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...
I should be used to tests and Doctors by now...I did 18months of it 9 years ago searching for answers and am well into my 9th month now and yet I dread each time almost more than the last!! As some if you know I was left with anxiety issues after getting no answers 9 years ago and have spent the time between doubting everything my body tells me and feeling very fearful of Doctors and their dismissal! I do have a lovely Neuro now but I still have the same dread despite reminding myself how lovely he is!!
Tomorrow feels like its going to be judgement day...I am having an MRI of my facial muscles (which I am dreading as they made a real mess of injecting the dye last time - I hate needles at the best if times!!) and then my Neuro is very kindly going to request the results after as we are driving 2hrs to see him and will hopefully have both antibody test results and give me his verdict on my mestinon trial.....I think, and hope we have run out of tests now and i assume tomorrow will be the final conclusion as to whether I get a diagnosis or not.
Can anyone give me any tips on how you keep the anxiety at bay for your appointments - any help, advice.....or good luck is very welcome!! I am just wearing myself out trying to keep busy here which I fear will not help me tomorrow!!
Thanks to you all ...... Hoping you are all doing ok and having a good weekend :)
Eve.x
Tomorrow feels like its going to be judgement day...I am having an MRI of my facial muscles (which I am dreading as they made a real mess of injecting the dye last time - I hate needles at the best if times!!) and then my Neuro is very kindly going to request the results after as we are driving 2hrs to see him and will hopefully have both antibody test results and give me his verdict on my mestinon trial.....I think, and hope we have run out of tests now and i assume tomorrow will be the final conclusion as to whether I get a diagnosis or not.
Can anyone give me any tips on how you keep the anxiety at bay for your appointments - any help, advice.....or good luck is very welcome!! I am just wearing myself out trying to keep busy here which I fear will not help me tomorrow!!
Thanks to you all ...... Hoping you are all doing ok and having a good weekend :)
Eve.x
Basically distract the mind.....sitting and thinking are not a good idea, the mind loves to dwell on all of the what ifs.
Joe
You can't do much at this point, it's all be done and arranged and it is what has needed to be done and arranged. Worrying is about as helpful as worrying about getting enough sleep which only keeps you awake. Try and use the energy and time awake for something productive and concentrate on that. If you think I can do this easily or believe it's simple, just laugh--laughter helps, too. Been there, felt that. But this does help, not as much as a neuro that listens, but it sounds like you already have one. Good luck tomorrow. hugs, b.
Be well,
What helped me on my last two MRIs (both contrast) was to 1. let them know ahead of time that I have issues with needles; they were very kind about it, and tried to make it as easy on me as possible. They gave me a numbing swab so I couldn't even feel the needle going in the last time. 2. Keep my eyes shut from the moment I got on the table to the moment I came out of the tube. That way, I didn't see any needles, didn't see the funky face mask that they put on you, etc.
I also find that the anxiety does fade after lots of these tests, just as it does for the terrified flier after lots of airplane trips (I'm still a work in progress on that front, too!). It gets easier with time.
As for the fear of what the doctor will or won't conclude, cross that bridge when you get to it. Tomorrow could be the day you get a diagnosis, or maybe it won't be, but you can't do anything to change it, so focus on what you can do--have a good Sunday with the family or friends, maybe?
When I first began intensive IV-Therapy, I used a small 1mg dose of Ativan/Lorazepam.
Some people find a 1/2mg dose - to also work well.
The thing is? After a few weeks of IV-Therapy?
I had learned that we human beings - are pretty darn tough!
I no longer wanted or needed the Lorazepam.
I had gotten used to the constant-needling, so to speak.
- Ross
Here's a thought...Maybe you should go in weak (end of mestinon) and then ask him to give you 30 minutes after taking mestinon to see the positive effects.
We will all be with you...
Hugs
Sherry
Well, I don't know what I was thinking calling you Meagan except that I read her post before yours.
Hugs Eve,
Sherry
and Bible
Aloha,
Angie
Let us know how all goes...Hugs, Marie
Some tips I have for dealing with anxiety:
1- I know it helps with MG, but try cutting out caffeine and theobromine (found in good chocolate products) from your diet and re-introduce it slowly at a later date. I have a caffeine related sensitivity I was unaware of before. Fine chocolate has both caffeine and theobromine in it. Also, coffees, soda and teas have the caffeine, of course.
2- It is impossible to have an anxiety panic attack while focusing on breathing. It is just hard to remember to breathe sometimes.
3- Knowing I have a type of anxiety disorder, I sought out help in the way of therapy. I went through courses of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This helped me greatly.
I still find myself having to cope with anxiety sometimes when I have real hot cocoa made from scratch. If I drink a lot of tea or soda, I can get jittery also. It is a double-edged sword for me sometimes because I need the perk caffeine provides at times. Especially for work.
Best wishes for peace,
TJ
I considered Xanax etc, but that won't help break down the walls of anxiety. Like mestinon, it will just maks the symptoms and can even be addicting.