My onset came after a year of stress building a house and a summer of extreme heat.

Rankin,
Here is a long previous discussion on the topic:

http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Myasthenia_Gravis/forum/18309329-possible-mg-causes

There is also one particularly about the relation of cancer to MG. You can reach these and others by searching discussions using MG causes. I have had MG most of my life, I think the triggers of worsening MG were infections during periods of high stress like medical school and residency. b.

MG is one of many autoimmune diseases. The question can be made more general in asking what triggers an autoimmune response.

Cancer can cause mg. The first thing doctors look for is an abnormal thymus gland. In late onset MG, there is a higher incidence of cancer too ( http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/807276 ). A diagnosis of MG should be accompanied by cancer screening, especially Lambert Eaton myasthenic syndrome.

MG, like dozens of other autoimmune diseases, is an abnormal response of the immune system to our own body. When something starts the immune system churning out antibodies, the antibodies can be harmful as we see in the large numbers of folks with autoimmune diseases like MG.

There are at least 3 drug Induced (Iatrogenic) causes of autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis (D-penicillamine, interferon alpha, and bone marrow transplantation).

There is a genetic role too, as some folks seem to have multiple autoimmune diseases and a history of these in their family.

My neuro counseled to spend my effort on the treatment of MG as speculation as to "what I did wrong" to get MG was not productive. Folks of every age, every life style, every ethnic background and every geographical area seem to get MG at almost the identical rate leading me to chalk it up to a genetic predisposition for autoimmune problems in some of us folks who are wired differently.

My neuro thinks my family has a predisposition toward autoimmune disease.

My mother was one of those who developed Guillain-Barr syndrome after a swine flu vaccine in the late 1970's. She was in ICU 47 days and almost died.

My MG and other problem dramatically began within a month after a tetanus vaccine in 2009. Can not prove a connection, but seems most probable.

--Kerry

My onset came 52 hours after getting my first ever flu shot. A CT scan 11 days later showed an enlarged thymus, so I don't think the flu shot caused the MG, but definitely "woke" it up.

For as long as i can remember I was always stressed out and full of anxiety even as a child....About everything..Got worse when started working many hrs etc...Also I never took any meds per say..The other is I did and this started out as a child had constant mouth and teeth infections....Was constantly at the dentist and getting teeth pulled and was constantly on one antibiotic after another for YEARS...I then was diagnosed years later with MG....Got all my teeth pulled before thymectomy due to still having infections and surgeon would not due until I had them pulled..Got dentures and was nice to be pain free in that area anyway..Whether or not that had anything to do with getting MG not sure but food for thought.. I also after reading kerrys post got all the vaccines for tetanus etc.....So that also interesting...But as i said took no meds at all except advil and of course the antibiotics before MG DX....Soo maybe that , the years of stress etc...So thats my thoughts dunno if at all related but could be....Jacki

Bactrim (antibiotic) is what awakened my Myasthenia and brought it to the forefront.

Hi M ,

Good discussion topic as many of us mgers are of the type A , over achieving and as Jacki said throw in some anxiety and infections and well , in my opinion your immune system is weakened and compromised leaving you vulnerable.

For me it started with cluster headaches aka suicide headaches ( don't wish them on my worst enemy , they are devastating ) as it wasn't long after having them that my fatigue etc started playing havoc in my life.

Although there are no concrete definitive causes of mg ( as far as I know ) I agree with the others in there thoughts as mg isn't nicknamed the " unknown disease " for no reason at all.

Having said that we are all thankful to a certain degree that this disease is manageable thank goodness and some day god willing curable.

Chris

Cancer caused mine.

I had a round of lyme, however, the diagnosis was "sketchy" at best... i was stressed but being a type A i was always stressed it was my norm... but now that i have had my thymus out (cancerous) and my thyroid out (cancerous too) it has become a
'which came first chicken or the egg kind of game. "

Ive been miserable since i have been diagnosed, not knowing why i got this disease and why why why... the whys didnt help me in my darkest hours..

At this stage the "everything happens for a reason, REASON" I have MG is so that the two cancers in my body could be found. That is how my story played out. Without MG I would never have looked at my thyroid, tests were all normal.. the thymus.. please i didn't even know i had one..... all that having been said..

I think MG is something that lies dorment until it has a reason or an opportunity to rear its ugly head.. and then.. WHAMMO.. and it never goes away... or so they say.. i am still trying!!!

I never put it together with things in past. 3 years ago had a migraine that lasted for months, most on, occasionally lull in pain. Blankets over the windows to keep out all light. It was broken with Botox.
Possible start of MG? Someday, maybe a study.
Dee

I was 19 when my symptoms started. I was a sophomore in college. The school had just started and I'd spent a great summer at the beach working at night and sunbathing during the day. It was great to get back to school and actually get some sleep! HA!

A few weeks into the school year, I started having double vision. I believed it was just from my wild and crazy summer and would improve when I got more rest at school. Then I started having droopy eyelids and difficulty talking and eating and holding my head up. Not good.

Luckily, I found a good doctor who diagnosed me almost immediately.

So I blame too much fun in the sun at the beach, burning the candle at both ends, so to speak. Who knows for sure.

I've always been clumsy, and in pictures noticed that one of my eyes always looked smaller than the other.

In about March or April of 2012 I randomly started choking on food and had no idea why. In May I had my first bout of double vision. I'm thinking the stress of the student loan Gastapo calling and threatening me might be what triggered my MG to flare up.

Then again, I went out to a strip club for my birthday that year (March). When someone "made it rain", trust and believe I didn't hesitate to partake in snatching up some dollar bills. Maybe my conscience is punishing me for spending that "stripper money" at IHop later that night lol.

They suspect ovarian cancer caused my MG. Once the chemo started getting the cancer under control the MG symptoms went into remission. But O cancer has a 50% chance of reoccurring. So I don't know if I am off the hook or not. Just try to enjoy that God gave me another chance at life and do the best I can with each day he gives me. Love to all of you. I don't write much because I feel guilty that my MG has resolved itself so quickly. But you all were life savers while it was going on. Thanks and prayers to you all.

I have no idea what triggered my MG. I do know that I had mild symptoms way before I was diagnosed. I started with fatigue and blurry vision at least a year before my symptoms got bad enough for me to look for a doctor.