Myasthenia Gravis Support Group
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability. The hallmark of myasthenia gravis is muscle weakness that increases during periods of activity and improves after periods of rest. Although myasthenia gravis may affect any voluntary muscle, muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, and...
This is a link I found while checking my Myasthenia Gravis updates in my email...It is a inspiration to all of us who live with and some suffer from having MG....
Rochester pastor preparing to run Erie marathon despite myasthenia gravis
Thursday, September 09, 2010
By Linda Wilson Fuoco, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Rev. Mel McRoberts of Rochester has a chronic autoimmune disorder that can cause severe muscle weakness and exhaustion, but it isn't stopping him from running a marathon.
Rev. McRoberts, 60, has been running since high school, when he was on the track and cross country teams at Beaver High School. Diagnosed in 2007 with myasthenia gravis, he feared his running days were over.
His first symptom was a drooping eyelid. Next came severe muscle weakness, a dragging foot, swollen feet, weak fingers and double vision.
Rev. McRoberts says, "While I have MG, MG doesn't have me!"
To prove his point, the man who still works full time as pastor of the Rochester Free Methodist Church will run The Presque Isle Marathon in Erie on Sunday.
He has two goals: to raise awareness of myasthenia gravis -- which translates as "grave muscle weakness" -- and to raise money for the Myasthenia Gravis Association of Western Pennsylvania at Allegheny General Hospital.
Because Rev. McRoberts doesn't know if his MG might worsen, he feels it's important to rise to this challenge in his life while he still can. He finished the Presque Isle Marathon in 2004 in 4 hours and 31 minutes. In training for the 2010 marathon, he has run 15 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes.
"I'm especially concerned about people with MG who may never run a marathon," Rev. McRoberts said. "I run now because I can. I want people whose symptoms are more severe to know that my thoughts are with them every step."
MG is an autoimmune disorder that can affect a variety of muscles. Symptoms include difficulty eating, walking, lifting arms, talking, laughing or at worst, difficulty breathing. With support and treatment, many patients can live active lives, the MG Association says.
Myasthenia gravis can be difficult to diagnose. Rev. McRoberts was lucky to be diagnosed four months after his first symptom appeared.
"Some patients endure many months or even years without a proper diagnosis," said neurologist George Small, medical director of the Myasthenia Gravis Association at Allegheny General Hospital. He said Rev. McRoberts' early diagnosis and treatment at the MG Association was pivotal.
Early on, Rev. McRoberts often felt exhausted and frequently dropped things.
"To this day I don't hold babies unless I'm sitting down," he quipped. He says he was grateful that he was referred to The Myasthenia Gravis Association, where he is now on the board.
Go to www.mgawpa.org to make a donation in honor of Rev. McRoberts' run. Click on the banner ad at the top of the page.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10252/1086054-57.stm?cmpid=neighborhoods.xml#ixzz0z4pvD2RW
Rochester pastor preparing to run Erie marathon despite myasthenia gravis
Thursday, September 09, 2010
By Linda Wilson Fuoco, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Rev. Mel McRoberts of Rochester has a chronic autoimmune disorder that can cause severe muscle weakness and exhaustion, but it isn't stopping him from running a marathon.
Rev. McRoberts, 60, has been running since high school, when he was on the track and cross country teams at Beaver High School. Diagnosed in 2007 with myasthenia gravis, he feared his running days were over.
His first symptom was a drooping eyelid. Next came severe muscle weakness, a dragging foot, swollen feet, weak fingers and double vision.
Rev. McRoberts says, "While I have MG, MG doesn't have me!"
To prove his point, the man who still works full time as pastor of the Rochester Free Methodist Church will run The Presque Isle Marathon in Erie on Sunday.
He has two goals: to raise awareness of myasthenia gravis -- which translates as "grave muscle weakness" -- and to raise money for the Myasthenia Gravis Association of Western Pennsylvania at Allegheny General Hospital.
Because Rev. McRoberts doesn't know if his MG might worsen, he feels it's important to rise to this challenge in his life while he still can. He finished the Presque Isle Marathon in 2004 in 4 hours and 31 minutes. In training for the 2010 marathon, he has run 15 miles in 2 hours and 30 minutes.
"I'm especially concerned about people with MG who may never run a marathon," Rev. McRoberts said. "I run now because I can. I want people whose symptoms are more severe to know that my thoughts are with them every step."
MG is an autoimmune disorder that can affect a variety of muscles. Symptoms include difficulty eating, walking, lifting arms, talking, laughing or at worst, difficulty breathing. With support and treatment, many patients can live active lives, the MG Association says.
Myasthenia gravis can be difficult to diagnose. Rev. McRoberts was lucky to be diagnosed four months after his first symptom appeared.
"Some patients endure many months or even years without a proper diagnosis," said neurologist George Small, medical director of the Myasthenia Gravis Association at Allegheny General Hospital. He said Rev. McRoberts' early diagnosis and treatment at the MG Association was pivotal.
Early on, Rev. McRoberts often felt exhausted and frequently dropped things.
"To this day I don't hold babies unless I'm sitting down," he quipped. He says he was grateful that he was referred to The Myasthenia Gravis Association, where he is now on the board.
Go to www.mgawpa.org to make a donation in honor of Rev. McRoberts' run. Click on the banner ad at the top of the page.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10252/1086054-57.stm?cmpid=neighborhoods.xml#ixzz0z4pvD2RW
There is no need to be envious, which means jealous, of his will to go on and live his life. This is a story to show you that just because you have MG doesn't mean you can't live your life. It doesn't mean that you can't do the things that you want to do in life. I have MG and I am in school, I refuse to let all the medically things I have get me down and prevent me from living the dream I have set for myself. With having MG, Graves Disease, Hypo-Thyroidism, Asthma, Allegeries, Scared Tissues, and the possibility of never having children again (I have a 15 year old) I won't let life defeat me. I intend to have another child and I plan to own the business that I have dreams of owning... I did not post this story to make anyone feel bad I posted it to boost your spirts and to let you know that "ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IF YOU ONLY BELIEVE IN GOD AND YOURSELF"
~SMOOCHES~
~Smoooches~
"The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it." Chinese Proverb. I have that on my status to remind myself that anything is possible. I thought you might like it.
You don't want to hear all my dx's. I didn't even know them all until I had to file for disability and I couldn't read both pages. I was shocked at some of the things I was never told, but I won without appearing before a judge. I'm a Gulf War Vet and I seriously suspect the squalene used in the anthrax vaccination set off several of my diseases. So, I definately believe in the possibility of healing. Something else that helps me is knowing that we replicate our DNA every 7 years. We have the possibility to fix the damage.
I may never be "cured" but I will live my life to the fullest. I also rely heavily on my spirituality. You have to heal mind, body and soul. Can't just fix one. You have a great attitude, now go out and conquer the world. lol
Anyone else?
krbunn