A… ACCEPTANCE. . . accept my limitations and accept my new life.

B… BALANCE. . . find balance every day between rest and activity…between giving in (for now) and giving up.

C… COMPASSION… I have found a new compassion for the disabled and for those who are struggling with daily battles of their own. . . either physical or other.

D… DECISIONS… I have learned the value of making fully informed decisions. Some decisions have been simple and some have taken much thought and consideration. I've learned to do my homework…learn all I can and then decide. I have to live with the consequences of my decisions, good or bad.

E... ENERGY… When I have it I use it and when I don't I sit and dream about it and wish for it, but I don't let it bring me down.

F… FATIGUE… I recognize it promptly and deal with it promptly. REST

G… GRATITUDE… Despite having MG I now realize I have much to be grateful for. I am now much more aware on a daily basis of people who have much larger problems than I.

H… HOPE… We must always have hope. Medical science is an amazing thing and we must ALWAYS maintain hope.

I… INGENUITY... When I find I am having difficulty doing something…I find another way to do it…I have amazed myself with some of the "solutions" I have come up with!

J… JOY… Joy with mg?? YES!! I can have joy with MG.. I am still very much alive and seek out joy every day. Joy from my family, my pets, my very part-time job, my friends… there is always joy. If I can't find it, I'll make it!

K… KINDNESS… I have always considered myself a kind person (admittedly pre prednisone I was a kinder person) but since my journey with MG I have been on the receiving end of more than one unkind person and I now make it a point to go out of my way to be kind to everyone…no matter who, no matter when, no matter where.

L… LIMITS… I have learned to recognize mine. This has been one of the biggest obstacles I have had to overcome.

M… MEDICATION… I am not a pill taker, so this has been a struggle for me, but I have learned the importance of keeping to a strict regimen and schedule. This may be difficult to do, but find a way. . .the dividends will be great.

N… NOON. . . When my energy starts to fade. . .so if I want to do something I do it before noon.

O… OPTIMISM… I've learned that there is always a bright side…even if you do have to go searching for it. Always see the glass ½ full. . .it will result in many happier days.

P… PERSEVERANCE… I WILL persevere!!! I will win the war! I will not surrender!

Q… QUALITY OF LIFE… There is such a thing. I will not push myself to do the little things that zap my energy and leave me little joy. I will save my energy for the things that make my life worth living.

R… REST… Recognize the need for it. . .and DO IT!

S… SELF PITY… We all have it now and then and that's OK…but we must not dwell on it or wallow in it!

T… THANKFULNESS… I have MUCH to be thankful for despite dealing with the roller coaster called MG. All I have to do is look out my window each morning and I can find many things to be thankful for…even if I can't get out to experience them up close and personal. And on days I am seeing double, that makes me doubly thankful…twice as many trees, and birds and flowers and snowflakes!

U… UNIQUE… I am as unique as a snowflake and so are you! So be yourself and don't conform to what others "expect" you to be or act like others "expect" you to act. We all handle things our own way…that's what makes us unique. What helps someone else may not help you but that's OK.

V… VAGUENESS… meaning "not clearly understood". This used to describe my understanding of MG. Not any more. Knowledge is power and your best weapon. Understand the disease…know all you can and stay informed.

W… WISDOM… Since my MG journey I feel I have gained much wisdom…medical wisdom, self-wisdom, wisdom I want to share with others to help them learn to cope.

X… XANTHIPPE… What is that you say??? According to Webster, a Xanthippe is an "ill-tempered woman". This very accurately describes me on prednisone…just ask my family.

Y… YESTERDAY… Don't mourn the past and what you "used to be able to do". It will only bring you down. Celebrate what you still can do and the new blessings you've found since you've slowed down and taken time to "smell the roses".

Z… ZEST… I have a new zest for life. I seek my pleasures and my joys and pass by the energy draining "routines" that used to be part of my life.


(Editor's note; Connie is a Respiratory Therapist, and Lifetime Member of the Connecticut Chapter. She wrote these ABC's to help others cope, as she has learned to do. Thank You Connie…Irv)

(CT Nutmeg 4/04)