So I took my new pet to the vet today - she is a BIG girl - 53 lbs and emaciated, oh, and pregnant, and the vet who has known me my whole life, told me he was surprised @ how different I look!

I was always small before (5'5" and 110-125) so @ 140, people just flip when they see me! Still, I wouldn't comment on anyone's weight - no matter what!

I calmly told him about my MG and my steroids, he apologized and said he meant no disrespect, but I had always been too small before and now I look better - yeah......... right?!?

I do think he (the vet) suffers from a mild form of autism, cuz' he's always been a little off kilter, but it still bothered me.........do you think I'm being too sensitive? I never really cared about my appearance b/4, but now find myself looking in the mirror all the flippin time........stupid, huh?

I mean, in the grand scheme of things, gaining a bit of weight shouldn't be a big deal, it's just the way people respond to me now that bothers me.........

My new "little" girl will provide me with some excercise - she won't go inside - thank goodness and won't go on my back porch, so I'm going to be spending a lot more time outside, plus my sis is bringing over her treadmill for her, so she should be a lot more calm in the near future.........

Anyway - how do you guys handle it? Get a tougher skin? Insult someone? What do you think?

ERin

Hi Erin,

I have put on about 14kg(30pounds)since I've been on pred. I use to be the sort of person who could eat anything, and still be thin, mind you I did a lot of exercise to.

I saw a mother of a guy I use to go to school with and she said, "wow you've put on weight, you use to be so thin, you look good"
I was dumbfounded, I didn't know wether to be happy or annoyed. I thought, was I really that thin????? Now I just really don't care anymore, as I've come to the conclusion that at the moment its all beyond my controll. If I could I would be out excercising, but hey this is what life has handed me, so I TRY and deal with it. And when all else fails, and I'm having a bad day, I come here!!

Hey Kate!

I know it is annoying! Really really annoying! My sisters-in-laws have always been really, really big (over 300 lbs) and were always crappy to me and now they want to take trips with me - what a strange, strange world........

They always made catty remarks, or said I was bulimic cuz' I was the same way - could eat whatever I wanted with no problems..........jealousy, plain and simple.........

Some people get a sadistic pleasure watching others suffer - I just don;t understand that @ all........

Coming here always helps though! Everyone is so kind and understands exactly what we are going through.......sadly....sigh

You should see my new girl (pit bull mix)! She is so ugly that she is cute! She is a handful! Mike is talking about a surrogate mom (now he wants a baby) and I nixed that idea - way too old and tired to do that again!!!!! Just getting Dev through school is taking it's toll on me.....poor fella has a few learning disabilities that are making it quite hard for him......Wish I ould do more or make the pain go away...........he is mildly austistic, but comes across as really arrogant, when in reality he can be quite sensitive.......He loves the new dog, btw.....really loves her!

I am still nervous about having a pit bull mix in my home, so if we do find a good home, I've already promised him another BIG dog of his choice - lab hopefully........

MY 4 lb chihuahua attacked her (Lucky) today, and then pom went after her - I had the water bottle ready!!!!! It was fine, but just made me nervous! One bite and it's all over......

Lucky is amazing with people! You should have seen her @ the vet's! She was trying to give everyone kisses - but hated all the cats and big dogs......YIKES!!!!! You can tell she has been around small dogs, cuz' she is patient, but then again I've only have her 30 hours or so.........
People parted like Moses parted the red sea when they saw her - I would have done the same thing! LOL!!!!!!

Take care!
Erin

I've met a few pit bulls and crosses in my time, mainly when I worked at the vets. Over here they are considered a "dangerous breed" and must have muzzles and its illegal to breed them, this is in certain states.

I remember one was just like lucky all kissy and cute and she was soooo well behaved, one other just plain scared me, it was nasty vicious and not pleasant to be around. I gguess it has a lot to do with how they are bought up. Over here they are crossed to make "pig dogs" dogs usedd to go out and hunt wild pigs, ahhhh mmmm, no wonder they get bad reputations!! Hope all keeps going well with her( i've added a few more picks)
redtail

Yep. They are considered a very dangerous breed here as well......that's why I'm having such a problem trying to find her a good home. I don't want her to be put down simply b/c she is a pit bull, but it still makes me uneasy with my 4 other little tiny dogs here in the house......they have already tried to attack her several times, but she just ignores them for now.....I keep Lucky in my son's room - where she is happy, warm and dry and keep my dogs with me. Plus I keep her on a leash and collar 24/7 and keep a water bottle on hand in case she fixates on something.....

My little pom was attacked and nearly killed by 2 pits years ago - they tore every muscle in her tiny body, so she really hates Lucky, but I just don;t know what to do!

Lucky is so sweet to everyone here - she wants to play and kiss everyone, but I have to remember that she is a pit.........I grew up with Akitas (very aggressive with other dogs but loved my son), dobermans (also aggressive), and german shepards, but always was of the belief that pit bulls should all be put down, since they are trained to fight and kill much bigger animals, but Lucky hasn;t been trained to fight - no scars @ all - so all is well for now.

I did buy a choke collar and kennel yesterday and am contacting a trainer (just in case).........but my vet did say that it is all how the dog is raised.......

I need to find this dog a good home and get Devon a lab or something.......I feel guilty but I just don;t know how safe I can ever really feel with a potentially dangerous animal in my home - you know?

How are you? Are you feeling better? I told you my neuro bumped me back up to 60 mgs a day, right? Good lord I'm going to be manic really soon! I'm already wake up shaking like a leaf....hate that feeling!!!!

He can't figure out how I can go from feeling so awesome to feeling so crappy so quickly, but I guess it's the nature of MG........The plasma exchange was great, but I hve no immune system right now, so I am a little leery about going out now......a few of my docs recommended that I wear a mask when I go out, but I'd rather just stay home for now..........

I'm gonna check out your pics now!!!!!

Erin

Hey Erin
You've got a big job looking after lucky but she sounds quite a nice dog but what a handful for you ............
You know some people just say things without thinking of how that may hurt another person not out of nastyness but without thought yep and that would be a lot of men shame on them
anyone knowing you tho would know you have a heart of gold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OH how could they kill those lovely wild pigs horrid dogs i grew up with a bull terrier Butch the nicess dog in the world ...............
Oh my cat Lucy thinks she is a dog and talks non stop does'nt bark tho
Erin i'm on Preds being increased each week to max of 6 5mg tablets a day
so should be fine Alan

Hey everyone! Hope everyone is feeling good.
Erin: I thought it was funny that you said you find yourself always looking in a mirror now, when I'm the opposite. I've been avoiding mirrors for over a year now. I'm at 40mg every second day and still showing the heaviness in my face and belly (although not as much as when I was at 60mg daily).

I agree with the necessary evil comment too - I love how I feel on steroids, but hate how I look. I know appearance shouldn't matter - but at the end of the day that's the sad world we live in.

I too feel the heat! Before steriods I was ALWAYS cold - I was a running joke in my famiily because I would wear huge sweaters in summer. Now I'm constantly stripping off layers. And my big red tomato face shows the heat immediately. The other morning I walked to school (in -5 degree weather) and by the time I got there I had drips of sweat running down my back (yuck i know - sorry).

Anyhoo, hope everyone is smiling today!
~Kathy
PS I saw another of those MG posters today in Berwick-upon-Tweed a tiny seaside town in England (very near our house). I was SO excited.

Yep, I've officially become "vain" I guess........terrible timing! It's just that my family/friends are so flippin shocked by my face size that it makes me really self conscious............I mean, in the grand scheme my face size really doesn't matter so long as I can eat, breathe, etc, and you would think that any reasonable person would just be happy being somewhat healthy - especially after everything I've been through since my diagnosis, but here I am anyway - crazy as hell!

I cannot take the heat at all! I swell up and start to sweat through anything/everything and the night sweats are starting to really tick me off.......again a small thing, but I'm building it up to some major ordeal.........

I see people @ the Cancer Care Centers all the time -really really sick people who are handling life with such grace and dignity, I mean, they are dying and are calm and sweet and I whine about this................hate it!

I think I'm gonna ask my doc to up my Paxil for a while............

Erin

Oh Erin,
I feel for you and wish i could give you a big hug! I know it's hard to complain when there are so many worse things in the world than what we are going through, but that doesn't negate what we are experiencing. The thing I feel most guilty about is that I sometimes almost begrudge others healthiness. Why do I have all these problems that no-one has ever heard of when others are so healthy?

Anyways, just know that you can complain here without feeling bad! AND you are beautiful! I took a sneaky look at some of your facebook pictures and you are stunning- even in the hospital. Once you get your strength back and the azathioprine kicks in you'll be off the 'roids and skinny again!

Take care!
~Kathy

I too, feel guilt for wondering why I am sick, and others are totally OK - no justice @ all............Then I see others who are really suffering and feel like crap again!!!!!

It is a crazy, crazy world!My gram was always sick and yet she never complained - ever! I wish I was strong like her. Even after her heart transplant, she was always kind and patient and even started a support group for people here in SA - wish I could be more like her........She truly was amazing!

I went to my sis's house last night - it was fun! My little niece was so proud of me - I love little ones! The food was awesome, and we (Mike and I) were so happy to be out of the house!

I am going to be a bum today - no work @ all! I'm going to ice my face and feet and pray that I grow up and quit complaining! Oh! And I;m going to watch "The Duchess"...........