Cold – Day 2

It’s a cold. What’s the big deal? Everybody gets colds.

The above statements are absolutely true, at least for those without Myasthenia Gravis. I understand how a cold is not big deal to most people. We get them all the time. To someone with MG, however, a cold can be much more difficult.

When I first began writing my blog, my intent was to share my journey with MG. Although there are some common symptoms most people with MG share, like drooping eyelids, each person’s experience is a bit different as no two cases of Myasthenia Gravis are the same. Sometimes when I share what I’m going through, I get comments from people with MG who can relate. They’re going through something similar. Sometimes my blogs even bring peace of mind because a person with MG often thinks they’re going through this alone. Other people with MG have different experiences entirely. While I can tell you about some of the symptoms they may be experiencing, I can’t tell you how they are feeling or coping, especially if I’ve never had the same experiences.

My blogs are also written for people who don’t have Myasthenia Gravis but may know someone who does. I hope to give them an insight into what their friend or loved one may be going through. Sometimes I’ll talk about things to which someone without MG can’t relate. Sometimes I may even discuss things that don’t make any sense and are hard to fathom. Sometimes my blogs will confirm the symptoms they are seeing in their friend or loved one. My intent is not to seek pity or solicit sympathy. My blogs are simply sharing my journey and getting the word out about Myasthenia Gravis in the only way I know how.

A common cold is one of those situations. To most people, a common cold is no big deal. To someone with MG, it can be a very dangerous and scary time. I’m not trying to hype or exaggerate it; I’m simply telling you what it’s actually like for us with MG. I’m trying to give you an idea of the challenges we face and how we feel as we’re going through different situations.

With that said, today is Day 2 of my cold. Yesterday, I woke up with a runny nose that wouldn’t stop. I sneezed and blew my nose the entire day. When I woke up this morning, my nose wasn’t running at all. I sneezed a little, but I could feel the cold had started to move down into my chest. That’s very typical for me. A cold doesn’t stay in my head long before it heads down to my chest.

While the runny nose is uncomfortable, a chest cold becomes much more challenging for me or anyone with MG. They’re already experiencing fatigue from the MG, but now the coughing due to the cold zaps whatever strength they have left. Soon, they become exhausted and are unable to cough forcefully enough to expel the mucus from their bronchial tubes and lungs. When this happens, pneumonia can set in.

So, today I can feel the cold moving down. I’m not bad yet and I’m not yet coughing, but I realize this will probably be one of my better days this week. From experience, I know what’s ahead. Today will be a day of rest and drinking plenty of fluids. I want to give my body every possible chance to fight off this cold on its own. If it’s successful, great. If it isn’t, things will probably get worse rather quickly.

If it worsens, I’ll start on plain Mucinex. Mucinex helps break up the mucus and makes it easier to expel. There are several types of Mucinex on the market and many contain a cough suppressant. I know I need to avoid the cough suppressant types because I’ll need to forcefully cough out the mucus as much as possible.

We have adjustable beds in our house which help immensely. I can raise the head or foot of the bed as needed. During a cold, I raise the head of the bed to help me breathe easier. If you don’t have an adjustable bed, you may want to consider getting one or at least prop yourself up with additional pillows. Lying flat is the worst possible position in which to sleep when you have a cold. Don’t remain in bed unless you absolutely have to, however. Get up and walk around. If you remain in bed too long, pneumonia sets in that much easier. Walking around helps break up the mucus and makes it easier to breathe.

If I begin to experience severe trouble breathing, I’ll start breathing treatments with a nebulizer as ordered by my doctor. My doctor may also start me on steroids and antibiotics, if they are indicated. There are issues with each, so only start these if your doctor prescribes them and instructs you to do so. Steroids can worsen muscle weakness in someone with MG, so a doctor will typically start with as low a dose as possible. In addition, antibiotics will not work on a viral cold, only a bacterial cold and a person can develop a resistance to antibiotics which can become dangerous when a person develops an infection down the line and an antibiotic no longer works. For these reasons, always check with your doctor first before starting any medication on your own. Also, remember many over-the-counter medications can cause MG symptoms to worse, so always check with your doctor first.

I’ll keep you posted on how I’m doing, but I hope by describing what I’m going through will help someone with MG who may be experiencing a similar battle with a cold and encourages them to always seek medical care. I hope it also helps explain to those who know someone with MG why colds can be so dangerous.

For today, it’s rest, plenty of fluids and maintaining a positive attitude. I’ll need that positive attitude in the days ahead. I’ve beaten colds before and there’s no reason to believe this one will be any different. I’m just going to be smart about it and take the necessary steps (including seeking additional medical care) if my cold gets out of control.

I’m ready for the battle. I’m #MGStrong!