Well, At Least The Sun Is Out

Day two of feeling kinda yucky. I have been much worse, so that I am thankful that it's not worse. Jacob seems mostly unaffected except for his runny nose. I just feel kinda blah. Not much energy. A grim reminder that this disease is never really GONE.

June is National Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month, as you know by now if you've read any of my posts lately. One thing that I really want people to understand: I was a germaphobe BEFORE MG kinda-sorta by choice and kinda-sorta by OCD. Now I am a germaphobe by necessity.

When you walk in my house, there is a bottle of hand sanitizer. I suppose some people may be offended, but this is why it's there: People with MG don't die from MG. They die from a cold. My first neurologist told me that, and I vaguely remember thinking, "My, how melodramatic!" But whether you think it's melodramatic or not, it's the truth.

I have to be careful. Very careful. Even when I feel fantastic, I can't let my guard down for one second. I tape antibacterial wipes with me. If I eat out anywhere, I wipe the table down. The top, the edges, and the seat. After I touch the menu, I clean my hands; or I wipe the menu down with the wipes. Need ketchup? Everybody and their brother has touched the bottle, so I have to clean my hands again.

If I ride in someone else's vehicle, I have to clean my hands after I touch the handles, especially on the inside. If I ask someone to come over, I have to make sure they are not sick, and their children aren't sick. You CAN spread germs from a sick person in your house whether or not you have symptoms.

It's scary to even have people over because they could be coming down with something and not know it. So you can live in fear, or you can do your best to prevent sickness. I do both. I kind of go back and forth. I'll be like, it's all good, come on over, then I'll get a cold, and I freak and seclude myself. That's why chronic illness is so isolating. I have to protect myself.

It boggles my mind that many people don't even think about germs. They don't really have to, because if they get a cold, they feel like crap for a while and then get over it. I don't have that luxury.

So I pray a lot, and do what I can. So if I ask you to wash your hands, use hand sanitizer, or ask you 3 times if you and all in your house are healthy, please don't be offended. It could be a matter of life and death for me.