Hello

Ive been wondering, those of you who have had a thymectomy for MG, if any of you were very athletic and couldnt stand not just sitting there after the surgery not able to do anything, what did you do? And ab excersizes you can do while not straining the chest? Im getting so out of shape and i Hate it! Also when did u start running again? thanks.

Tyson, Running? Do you mean as in running late? I love to run but it's not even a thought in my head anymore.

I know how hard it is to have MG when you've been athletic. I was quite athletic too, though always in short spurts (long story). But pushing your physical self won't help right now.

There are some exercises you can do that are easier on your MG that can still keep your muscles in shape. I would highly suggest having a few appts. with a physical therapist, preferably in a neurologist's clinic who understand neuromuscular diseases, who can show you how to keep the new you fit.

I have a Total Gym, which is nice and fluid and adjustable. That and a recumbant bike and lighter hand weights are about all I can do these days.

I know how frustrating it is to see your body go downhill. But you don't want to end up in a crisis, being unable to breathe or move!!! Just take it slow and steady. Good luck.

Annie

Hi Tyson.

Gotta say man... back off it. You're going to push yourself in to crisis and a hospital stay and that's a ton worse than what you're going through right now. Take it easy. Walk, use your pillow (if you've had a full sternal thymectomy) but back it off. Don't start running until your thoracic surgeon tells you you can.

I was almost a year after my thymectomy before getting into the gym; I did a pile of walking between the thymectomy and being able to get into the gym, but ... it was a year.

Cheers.

Brian.

Hi Tyson,

It must be soooo hard being so young and fit and into sports so much and all of a sudden not able to do anything!!!!
I agree you need to take it easy and heal, talk to you surgeon about working up to your running, better still are you seeing a physiotherapist, mine has been a wealth of information, telling me what to do, how much to do and telling me off for doing to much too soon.

I use to be very fit and ride horses, now sometimes I stuggle to walk a great distance, its all about how you are affected. Don't give up hope, you will get back to it, but you might just take a little longer than you think, but do get help, as we are all different.

take care, and keep us posted
Kate

Tyson,
As soon as you are cleared by your surgeon to exercise, seriously take that energy to the pool and start swimming.
If there is one form of exercise that is more MG "friendly" than most, in my opinion, swimming is it!
I do physical therapy in the pool with a physical therapist when my MG allows me.
When I am doing really well, I go swimming 3 times per week in the early morning when I am physically the strongest.

Running, while it may your passion, may not be the best form of exercise for you anymore. Consider all of your options, exercise when MG allows & always put your safety first.

Jenna

Well, im not sure if you guys understand

Im one of the most active persons that I know, and this surgery wont stop me from running, even at costs of hurt. Its my life, i hate not being in shape, and its hard to do anything with my body right now.

I had a thymectomy, and my symptoms are going into remission, its not like Im on the mestinon and sitll have horrible symptoms, though I did have horrible symptoms from MG, and they are now going into remission.

Any others like me in the group? I ran 6 miles a day, captain of the soccer team, and basketball team, and a key member on my club soccer team.

Its really, really hard for me. and I dont understand it. I NEED to excersize to be okay. To be happy. To live.

Any idea when I will be able to lift weights again? I had my thymectomy the 30th of september.

Thanks

Full sternal split for the thymectomy?

Honestly, I was a sloth before I developed MG. After my thymectomy I started walking and was into weight lifting before I returned to work. Complications from radiation therapy have put a halt on that for now, but I'll be back to it as soon as I get my lungs behaving properly again.

You don't need to let it stop you, but hurt is one of the body's way of saying something is wrong. I understand the desire to run, it was one of my goals to get into it.

Here're your basic risks: If your thoracic surgeon went through your chest, splitting the sternum to do your thymectomy you run the risk of breaking that bone while it is knitting. You also run the risk of knocking one or more staples loose. The sternum can slip if you put too much pressure on it before it is knitted. The price of that is another trip to the hospital to have what has healed broken again to be re-set. Weigh that against your desire to run/lift weights before your surgeon tells you it is safe.

If they did the robotic thymectomy going in between some ribs... as soon as that is healed up you should be able to go full tilt (watch for splitting your stitches.)

You're young. You have lots of time and you will be running again soon. Just give yourself time to heal. How would you play soccer or basketball or run if you broke your leg? Right.

Cheers,
Brian

Tyson, first you need to back way off any exercise for now. You will cause internal injury to yourself by pushing to soon to much. Do you have a trainer?? You need to talk to him/her if so and let them chew you butt off for ya!! If you do get back to soon, you are toast brother. You will THEN know what it is like to be without your highs from endorphins!!
I went to the gym 3 hours a day every day, no missing days or skipping out. I loved it. I lived for the alarm to go off and get to the gym each day. I was constantly moving. I did run for about a year when I younger, not my thing. Prefered raquet ball---tae bo---spinning---step, you name it. Swam every day. So yeah I understand what it feels like to have it cut out from under you. You have got to wait AT LEAST until your return to the surgeon to be cleared. Don't make this harder or more drawn out than is necessary!! Take it easy now, get back into the swing slowly.
You could do some walking. But no jarring---no pulling---no lifting. Did your doc not brief you on all this prior to surgery??
Deb