Walk it off

Remember the feeling you had in Gym class (P.E.), after you had to run a lap around the gym or track? Now, I mean the feeling you had before you became the super athlete you are now. Sheer fatigue all over your body, shortness of breath, body shakes and you just wanted to lie down? Then the coaches told you to raise your hands to your head and walk it off. Next thing you know all the kids are walking about, like rotating satellite dishes. Did that really help us, or just distract us long enough to let our bodies calm down? Who knows...

I bring this up because this is the feeling a myasthenic has, during muscle fatigue. Generally, this remains focused in the chest, shoulders and arms. When its time to shampoo the hair, I prop one elbow up on the wall to support the effort of washing shampoo in/out. Brushing my teeth, and I'm grateful for my electric toothbrush, but I still have to support that arm long enough for the brush to do its job. Arms are spaghetti, and often, I will use one to help the other with a task.

Then there are the neck muscles. I call it the wet towel experience. Go wet a heavy towl, and wrap it around your noggin as if you were drying your hair. That balancing act feels the same when your neck muscles are exhausted. Its hard to hold your head up. You prop your forehead on a cabinet while chopping something for dinner, you bend over the sink and hold your forehead when spitting toothpaste. If you look towards the floor, you sometimes have to push your forehead back up to look forward.

Don't forget the chest..where that whole breathing thing happens. Imagine a chest cold. Heavy sensation like a 15 pound cat were laying across you. The air isn't truly restricted, but its labored and short. If you could only lean forward, and move the pressure, you could get a deep breath and stretch the diaphragm. Ahhhh, what a feeling. That's what I'm doing right now. Seated, leaning forward and trying get that deep breath, and if i'm real lucky, the stretch. The momentum to really get a deep breath that leaves you feeling refreshed.

Just another day in the life of a Myasthenic, and don't get me wrong. Even though there are restrictions, everything still functions. For that, I am grateful!
Time to go walk around with my hands on my head...lets see if that helps...