My brother with MG is unable to exercise after a recent surgery

My twin brother, Aaron, has always been a fitness nut. When we were teenagers, he routinely invited his girlfriend at the time to come over and exercise with him. Exercise videos on VHS tapes were all the rage back then, so they’d perform intense aerobics in front of the TV while I’d do my homework and watch in bemusement.

Before Aaron was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG) in 1999, at age 24, exercise was a way of life. His diagnosis was hard for him, particularly at that age. Back then, his doctors didn’t even have much data about the disease to share with him.

I recently asked him what he’d like people to know about his life with MG. He said that adjusting to chronic muscle fatigue was emotionally draining at first, but he always strives to stay positive. Refusing to let MG stop him from working out on his own terms greatly empowers him.

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I moved to Manila, in the Philippines, in 2017, and since then, I haven’t exercised as much as I should. I highly respect Aaron’s continued dedication to his exercise regimen. He’s also a private person. I know he can’t exercise as intensely as he used to. It’s sometimes hard for me to ask him about these adjustments in his life.

Aaron recently underwent strabismus surgery to correct severe eye misalignment. He’s recuperating just fine, but he’s also dealing with aftercare limitations. After the surgery, his eyes were continually tearing up. Now they’re dry and itchy, so he has to use prescription eyedrops. He must also cover his eyes when he’s sleeping to stop himself from rubbing them.

One of Aaron’s biggest adjustments after the surgery has been his inability to exercise for at least a month. Adhering to this rule has been quite a struggle for him.

I used to think that exercise might make someone with MG potentially weaker, but that isn’t so. If people with MG aren’t experiencing muscle weakness, they can exercise under a doctor’s supervision.  Although Aaron has a gym membership, he can’t always go when his muscle weakness flares up. Recently, he said he’s worried about losing the moderate stamina gains he’d made before his surgery.

The cost of getting strabismus surgery means that he’ll lose some stamina because he’s resting for a month, and he’ll have to start anew with exercising later. And he must do so only moderately because of MG.

As we started this conversation, Aaron told me that he refuses to let MG stop him from exercising whenever he can. He quickly added that he hates being pitied. I don’t pity him, because he has the strongest willpower of anyone I know. But I do feel for him.

All of this has made me realize how much I need to take better care of myself. Living as a freelance writer and a foreigner in a different culture has been stressful, but I make every excuse not to exercise. Meanwhile, despite everything Aaron is currently enduring, he’s patiently waiting to go back to the gym and work out within his limits.

He’s determined to let nothing, including MG, stop him from getting in shape to the best of his abilities. I can learn a lot from my brother.

Note: Myasthenia Gravis News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Myasthenia Gravis News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to myasthenia gravis.