It’s August 3. We’re halfway through summer. Kids will be returning to school soon. Days will become progressively shorter. The best part for all of us with Myasthenia Gravis is that we’ll probably only experience a few more weeks of extreme heat.
Heat, coupled with humidity, is the nemesis of people with MG. It is our formidable opponent. We will never win the battle against heat; we can only avoid it. Heat exacerbates our symptoms and leaves us feeling weak and tired.
I’ve mentioned before that I still enjoy mowing the grass. With heat indexes above 100 in summertime, I struggle. I tire quickly. In fact, once I finish, I find myself completely exhausted. I go into my air-conditioned house, drink some water and then lie on the bed until my body begins to recover. Bear in mind that at this point, I’m still dressed and sweating profusely. I don’t have the strength to pull off my shirt which adheres to my body like glue because I’m so drenched in sweat. Once I cool off and my legs begin to recover, I can remove my clothes, jump in the shower and then throw the blanket upon which I had lain into the washer. I’m pretty much spent for the remainder of the day and oftentimes don’t feel that well. That can also seep into the next day. In other words, it takes me a couple of days to fully recover when the heat and humidity is bad.
So why do I do it? Two reasons: 1. Because exercise is an important part of my therapy. I realize I can exercise in an air-conditioned environment, which leads me to my second reason. 2. I enjoy mowing the grass. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and it’s one way I stare ol’ MG in the eyes and defy it.
I stumbled upon a great article by Kate Stober on the MGFA website. It’s called “Beating the Heat During Summer Months”. It was published on June 20, 2024. In the article, Kate describes how many people with MG will tell you that symptoms flare up during the summer months. She then goes on to describe some tips on how to manage your MG during hot weather. Some of those tips include limiting your outdoor activities to early morning or evening when it’s cooler. She also suggests you build in extra time to rest in your schedule. She even talks about a cool vest which she claims can literally be a lifesaver. I encourage you to read her entire article on the MGFA website. Here’s the link: https://myasthenia.org/About-MGFA/MGFA-Publications/MGFA-MG-Community-Insider-Blog/beating-the-heat-during-summer-months#:~:text=Many%20individuals%20diagnosed%20with%20myasthenia,feeling%20extra%20weak%20and%20tired.
Summer means we need to take precautions; it doesn’t mean we have to become hermits and stay inside. Just be smart about it. If you enjoy yardwork, do it, but try to get it done early in the day or later in the afternoon or evening. Avoid midday when the heat is worse. I live in Louisiana, so it’s already hot when you wake up and still hot when you go to bed, but much of the U.S. has experienced this type of heat this year. Don’t overdo it, but don’t deprive yourself of doing something you enjoy doing as long as you can do it safely.
Among my list of chores is watering the plants, especially the potted plants that must be watered daily. I try to do this first thing in the morning before it gets too hot. Without daily watering, our potted plants will shrivel up and die. So will we if we don’t get enough water.
Just like plants, our bodies need water and staying hydrated is especially important for those of us with MG. Getting dehydrated can cause our fatigue to come on quickly or worsen. If you become dehydrated, never attempt to rehydrate with alcohol or caffeinated drinks. They could make your dehydration worse.
The Mayo Clinic says in a temperate climate, a typical male needs about 15.5 cups (124 ounces) of fluids per day. A typical female needs about 11.5 cups (92 ounces) of fluids per day. Of course, this amount increases in hot and humid conditions. Just for the record, when I’m mowing the grass, I make sure to drink several ounces of water every time I empty the grass catcher bag. That prevents me from getting dehydrated.
Water isn’t your only option for hydration. Many fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon and spinach, are almost 100% water by weight. Milk, juice and herbal teas are a great source of water and even caffeinated drinks can contribute to your water intake. Just avoid caffeinated drinks if you’re already dehydrated. Also remember that regular soda, energy/sports drinks and other sweet drinks like Sweet Tea contain a lot of added sugar and could result in you consuming more calories than you actually need. I once heard a doctor advise to never drink your calories. Your body processes liquid calories too fast and that can easily contribute to weight gain. Get your fluids from low or no calorie drinks. Get your calories from solid foods where it takes a little longer to process and results in less of a chance of gaining weight. Of course, you have to regulate how much you eat.
It’s recommended you drink a glass of water with each meal and an additional glass between each meal. Additionally, you should increase water intake before, during and after exercising and whenever you feel thirsty. Don’t rely on thirst, however, to determine if you’re getting dehydrated. When you’re becoming dehydrated, you don’t always feel thirsty. A better indicator is if your urine is anything but clear or light yellow.
So drink up, enjoy the rest of your summer and look forward to the cooler weather to come.