I chose to complete our final neuro note on Myasthenia Gravis (MG). I decided to utilize the Youtube video that was shown in class title, "Sheryl and Myasthenia Gravis: How I Cope!". This young girl is only 17 and was 16 when she was diagnosed with MG. Its honestly so sad how her life went from being this happy teenage girl who loved the game of softball, to being bedridden and battling this disease every day. Sheryl is truly a superhero and you can tell that she will not let MG defeat her. I had never heard of Myasthenia Gravis. I find that I have a better time understanding the disease when I am able to watch personal videos and tie that person to the condition.
Myasthenia Gravis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects your voluntary muscles and is due to the inadequate uptake of acetylcholine. Some initial symptoms you see with MG are ptosis, weak face and throat muscles, and then progressing downward. The first sign Sheryl had were her droopy eyes and she had other vision problems leading her to go to the eye doctor to get it checked out. The doctor then performed the Ice Test, an informal screening for Myasthenia Gravis. She also began to have difficulty swallowing. She describes MG as not being able to charge your own battery like individuals who do not have this disease. She does a really great job at breaking down the symptoms and the various treatments one can receive to aid in the relief of the symptoms. She receives plasmapheresis where you have a catheter inserted, with hers being in her neck, and abnormal antibodies are removed from the blood and put back into the body.You can tell that she has done a lot to understand her diagnosis and I think it helps her in coping with it. She figures out ways to continuously engage in activities she once did with a few modifications.
I truly appreciate Sheryl for being so brave and sharing her story with the world. These are the things that we need to spread awareness about conditions people don't hear much about such as Myasthenia Gravis. It makes me value the life I have, because your life can quickly change in the blink of an eye. Take heed to symptoms and signs you deem not normal that way you can catch whatever it may be early on. Sheryl mentions how she uses humor with her disease, and just makes the best out of her days. A little laughter can take you a long way.
Bryan Carter. (2014, October 23). Sheryl and Myasthenia Gravis: How I Cope! YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZU2nTf6_cc
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