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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MG and asthma

CarlyMichelle
CarlyMichelle
After serial visits to the pulmonologist and the inability to
successfully clear this latest chest infection, I was told I have asthma.
My numbers are getting worse and worse. I was put on a steroid inhaler and some augmentin today. I hope those will help me truly turn the corner.
I thought I was well again, but last night and this morning I was suddenly worse again. My chest if full of gunk and my LFT are worse even after
antibiotics and breathing treatments. My oxy levels are decent enough though. At least that is good!! I'm hoping I can kick the infection so the asthma will improve.

Is it common for people to get asthma in mid-life?

If you have asthma and MG, what meds work best for you?

Thanks for sharing.
Carly
deleted_user
deleted_user
I could not get over bronchitis without a short course of prednisone and my nebulizer. Antibiotics never worked. As an asthmatic with MG, I have come to value oral steroids. Good luck!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Diagnosed in my 30s.
SeattleWriter
SeattleWriter
I too developed asthma as an adult. The good news is that it can get a lot better over time. For a while, I had a lot of wheezing and needed a nebulizer frequently, but as the years have gone on, the asthma's been much more well controlled, and I just need Ventolin for emergencies and Flovent as a daily steroid. I hope that you too find that the symptoms get better with time.
CarlyMichelle
CarlyMichelle
I'm on an inhaled steroid, nebulizer, and antibiotic number 2.
I hope that kicks it, but I'm willing to do oral steroids if that is what it takes. I'm not coughing much or even wheezing. I just have tightness and shortness of breath mostly. The coughing subsided, so I thought I was better. Nope. It's just not coming up now.

Glad to hear that your asthma improved with time, Seattle. :)

Carly
mgadvocate
mgadvocate
Carly,

Sorry to hear you are dealing with asthma. From my own personal experience it is extremely important to keep your asthma under control.

I had asthma many years prior to developing MG. My asthma has been under control until recently. My pulmonary doctor now tells me I am also dealing with COPD/Bronchitis. Never been a smoker and very surprised to now have COPD.

The difficulty arises when you have severe shortness of breath and admitted to the hospital. So often the doctors focus on one single diagnosis, for me it is always the asthma or bronchitis. They do not even call for a consult with neurology or even consult my own neurologist.

It can be very difficult to understand that the asthma shortness of breath can cause fatigue and similar symptoms you may be familiar with your MG.

My recommendation is to get your MG and Asthma doctors to communicate together, share your medical records and be willing to work together if you ever have to be admitted to the hospital. Also find out if your doctors have hospital privileges at the hospital you would go to. In my case my doctors do not and I end up seeing doctors who have no knowledge of medical history and have no experience with MG.

If you do ever have to be admitted to the hospital try to prevent the admitting physician from looking at a single diagnosis. If you are admitted for shortness of breath the will very likely focus on asthma and not consider many other issues like your MG. Plus MG show also always be a concern to prevent any MG complications.

Wishing you the best.

Bruce