My Bitter & Best Friend: MG — Sarah Bendiff

I blame a whole lot of things on myasthenia gravis (MG), even things that are not actually considered symptoms. My body says otherwise, however. Although I still believe some of the issues I experience might belong to a secret illness that has not been discovered yet, certain feelings and…

Three years after my diagnosis with myasthenia gravis (MG), I made the decision to stop introducing it at the same moment I introduced myself to someone new. It was one of the best decisions I made, until I realized recently that I’d simply postponed sharing that information until my…

I’ve always felt that being a woman put me at a disadvantage. I don’t dislike being a woman, but I have never really fit into the box society has created for me. I am happier being an independent entrepreneur than imagining myself as a stay-at-home wife. I want a career,…

Walking has probably been one of my biggest griefs since myasthenia gravis (MG) entered my life. I still remember times when my legs were so numb and exhausted that I simply couldn’t take another step. Walking had always been a way I cleared my head. I could wander around,…

When it comes to illness, we like having a reason for it. When my stomach hurts, I ask myself what I ate. When I catch the flu, I wonder who I might have gotten it from. So when I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG), my first questions were…

Navigating chronic illness often means balancing conventional medicine, complementary care, and well-meaning advice. One columnist reflects on finding a thoughtful, whole-person approach without losing sight of safety.

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with various pain management techniques. Not everyone will have the same response to these modalities. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. Living with a chronic illness means I am never truly well. Early in the morning, my muscles might…

When I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG), the flare was so severe that I could no longer pray the way I used to. As a Muslim, I pray five times a day, and the prayer ritual includes standing, bowing, kneeling, and getting back up several times, but my…

Years after being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG), I still find myself navigating other people’s perceptions of my disease almost as often as I navigate my symptoms. But while my muscles are unpredictable, people’s reactions seem surprisingly consistent. Most fall into three categories: those who think I’m faking,…

When I was a teenager, I thought smoking was cool. It seemed fun to try with friends, and for years, that is exactly how it stayed. I would smoke only three or four cigarettes a year, usually during a relaxed evening with friends. It was never a habit. Lately, though,…

I wanted to live life to the fullest this year. I wanted to act as if I had no chronic disease, to try every activity that crossed my mind, to be more social, more active, and, in the end, simply happier. After years of feeling trapped inside an invisible cage…