What is Myasthenia Gravis? Here is my updated story (June 7, 2023)

What is Myasthenia Gravis? Here is my updated story (June 7, 2023)

June is Myasthenia Gravis awareness month

I still have Myasthenia Gravis (MG), Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and Motor neuron disease (MND)

I AM A FIGHTER! Yet, I need your help... If you can please help here: Medical Donations

Anything would help!

PayPal: @myconjecture
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Zelle: reubenhaynes@me.com

Overview

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is characterized by weakness and rapid fatigue of any of the muscles under your voluntary control. It's caused by a breakdown in the normal communication between nerves and muscles.

There's no cure for MG, but treatment can help relieve signs and symptoms, such as weakness of arm or leg muscles, double vision, drooping eyelids, and difficulties with speech, chewing, swallowing and breathing.

Symptoms

Muscle weakness caused by MG worsens as the affected muscle is used. Because symptoms usually improve with rest, muscle weakness can come and go. However, the symptoms tend to progress over time, usually reaching their worst within a few years after the onset of the disease.

Although MG can affect any of the muscles that you control voluntarily, certain muscle groups are more commonly affected than others.

Eye muscles: In more than half of people who develop MG, their first signs and symptoms involve eye problems, such as: Drooping of one or both eyelids (ptosis). Double vision (diplopia), which may be horizontal or vertical, and improves or resolves when one eye is closed.

Face and throat muscles: In about 15% of people with MG, the first symptoms involve face and throat muscles, which can: Impair speaking. Your speech might sound soft or nasal, depending on which muscles have been affected. Cause difficulty swallowing. You might choke easily, making it difficult to eat, drink or take pills. In some cases, liquids you're trying to swallow come out your nose.

Affect chewing: The muscles used for chewing might tire halfway through a meal, particularly if you've been eating something hard to chew, such as steak. Change facial expressions. For example, your smile might look like a snarl.

Neck and limb muscles: MG can also cause weakness in your neck, arms and legs. Weakness in your legs can affect how you walk. Weak neck muscles make it hard to hold up your head.

With MG you have difficulty:

Breathing
Seeing
Swallowing
Chewing
Walking
Using your arms or hands
Holding up your head

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