well i think in my case its more to rule out everything ealse. mg is one of those diseases that are not fully understood and there are still things they can not test for so sometimes they just rely on weather the medication for mg works or not.
at least thats what I think, and feel like. The only good part for me right now is that I know what I don't have. I've been tested for cancer, tumors, std's wich I thought was odd, I have even been tested for parasites in the last year or so due to unintentional weight loss. Anyway good luck to you, let them test, it would be awful if it was something fixable or preventable and you just didn't know it.

A positive antibody test is a definitive diagnosis of MG. However, according to the specialists who my daughter has seen, the quantity of antibody in the blood is not an accurate predictor of how severe the symptoms will be. You can test negative for these antibodies and still have MG because there is no blood test for some of the antibodies that cause MG. In this case, the doctors will use other tests (such as neurological exam) or see if the patient responds to MG treatment to make a diagnosis.

For some of us our tests proved we had MG.
Ann

Having lived with the disease for 60 years, I have had two or three tensilon tests that immediately opened up my eyelid. Since mine has remained purely ocular all these years I was just wondering if they'll do any of these muscle strand tests, etc. My other skeletal muscles are very strong. I've never experienced any leg or arm muscles problems. I guess I'll find out on Thursday. I am concerned that the neurologist I see may not be well versed in mg but hopefully can prescribe some Mestinon Timespan which I have taken throughout the years. Right now all I have are 60 mg. Mestinon tablets and I think they're a little more powerful at a one time blast and think the timed release will be better for my eyelid.

Hi Carolina,

They do go by the results, which makes it that much more difficult for Neuros and patients with MG and negative testings. They need to improve the testing or expand the testing to eliminate any doubt. They can do better and we deserve better.

In some people, MG will not progress regardless, and will likely remain same and/or can go into remissions on/off over time if no treatment. It is essential to know, and get that CT scan of thymus done to eliminate cancer.

Hopefully everyone gets the CT scan on thymus. For those that do not get treatment, they must pay attention to their symptoms over time closely and hope for the best. I sure tried to.

I wish I could have stayed on Mestinon only. It didn't take long before I had no choice, and some are not so fortunate as I have been with no choice due to symptoms worsening much more rapidly.

TJ

Here is one kind of breakdown in classes for MG:

Class I: Any eye muscle weakness, possible ptosis, no other evidence of muscle weakness elsewhere
Class II: Eye muscle weakness of any severity, mild weakness of other muscles
Class IIa: Predominantly limb or axial muscles
Class IIb: Predominantly bulbar and/or respiratory muscles
Class III: Eye muscle weakness of any severity, moderate weakness of other muscles
Class IIIa: Predominantly limb or axial muscles
Class IIIb: Predominantly bulbar and/or respiratory muscles
Class IV: Eye muscle weakness of any severity, severe weakness of other muscles
Class IVa: Predominantly limb or axial muscles
Class IVb: Predominantly bulbar and/or respiratory muscles (Can also include feeding tube without intubation)
Class V: Intubation needed to maintain airway

Hope that helps

I guess after 60 years of remaining in the Class I section I can still hope......and PRAY!