Thanks, guys. I've learn a lot from you too.
Abby, I had to laugh when you said "reasonable expectations." I don't think there's anything reasonable about MG. It's utterly unreasonable. It won't leave me alone - ever. It makes me think I'm fine, I run errands and then lands me on my derriere two days later.
I think the key word with MG is "adapt." We are constantly adapting to what it does to us. You can't "control" MG, so I think people with control issues might find it harder to live with MG.
MG's autoimmune process is progressive. That can be slow, fast or in between. And how it progresses depends upon the age you get it, if you have a thymoma, if you are seropositive, what your overall immune picture and physical health are, if you have other disease states, etc. Corrosion of certain metals is progressive but how that happens and when depends upon so many factors. It's pretty much the same thing. No easy algorithms here.
The "manifestations" of MG is what's variable. If you carve up a bunch of veggies for soup, your arms may be more weak right away, the next day or the day after. That doesn't necessarily mean that the antibody attack is greater in your arms. Unless doctors carve up an entire body, there's no way they can know how evenly distributed an MG antibody attack is in the body!
I think you might be looking for an easy answer when there simply aren't any with MG (please correct me if I'm wrong). And that's the truth! Some people like Erin are really bad and there's no rhyme or reason to it. I hate that some people with MG or lupus or other AI's are worse than others. Some people do fine like Sue or another friend of mine. But no one can figure out exactly WHY those differences exist yet. The immune system is extraordinarily complex and there could be "kinks" in it that one person has but another doesn't.
All we can do is know as much as possible and take our best shot at this stupid disease. Even if someone is "fine," all it takes is pneumonia and they go downhill.
Dr. Oz talked about women's brains being more "reactive" last week, on his show with Goldie Hawn. She was amazing, BTW. They were discussing the brain. And how to be happy. I believe that women are genetically disposed to being that way because we're the caretakers. But we don't have to let ourselves be so reactive and can be calm with meditation and so many other things like nutrition dense foods. Why do so many women get AI's more often? Is it our reactive brains, our hormones or something else?
The key to staying well involves so many things, like getting enough sleep or laughing or staying away from electromagnetic fields (they damage DNA/RNA) or so many other things WE are in control of and can do something about. This is the area where doctors can't help us. We have to do this ourselves.
I'm going to get all "spiritual" now, so tune out if you want. If you can manage to see anything harmful in your life, like the news, mean people (who probably need compassion too) or anything else as something you can let roll off your back like rain, then you might heal yourself a little. If you can let go of pain and forgive those who cause it, you might heal yourself a little more. If you stay in an energy of love as much as possible every day, your immune system "might" get better.
No, I'm not saying that a positive attitude cures anything! But what we think, say and feel does indeed affect our health and well-being.
One of the most amazing books I have is "The Source Field Investigations" by David Wilcock. Go ahead, make fun of his name . . . then get over it!
It talks about so much more than the brain and love and it is a dramatic look at our universe. I adore this man and his pursuit of truths. He's one of the many "science guys" I've watched through the years.
This is his quote from the book that I always go back to when I feel overwhelmed:
"By moving through the self-hatred and fear to reach that hard-earned place of acceptance and forgiveness - of both self and others - we heal the world."
He then ends by saying:
"I love you. I am sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you."
Short, simple and yet powerful.
Can you imagine how much better we'd all be if we could hold onto that kind of love energy all of the time? No, it won't get rid of MG but it might helps us make it through life WITH MG.
Annie