Myasthenia Gravis Support Group
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability. The hallmark of myasthenia gravis is muscle weakness that increases during periods of activity and improves after periods of rest. Although myasthenia gravis may affect any voluntary muscle, muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, and...
I have had MG for the past 6 years or so. I am a 69 M in need of suggestions. My main problem is with weakness in my arms and more so in my legs. It is hard for me climbing stairs and to get out of a chair without using my arms. Is this “my MG” ? On mestinon 60 mg three times a day. Does anyone else have this type of weakness also? What have you and your MD done to help with this problem? Art
Railings are usually on the right side, so when going down any steps, I try to keep my right hand free in case my legs give out.
As far as exercising to increase stamina and strength goes, sometimes it makes me worse. I used to walk at least 5 miles a day at around 3.8 mph. Last Saturday I walked 4 miles at 3.1 mph on a flat treadmill and was bedridden on Sunday. A day of rest and extra Mestinon, and I was functional by Monday afternoon.
Mostly my advice is to pause when you need to when climbing stairs and be careful coming down. My leg and arm weakness fluctuates. I have had a thymectomy, am on Imuran, and am beginning Prednisone soon. I expect that my limb weakness, as well as many of my other MG symptoms will go away or be reduced once treatment kicks in. Can't wait! Then I plan to slowly regain stamina and mucle strength. In the meantime, I will continue to do as much yoga and slow walking as possible to try to keep myself from becoming weaker in the long run.
- Nan
Sorry you are having the weakness. I had it too, and got past it by taking medication.
I started with three 60 mg pills of Mestinon per day but soon had to take up to 8 to get by. I kept getting worse and had to take immune suppressing medication (prednisone) to stop getting weaker. after about 6 month of prednisone my weakness was gone, my MG symptoms were gone, and I could do what I wanted other than the prednisone side effects.
If you are not able to climb stairs or do what you want, you are likely under-medicated. If it is getting worse, then Mestinon is not enough. I found that the problems of medication were much less than the problems of MG not under control.
Good Luck
Russ