When I discuss myasthenia gravis with new acquaintances, I usually get shocked faces and confused looks. I don’t blame them — MG isn’t exactly one of the most well-known rare diseases. I would even say it’s the Jan Brady of rare diseases: It’s always been there, but no one…
Strength in Weakness
– Michelle Gonzaba
After struggling to identify the cause of her muscle weakness for almost a year, Michelle was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis in 2011. With her column, she hopes to help those with MG know they aren’t alone in their struggles and triumphs. Michelle lives in Texas and enjoys movies, TV, and awards season.
Featured Post
Before I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG), I didn’t second-guess myself too much. In fact, I don’t think I doubted myself any more than any other person does. But after my MG diagnosis and all of the trauma that came with it, I became someone who…
Exercise and I have never been the best of friends. I would make a commitment to work out more, which included buying new sneakers, workout gear, and equipment that I absolutely did not need. And what did I do with all of these new purchases? I completed four…
Unlike most people, I’m torn between loving and disliking the summer months. On one hand, as a teacher, I enjoy the time off. On the other hand, temperatures in my home state of Texas are almost unbearable. But my favorite thing…
I’ve always been a bit of a loner. Even before I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG), I tended to keep to myself. As I stated in a previous column, privacy has always been important to me. We could dive…
For most of my life, I have been a private person. Most of the time, I keep things close to my chest, because some people tend to be nosy. I purposefully keep parts of me closed off from others, and one of these is myasthenia gravis (MG). …
Today, May 5, is widely celebrated in the U.S. as Cinco de Mayo. As a proud Mexican American, I never ignore this particular day. While I don’t party hard like others, I do take a few minutes to acknowledge the meaning of the…
Those of us with myasthenia gravis have several treatment options to help us get our lives back on track. My road to remission consisted of prednisone, Mestinon (pyridostigmine), CellCept (mycophenolate mofetil), intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) replacement therapy, and a thymectomy…
Like most people with myasthenia gravis (MG) and other health conditions, I’ve been spending a lot of time at home over the last year. During this time, I’ve tried out several new hobbies with differing degrees of success. I’ve gained some…
Before I ever knew what myasthenia gravis (MG) is, I had a normal amount of stress in my life. I was used to dealing with different types of anxiety each day, from “What am I going to do with my life?” to “What…
I consider myself incredibly lucky. While I’ve had a couple small flare-ups from myasthenia gravis (MG), I’ve been mostly symptom-free for the past five years. It’s a weird feeling — the transition from total weakness to no weakness took years, but it feels like…
Memory is a funny thing. From vivid recollections to those we barely remember, the most random memories can invoke the strongest emotions. Sometimes a certain image or noise will prompt a memory from long ago. I have plenty of memories of…
While it’s not a positive emotion, we have all experienced denial. I’ve denied so many things in my life, from major events to inconsequential moments. And when I say inconsequential, I mean it: Jennifer Lopez not being nominated for an Oscar…
Explore More Columns
Discussion
Discussion
Discussion