The Whispered Roar
— Shawna Barnes

Can, or should, you get a massage if you have myasthenia gravis (MG)? Will the use of oils or lotions cause a symptom flare? I see these two questions floating around the…

Hey, there! How’s the weather by you? Yeah, it’s a scorcher here, too! No, this isn’t just small talk. If you look at forecast maps across the country right now, there are some crazy…

The sloth and a snowflake. Why in the world would a person, community, or organization choose those two symbols to represent myasthenia gravis (MG)? Surely there must have been better critters or weather…

“You should drink celery juice and cleanse your body. It will cure you!” “I’m a distributor for this supplement company, and I know it will make you feel better and cure your autoimmune…

Being a teen mom, Iraq, husband No. 3, myasthenia gravis, moving halfway across the country, getting a new team of specialists, and a 5k. What do these random things have in common? They’re…

The good ole Army still has a few things to teach me nearly 12 years after my medical retirement. “Piss-poor planning makes for poor performance” was drilled into my head as a combat…

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. What is a prednisone…

I failed at being a business owner. Big time. I had to lay off employees and break contracts, and I felt like I had let a lot of people down because of…

“Would you stop sharing so much about mya … whatever the hell it is you have? All you’re doing is looking for attention.” Anyone else heard that before? Maybe from colleagues at work when…

Can you play outside with your kids? Do you need an ice vest? Did you run an ultramarathon in the desert? Are you able to work full or part time? Are you living or…

The COVID-19 lockdowns had just started, and small businesses around the world were shuttering at an alarming rate. Many weren’t only temporarily adjusting, they were closing for good. Being in quarantine meant no…

Last month, when my son, Caden Degen, turned 21, I celebrated it publicly by acknowledging my perspective on what it was like for him growing up, given my myasthenia gravis (MG). This…