of medical trauma.

Why fix what’s not broken in my treatments for MG?

Rystiggo (rozanolixizumab-noli). Vyvgart (efgartigimod alfa). Soliris (eculizumab). Ultomiris (ravulizumab-cwvz). The one thing these four names have in common is that they’re all relatively new medications to treat myasthenia gravis (MG). The other thing they have in common is that not one of them plays a…

3 lessons I learned after long-term prednisone use for MG

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. It’s been a year since I started writing about the weight gain I experienced while taking high-dose prednisone to manage…