Life with Myasthenia Gravis Myasthenia Gravis Survival Guide
Nutrition and Myasthenia Gravis Safety and Myasthenia Gravis
Myasthenia Gravis the ACh Receptor Emergency management of Myasthenia Gravis
Nutrition and Myesthenia Gravis
Myasthenic should have a balanced diet for general well being. Three meals a day is one of the first requirements to a balanced diet. Regular and balanced meals help insure a healthy body. Each meal should include the four basic food groups such as -
Milk and dairy products for calcium, vitamins, and minerals to maintain bones
Fish, poultry, meat, eggs, Soyabean and other pulses which provide protein for
overall general well beingFruits and vegetables which supply vitamins, and minerals.
Roti, bread and cereals which supply carbohydrates.
Chewing and Swallowing
When the muscles are weakened, an MG patient may experience difficulty chewing and swallowing. To help with these difficulties, the patient should:
1. Eat slowly and rest between bites as necessary.
2. If fatigue is a problem late in the day, have the main meal earlier in the day.
3. Schedule meals when muscle strength is best, possibly one hour after medicationsuch as Myestin.
4. Try soft foods, such as kheer, mashed potatoesl, in small portions.
5. Avoid sticky foods (such as chikki) which can be hard to chew and swallow.6. Avoid fun food like Chocolates, Chewing gum, Bubble gum, etc.
7. Take sips of fluids to help moisten food and help in swallowing.
8. Always sit upright in a chair, in a calm atmosphere, to avoid choking.
Diarrheoa
Occasionally medication such as Myestin can cause cramping and diarrheoa. Some tips for this situation:
1. Consider that the dosage of medicine may need to be reduced to levels which donot produce diarrheoa; check with the doctor.
2. Drink plenty of liquids, including water, diluted fruit juices, and flavoured drinkmixes.
3. Avoid caffeinated beverages because they can make the diarrheoa worse.
4. Broths can be used to replace salt which may have been lost.
5. Avoid foods such as milk which are harder to digest.
6. Eat bananas, mangoes, diluted fruit juices to replace minerals.
7. Eat low fiber foods, such as white rice, white bread, cooked fruits and vegetables,without the skin.
8. If diarrheoa persists, despite reducing the dosage, there may be another cause. Besure to tell your doctor about any over-the-counter drugs which have been taken
for diarrheoa.
Fluid Retention
Some medications can cause the body to hold water or fluids. Medications such as Prednisone and other steroids can cause this problem. To lessen retention of fluid when taking these medications:
1. Avoid salt. Remove the salt shaker from the table. Try to either cook with saltsubstitutes or other spices.
2. Try to stay away from fried foods. Request baked or boiled foods when possible.
3. Avoid canned food and pickles which are especially high in salt.
4. Develop the habit of reading the labels on food packages. Avoid foods with highest amount of salt or sodium.
5. Try to stay away from junk foods which are very high in salt.
Weight Gain
Some medications can cause weight gain.Consult your doctor or dietitian about a low calorie diet . A few tips are:
1. Eat low calorie snacks such as fresh vegetables or fruits.
2. Use caution when looking at "fad" diets which may not be best when it comes tobalanced nutrition. Contact your doctor before starting any diet.
3. Order carefully in restaurants and ask about foods low in fat, salt, and calories.
These simple tips on eating and nutrition will maximize the natural sources of energy we all need.
DISCLAIMER:
All information is for educational purposes only. Contact your physician to make medical decisions