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...

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deleted_user 06/23/2008

My father was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis at age 56 about 4 years ago. It started as ocular MG and progressed practically overnight into full blown MG. Just this past weekend, he told me that about 9 years ago, he had multiple bouts with vertigo that doctors were never able to attribute to anything.

I am a 30-year-old female, and in the past year, I have developed major eye strain that I attributed to (1.) already poor vision and (2.) looking too far or too close for too long. (Basically, after looking at my computer for a few hours, it would be nearly impossible to focus my eyes on people, or across a room, etc.) In the past month or so, I seem to be suffering from light bouts of vertigo. Not enough to incapacitate me, but enough for me to be uncomfortable at times and bracing myself on a solid surface at others. A slight dizziness or almost drunk feeling...

I never knew about his bouts with vertigo until now. His doctors have not paid much attention to his mentions about these occurences 10 years ago, so he doesn't know if it was a sign that was missed or not.

Obviously, I should probably see a doctor regardless since I am experiencing problems, but I do wonder if his vertigo could have been early symptoms? I know I am at the optimal age for a woman to show signs...

Has anyone else experienced issues like this?

deleted_user 06/23/2008

Hi I was just DX with ocular MG today. I too have had experiences with being dizzy to the point of falling in my home on several occasions. I also have really poor eye sight and experience blurred vision on and off though out the day. My Neurologist sent me to a Neuro-Ophthalmologist today. A dr. I never knew existed.He was very good in explaining everything! I am also on a new medicine which I hope will work.
I feel you should try to see one of these doctors or an neurologist. I would not wait. yes I personally feel vertigo is an early symptom as I have never had this before. Feel free to message me if you want. Take care and get that appointment soon. Kim

Barb-Dubois 01/02/2013

I am reading some old post and this article I just had to read! My hubby was diagnosed with MG 2 years ago this month! As early as 34 years ago he had a very bad attack of vertigo and went under every test in NY and no reason for it! Then a year before while in our winter home in Florida was rush by ambulance for vertigo and again nothing was found! He went to specialist for both ears and eyes and nothing could be found and I read this and now wonder!! This is a 2008 post so thought maybe it would be good to mention with all the caring folks on this list! Wonder if this MG was connected to vertigo!

Craig36 01/02/2013

I've had recurring bouts of vertigo over the last 24 months, particularly bad before the onset of my worst symptoms. Frequently bumped off walls and had a lot of trouble judging distance. My doctor put it down to Vestibular neuronitis / benign positive vertigo.

txkiki53 01/03/2013

I also had bad vertigo about a year before I was diagnosed.

deleted_user 01/03/2013

Never thought of it at all before. Very interesting. I'm still only diagnosed MG on the basis of Mestinon working. But many years ago when my symptoms began... I had bouts of vertigo that I never mentioned to anyone. It mostly happened while laying down, the room would spin violently and I'd fix my eyes on a spot and tell myself I wasn't really spinning so I wouldn't get very nauseated, and it would slowly stop like a carnival ride. My memory is a bit sketchy, but I'm pretty sure it started around the time I started having MG symptoms.

RosieSoaring 01/03/2013

At our recent MA/NH MGFA annual meeting, a Neuro-opthomologist MG expert (who is on our medical advisory board) stated that extremely slight misalignment of the eyes can cause a sense of being off balance, even if it does not cause double vision.

Peace,
Rosie

deleted_user 01/03/2013

Example from a few years ago.....

Parked cars in the car park felt as if they were moving around.

Calmday

deleted_user 01/03/2013

I've experienced what Rosie described.

PurpleRibbons 01/07/2013

I also had vertigo type symptoms and felt very off balance almost constantly for about 8 months before being diagnosed with MG. It is better now, but I still get it very slightly on occasion if I am really tired.

Barb-Dubois 01/07/2013

Thank you for your input on vertigo and maybe a possibility related to MG! Jerry's vertigo 34 years apart made no sense to us or doctors ! I do remember and now relate that Jerry who is 2 years this week with positive MG that he was a bit concerned about two spells of a balance problem too just a month before he was rush to hospital with speech problems ! Three weeks later jerry was found to have a mild case of MG! I now wonder if there is a connection to the vertigo! What a blessing this blog is! God Bless each one of you with MG and thank you for always being here for us! Barb

lojos66 01/08/2013

I have had the odd occaison of vertigo particularly turning over in bed.Benign positional vertigo.My husband had menieres years ago and my GP prescibed the same medication,Serc.---betahistine chloride.

Craig36 01/08/2013

I'll second treatment with serc - it worked really well for me!

deleted_user 01/10/2013

Was just doing a little googling for my own eyes and came across this information about vision problems and vertigo. Sort of makes sense that visual disturbances could upset things and cause vertigo.

I'm not interested in researching any further at this point, but here's what I was reading if anyone wants to use it as a jumping off point to more research.
http://www.pacificu.edu/optometry/ce/courses/28349/28349pg3.cfm

organic1der 01/10/2013

I was just talking with someone that was all of a sudden really sick for a couple of months - she couldn't get out of bed and had severe vertigo. They were thinking she had cancer. However, she had an astute doctor and it turned out she has Celiac. Apparently vertigo can be common with Celiac. She has eliminated gluten/gliading products out of her diet now for a few months and is feeling fantastic, with no more vertigo. Interesting.

Barb-Dubois 01/19/2013

All these things are very interesting about vertigo! I can bet. My hubby's vertigo pre warned him 34 years earlier that MG would follow!

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