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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Fatigue.....is this part of MG??

unsure81
unsure81
Sorry to keep asking questions but I have another one! I can relate all of my symptoms to MG (fluctuating one sided facial and eyelid droop, weakness and tired/dead/ache of the neck, thighs and occasionally upper arms....and a pressure in the centre of my chest which feels like I can't quite breathe properly if I've overdone things) but the one thing that confuses me is that I feel easily fatigued. I know I am experiencing multiple muscle weakness/fatigue which may explain the general fatigue feeling but from the research I have done fatigue doesn't seem to be linked to MG? 9yrs ago I was told I had Chronic Fatigue and psychological factors as a diagnosis for my symptoms but I don't feel that explains how my muscle weakness improves with rest (I could feel almost normal if I did nothing all day) and then worsens with activity? The worse my muscle weaknesses are, the worse the fatigue. Some days (or at some times of the day) the only noticeable muscle weakness is a slight drop on my top lip and my energy levels are pretty good but then within a few hours or on another day I can have a complete one sided drop on my face and be doing the "duck limp walk" and feel like every movement is a huge effort as the fatigue hits?

Does anyone else experience this?

Thanks again for all of your help and advice.x
mgadvocate
mgadvocate
You may wish to check Myasthenia Gravis A Manual for the Health Care Provider. Chapter 7 Physical Therapy Issues, does a good job addressing the issue of muscle fatigue in MG patients.

http://www.myasthenia.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=S472fPAE1ow%3d&tabid=125

First paragraph Chapter 7. Physical therapists should pay an important role in evaluating MUSCULAR WEAKNESS, FATIGABILITY AND FUNCTIONAL MOBILITY with patients with MG. With all neurological disease, competent physical therapy clinicians should use a thorough evaluation to link IMPAIRMENTS AND DISABILITIES to appropriate, effective treatment and FUNCTIONAL PROGNOSTICATION. This discussion will focus on specific components of the physical therapy evaluation which require special attention in the patient with MG, specifically, muscle weakness and fatigue. Each MG patient is unique and deserves meticulous attention to objective detail.

My current neurologist referred me to another MG Specialist for a consult. That doctor did all on the normal MG test but I was extremely surprised by the PT evaluation that took 45 minutes. The test followed the suggested PT test outlined in the MG Physical Manual. It did a really good job of evaluating my muscle weakness and fatigue.

Bruce
Cj416
Cj416
A good discussion topic and for me being a "type A " personality after all theses years I struggle not only from the physical symptoms but also the emotional aspect of not being able to do what I want and when i want.

Its saturday morning and I'm having my coffee and feel like I ran the marathon after kinda pushing myself all day friday to complete a home project.

As you all know , today is a rest day , and I mean rest .

Never give up , and keep the faith..Cj