Commonality

How you ever wondered why we tend to align ourselves with people who have the same set of values, experiences, or knowledge? I believe it’s because there is comfort in commonality.

Most of the comments I receive from readers of my blog have something to do with how that person relates to something I’ve written. I frequently hear the phrase “You get me” in their comments. It’s not that I truly understand them, because in most cases I’ve never met them; it’s because we’re going through similar experiences. We have something in common.

Not every case of Myasthenia Gravis will present the same. In fact, rarely do you find the same set or intensity of symptoms in any two people. Like fingerprints, everyone’s journey through MG is unique. There are some symptoms that are common. Droopy eyelids, generalized weakness, difficulty swallowing, are all common symptoms of MG, but how they affect each person is different.

When I get tired, my voice gets hoarse. I know people that have MG that when they get tired, they can’t talk at all. I know people who only experience symptoms in their eyes or eyelids. I also know people who are affected all over their bodies. I know people who can function fairly well with medication. I know people who are confined to wheelchairs. So, you see that type of symptoms or intensity of those symptoms vary greatly. The commonality is we all have Myasthenia Gravis.

Even in that, there is variability. Most people have tested positive for the AChR (acetylcholine receptors) or MuSK (muscle-specific tyrosine kinase). I’m seronegative, which means I’ve tested negative for both AChR and MuSK. It means the marker has not yet been discovered for my type of MG.

So, then why do so many people write comments saying “You get me”? It’s because our experiences are close enough or “common” enough that we can relate. There’s comfort in knowing someone who has been through similar circumstances. There’s even a sense of trust that develops between those people. That trust comes from commonality. We get each other because we’ve walked in each other’s shoes. Those shoes may not have been the exact size, they may not fit perfectly, they may not be the style we prefer, but we’ve walked in them and we know how they feel.

Commonality breeds trust. We feel comfortable talking with someone who has shared similar experiences. That’s why the support groups and other resources on the MGFA website are so helpful. They offer MG Support Groups, the MG Friends Program, Myasthenia Advocacy for Young Adults, MGFA Online Community, For Parents, For Caregivers, and an MGFA Hotline. Those services are all offered from people with commonality. It’s a place where you can feel comfortable talking about your situation because the people there have walked in your shoes. I highly encourage you to access the information at https://myasthenia.org. You’re not alone with MG.

I also encourage you to keep reading my blogs and let me know how I’m doing. Your comments mean a great deal to me. And if you’d like to share your story, let me know. It may help others how are looking for commonality to what they are experiencing.

Together we can get through this. Together we are strong. We’re simply “From One Snowflake To Another” (thanks, Wayne) and together we are #MGStrong.

One more thing. The other day I told you about how Wayne closed his comment to me with “From One Snowflake To Another” and I shared the analogy that one snowflake alone is delicate and fragile, but put them together and roll them into a ball and you have something powerful that can build snowballs, snowmen and snow castles. I realized I missed the most important example of all. One snowflake, when banded with many others, can create an avalanche.

Let’s become an avalanche for MG.