I was 53 years old when I was diagnosed with
Generalised Myasthenia Gravis after 2 weeks of
investigation.
My greatest challenge was initially my eyesight.
It took a good year for my eyes to stop looking
in different directions, and for my eyesight to
stabilise enough whereby I could get corrective
spectacles.
Now my symptoms are mostly stable, but it's
often the treatments (IVIg and being immune
suppressed from rituximab) that have me
presenting to ED with either side effects or
respiratory illnesses.
I find a sense of triumph being able to laugh at
it. It really is the most ridiculous disease!
I have changed a lot since being diagnosed - I
have a much more positive attitude, I take each
day as it comes, I work hard to reduce stress,
and I also value much more the act of
restorative rest!

My other triumph, which didn't seem so
enormous at the time, but I realise now was a
HUGE DEAL, was having a thymectomy
followed a few months later by 27 sessions of
intensive radiation which commenced on my
54th birthday.
Every person who has MG presents differently -
it affects us all in different ways.
I want the world to stop asking us to smile -
because often our faces don't allow us to.

2025.Wooden panel, acrylic,resin and mixed media, 30.5 x 30.5 x 5.5cm

And stop questioning
whether we are
actually sick if it looks
to you like we are
having a good day with

minimal outward-
facing symptoms.