Before I get into the meat of today’s blog, I wanted to update you. Many of you have sent well wishes for both my granddaughter and me, so I wanted to keep you informed of progress. My granddaughter is still in the hospital, but her oxygen saturation rate has improved and they’ve been able to remove supplemental oxygen. She has started eating and drinking again. We are hoping this will allow her to go home soon. Each day I seem to do a little better, although I still have this nagging chest congestion that results in frequent coughs. I’ve finished taking my antibiotics and steroids, but continue on with the nebulizer breathing treatments. I’ll get there and your thoughts and prayers have definitely helped. Thank you.
Now onto today’s subject. Last night was New Year’s Eve. Where we live in Louisiana, fireworks are legal around the Fourth of July and also on New Year’s Eve. We have two rescue Standard Poodles that are terrified of fireworks, so you can imagine how last night went.
Since they are both rescues, we have no idea what they were subjected to prior to us adopting them, nor do we have a clue as to why fireworks are so frightening for them. We’ve always kept them in the house when people were lighting fireworks, but even the security of being in their home isn’t enough. They either want to be sitting on our laps or at our feet and follow us like a shadow anywhere we go in the house. They pant and shake from fear. I’m not sure if it’s because of the loud noise or a past experience, but they both act in the same way, although the young female seems to be a little worse.
We have Thundershirts which we put on them when they get frightened. These are actually a jacket that caresses them and helps to calm anxiety. They work somewhat, but they still remain very clingy. We keep them inside the house when people are lighting fireworks, but even that isn’t enough to muffle the sound enough that they aren’t bothered. They don’t get sick or convulse; they simply shake and are anxious until the fireworks stop. Once the fireworks are over, they are back to their normal selves.
Watching them, I couldn’t help but think about how those with Myasthenia Gravis are so similar, in terms of anxiety. I suspect our dogs fear the unknown and what could happen. We do the same. Those of us with MG realize we don’t know what’s ahead, not just in the future, but in the next few minutes.
I’ve told you how my legs completely quit working and went out from underneath me causing me to fall when I was walking our dogs and ran into another aggressive dog. My neurologist told me sometimes my body will shut down in fight or flight situations. That means I have to constantly remain cognizant that it could happen. I have to be more aware and do a better job of planning ahead.
We also worry about how MG will progress in us in the long term. Will it become debilitating? Will I be able to do the things I enjoy doing? All of these questions bring us anxiety. They don’t make Thundershirts for humans, but maybe someone should.
What I’ve found to be most helpful when I’m anxious is doing what my dogs do. When they get anxious, they just want to be near me. When I get anxious, I just want to be near God. I know he will hold my hand and guide me through. I just need to have faith enough to trust him. His arms wrapped around me is my Thundershirt. In his arms, I find comfort and relief from the things that are causing me to be anxious.
If you’re feeling anxious about the future, put on your Thundershirt by turning to God. Feel his arms around you and know that you aren’t in this alone. The fireworks will eventually stop. His arms just provide us the strength until they do.
I hope 2025 is good to you. I hope your MG continues to be controlled. I hope you do more celebrating the present than worrying about the future. I will be the first to tell you, the fireworks will return someday, but if God is your Thundershirt, you’ll make it through.