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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Ruby30 07/15/2014

Hi all

I have not been diagnosed with this illness and probably don't have it but was hoping that I could get some advice from the ones who actually deal with this, not Dr's who don't seem to know much.

I was diagnosed with ME/CFS 2.5 years ago and I seem to match most of the criteria for that dx, however about 4 months ago it started to become difficult for me to swallow, this is gradually getting worse.

I did read somewhere that swallowing troubles can be a symptom of MG. I don't have droopy eyelids though. I do have muscle fatigue to the point where my arms are hurting typing this. Lifting jug, brushing teeth, etc. But of course these are also symptoms of ME/CFS.

Do any of you have trouble swallowing and do my symptoms sound like MG?

I have had a gastroscopy (all clear), ultrasound, as three Dr's told me I had an enlarged thyroid, actually don't (all clear), barium swallow, once I actually swallowed, there were no problems.
Getting nerve conduction studies done next week. Do these studies pick up MG?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Tim62 07/15/2014

So sorry to read of your symptoms, but welcome to the group. For me, shortly after I was diagnosed, due droopy eyelid and double vision, jaw muscles began getting tired out mid meal, then the swallowing difficulties began. Please get checked by a neurologist experienced with MG. I sincerely hope you do not have MG, and are able to get answers. Wishing you all the best going forward.

deleted_user 07/15/2014

Welcome and i to am sorry to read of your symptoms..Some of them like fatigue and hard time swallowing are definately part of MG symptoms....Everyone one of us that has it have different symptoms and problems but those are 2 and of course the droppy eyelids and eye issues....I to hope you dont have it but agree with Tim you should get checked by a neurologist experienced in MG and get the tests..if nothing else you can rule that out! And if it is can start a treatment plan right away...Good luck keep us posted..Everyone on this site is very knowledgeable and supportive...We are all here for you..Good Luck....

Cj416 07/16/2014

Welcome first and foremost and without a doubt you will find somebody maybe everybody helpful and supportive . Tim and Jackie are spot on and the only thing at this time that I'll add is that mg isn't curable but very manageable with the right Dx and treatment plan.

Good luck and keep the faith and of course stay in touch ,

Cj

Ruby30 07/17/2014

Thanks for your support everyone.

One question I have is, do you all have the droopy eyelid symptom?

This is something I don't have. My main problem is swallowing. It is getting very bad. Worse as the day goes on. It seems to correlate with my more fatigued days.

Ruby30 07/17/2014

As in, the more weak and fatigued I am, the harder it is to swallow.

bweeds 07/17/2014

Many of us, especially those of us who are seronegative, do not get diagnosed until we have the droopy eyelids or double vision. Although my father had classic symptoms starting with ptosis and double vision, it was the last MG symptom I developed. Usually eye findings come along with swallowing difficulties, but we are all different. There is a lot of information in the Links Group about MG, including how to prepare for muscle conduction studies. Sometimes a trial of Mestinon (pyridostigmine) will give you insight into the diagnosis, but it changes your muscle studies, so its best to wait on that trial until the muscle studies have been done. b.

deleted_user 07/18/2014

I was not dx in the normal manner. In the beginning I didn't have droppy eye lids or blurred vision. My eyes weren't effected at all. I had extremely weak legs, slurred speech, and difficulties getting my thoughts out of my brain. My first trip to the ER they thought I was having a stroke. If I hadn't found a very good MG specialist I don't know if I would have a dx now. Unfortunately all of us snowflakes present differently, so it's hard to get an accurate dx.
Michele

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