I've been feeling pretty crummy lately--fatigue, increased diplopia, and increased hip pain. I wound up with a migraine this afternoon that didn't respond to a nap, but did (eventually) respond to an Axert.
Days like this I just feel pretty discouraged. My MG is worse than it was a last summer when I was diagnosed. At that time, I remember not really understanding the difference between fatigue and weakness. And, now I do... At this time last summer, I was taking a 60mg Mestinon tablet 4x/day. Now I'm taking one 6x/day. Actually, I'm taking 1.25 tablets 6x/day and trying to decide whether I needed to increase the dosage because I'm worse or because I got a bottle of generic Mestinon that was weaker than advertised... I'm also feeling stressed because of my husband's recent health problems (and needing to do some of the things he usually takes care of.) And, I'm wondering to what extent my increased fatigue is related to my Hashimoto's. My TSH numbers have been creeping back up, but not high enough for my doctor to increase my levothyroxine dosage. I'm due for bloodwork again in early October, so we'll see where the numbers are then.
But to count my blessings:
1. I have no evidence of MG-related breathing problems, and my pneumonia seems to have cleared up. (I still need to get another chest x-ray before my pulmonologist appointment in three weeks to make sure.)
2. Mestinon works well for me with minimal side-effects. Wish I could say the same thing about Timespan, which seems to give me migraines.
3. I managed to make it through a two-hour orchestra rehearsal last Monday evening. My vision was ok until about the last 20 minutes, at which point I couldn't tell which ledger line the notes above the staff were on. And, my arms didn't feel weak until towards the end of the rehearsal. I definitely need a nap after work and before the rehearsal! But all-in-all, not bad for the first rehearsal of the semester when we were mostly sight-reading.
4. Most days, I can handle an eight-hour work day (although I am pretty worthless by the time I get home.) I'm thankful for a job that just has me sitting in front of a computer rather than doing anything physical, for a pair of computer glasses with prism that work really well for me most days, and for a 10 minute commute between home and work. Last Wednesday night was a reality check, however. I can't work until 5:00, pick my daughter up from sports practice at school, and then be in any kind of shape to drive her to youth group at our church at 6:00. (Thankfully one of the youth leaders was able to give her a ride.)
5. I haven't lost my smile (or my sense of humor!)
6. I have family and friends that are supportive even when they don't quite understand where I'm at with my MG.
Happy Labor Day to all of you!
Pat
Days like this I just feel pretty discouraged. My MG is worse than it was a last summer when I was diagnosed. At that time, I remember not really understanding the difference between fatigue and weakness. And, now I do... At this time last summer, I was taking a 60mg Mestinon tablet 4x/day. Now I'm taking one 6x/day. Actually, I'm taking 1.25 tablets 6x/day and trying to decide whether I needed to increase the dosage because I'm worse or because I got a bottle of generic Mestinon that was weaker than advertised... I'm also feeling stressed because of my husband's recent health problems (and needing to do some of the things he usually takes care of.) And, I'm wondering to what extent my increased fatigue is related to my Hashimoto's. My TSH numbers have been creeping back up, but not high enough for my doctor to increase my levothyroxine dosage. I'm due for bloodwork again in early October, so we'll see where the numbers are then.
But to count my blessings:
1. I have no evidence of MG-related breathing problems, and my pneumonia seems to have cleared up. (I still need to get another chest x-ray before my pulmonologist appointment in three weeks to make sure.)
2. Mestinon works well for me with minimal side-effects. Wish I could say the same thing about Timespan, which seems to give me migraines.
3. I managed to make it through a two-hour orchestra rehearsal last Monday evening. My vision was ok until about the last 20 minutes, at which point I couldn't tell which ledger line the notes above the staff were on. And, my arms didn't feel weak until towards the end of the rehearsal. I definitely need a nap after work and before the rehearsal! But all-in-all, not bad for the first rehearsal of the semester when we were mostly sight-reading.
4. Most days, I can handle an eight-hour work day (although I am pretty worthless by the time I get home.) I'm thankful for a job that just has me sitting in front of a computer rather than doing anything physical, for a pair of computer glasses with prism that work really well for me most days, and for a 10 minute commute between home and work. Last Wednesday night was a reality check, however. I can't work until 5:00, pick my daughter up from sports practice at school, and then be in any kind of shape to drive her to youth group at our church at 6:00. (Thankfully one of the youth leaders was able to give her a ride.)
5. I haven't lost my smile (or my sense of humor!)
6. I have family and friends that are supportive even when they don't quite understand where I'm at with my MG.
Happy Labor Day to all of you!
Pat
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