Thanks for your patience. We’re in Missouri now, currently staying with our daughter’s family while we search for a house. It’s so much fun being with the grandkids. We went to our grandson’s baseball game Friday night and it was great to be able to watch him play. We’ve only just gotten here, and the move has already proven to be worth it.
We enjoyed our time in Louisiana, but one of the things I won’t miss is the oppressive heat. During the summer in Louisiana (which seems to last from May through September), daily temperatures get up into the 90’s. That’s not too bad, but due to the humidity, the heat index quickly climbs to 105 to 110 nearly every day. To top it off, nights don’t cool down much due to the lingering humidity.
For those of us with Myasthenia Gravis, excessive heat and humidity can zap us. Fatigue sets in very quickly. Getting back in the air conditioning will help recovery, but there are just some things you have to do outside.
I still enjoy mowing the grass, so I refuse to pay someone to do it. It would take me about an hour and a half to mow and trim, but by the time I was done, I was spent. I sweated profusely and I would get severe cramps in the calves of my legs. Besides the pain caused by the severe cramps, lighter cramps would linger making it difficult for me to walk for the remainder of the day. It will still get hot here in Missouri, but the humidity shouldn’t be as bad and nights will cool down.
Have you noticed that with Myasthenia Gravis, we have to look at things a little differently. We can’t just get a whim and do it; we have to think it through and plan ahead. It’s often a good idea to create a little checklist to make sure you’ve planned appropriately for whatever adventure you decide to undertake. Here are a few considerations:
1. Make sure your doctor would approve of any activity you might decide to do. Depending upon abilities, short walks, some light sports, or even pickleball would probably gain your doctor’s approval. Rock climbing or activities of long duration probably would not. The big thing is to discuss and know your triggers and have a plan to manage any flare ups or even possibly a crisis.
2. If the activity involves several hours, make sure you take along any medications you might need. Scheduled medications are easy to plan around, but will you need an inhaler if you start having trouble breathing? Emergency meds are critically important.
3. Don’t forget to wear emergency or medical identification. A medial ID bracelet or necklace will help alert emergency personnel should you have a problem during your outing.
4. Pace yourself and build in plenty of rest stops. Try to schedule activities during your peak energy times. Start small, have an exit plan, and monitor symptoms closely.
5. Manage your triggers. Try to avoid peak sun hours when heat of the day is worse. Stay hydrated and move into the shade or preferably indoors with AC if you start to feel symptoms worsening. Use assistive devices if helpful. Eat carefully if swallowing is affected.
The best bit of advice I can offer is Listen To Your Body. When I was young and thought I was infallible, I would push through pain and fatigue. Those days are gone and I’d be quite foolish to attempt to do that today. When your body is telling you it’s tired, it’s time to rest. When you feel thirsty, it’s time to hydrate. Use common sense and you’ll be able to enjoy the summer activities with family and friends.
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