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...
Hi There fellow MG'rs. well today I went for my 3rd annual feedback after my PET Scan. The good news is that there is no sign of the Thymoma returning at this point and no ugly 'malignant or other cells around.
BUT they have found excessive Pleural fluid on my right lung. I have quickly done the Google Thing, and seems that there are many possible causes, those that grabbed my attention where it could be due to Autoimmune Disease (Thanks MG) or after open chest surgery (Thanks again Thymoma) and then a whole list of others.
Have any of you had any experience with this Pleural Infusion,?
Any feedback will be appreciated. My nexy steps are they will be extracting the fluid, and running the normal tests, hope all come back ok, as I actually feel fine!
Regards,
Christo
BUT they have found excessive Pleural fluid on my right lung. I have quickly done the Google Thing, and seems that there are many possible causes, those that grabbed my attention where it could be due to Autoimmune Disease (Thanks MG) or after open chest surgery (Thanks again Thymoma) and then a whole list of others.
Have any of you had any experience with this Pleural Infusion,?
Any feedback will be appreciated. My nexy steps are they will be extracting the fluid, and running the normal tests, hope all come back ok, as I actually feel fine!
Regards,
Christo
My mum had a procedure call thoracentesis where they drained out the fluid - not pleasant but the effusion was large and she was in distress. I had no treatment specifically for the effusion but was treated for the emboli.
I think treatment depends on the cause and the degree of respiratory distress.
Please let us know what they find. There are lots of causes as you say: disease, infectious as well as autoimmune, medications, mechanical problems--in any case, a change merits some explanation. No pleural effusions for me (yet), but if not mistaken, some people have had them with steroids, but this is usually with beginning them and at high doses.
b.
Watch your weight, closely. Any slow but steady increase in weight, without adequate explanation? Needs to be looked at closer. This weight gain is loosely defined as: 2 to 5 pounds a week.
You are right: autoimmune diseases themselves, can often result in inflammation and fluid problems.
and b. has mentioned other causes.
I suffered many months, with generalized inflammation and fluid build-up. At first, this fooled my entire team of doctors.
It was eventually discovered to be ''protein malnutrition''.
I was not taking in - enough protein. And the protein - that I was taking in? Was not being properly absorbed. Due to generalized autoimmune problems. There seems to be quite a few variations, on this theme.
Yours - seems to be quite specific.
My mom had great difficulties with fluid build-up, after gallbladder surgery. It was so bad, that a drain was installed, which remained in place for 6 weeks. After the fluid build-up stopped, she recovered ''without event'', as the saying goes.
Take care, Christo! - Ross
Nice to hear from you again. So glad your 3 year scan looks good. I know nothing about pleural infusions, but want to wish you good luck.
Take care,
Judith