Gently testing the limits of my MG with more activity

The first recommendation anyone gives you when you’re diagnosed with a chronic illness is always the same: rest. And for the past five years, I fully believed it. I told myself, and everyone else, that rest was the key to managing myasthenia gravis (MG). I built a life around minimizing effort: working from home, avoiding overstimulation, canceling plans, reducing risks.

But lately, something in me has shifted.

I’ve started to wonder: What if my body needs more than rest? What if, instead of protecting it with stillness, I could strengthen it with movement?

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Don’t get me wrong; I’d never risk a full-blown MG crisis. I listen to my body and respect its boundaries. But I’ve started pushing the edges. I took an office space. I go out almost every day. I accept hangout invitations even when I feel like staying in.

At first, it was rough. I had to force myself into yoga. I was terrified of post-exercise pain or a sudden flare. But to my surprise, that pain didn’t stay for long. In fact, my body felt better afterward. And that is priceless.

Pushing my boundaries, real and perceived

I no longer believe in a rigid MG-friendly routine. Now, I wake up and check in with myself. If I feel strong, I go to the gym or join an open class. I take long breaks between exercises. I rest afterward. I never forget my Mestinon (pyridostigmine bromide). But I also don’t skip a chance to feel alive.

I’ve stopped demonizing effort. I’ve stopped simplifying everything just because it’s “safer.”

When trying a new activity, I give myself a month before deciding whether it’s sustainable. No more abandoning plans after a single failed attempt. MG is tricky, and sometimes it just needs time to adjust.

I used to feel like I was depriving myself of everything: new sensations, adventure, spontaneity. I locked myself in a box and told myself it was for my own good. But now, it feels like MG and I are playing pingpong. Sometimes it wins, sometimes I do. We’re challenging each other.

And you know what? It’s worth playing the game.

This shift has changed more than my body. It’s changed my mindset. I feel my brain and spirit breathing again. I get excited when something works. I get crushed when it doesn’t. But above all, I feel — and not just the dull ache of chronic illness, but also the thrill of being human.

I’m no longer living to avoid flare-ups. I’m living to live. And I won’t let MG, or anyone else, take that away from me.

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.