Hi Barbara and welcome to Neurotalk! It is a great site with lots of really smart and caring people who are willing to answer and questions!

I am so sorry to hear you have been diagnosed, but recent medical advances have really made it possible to lead pretty normal lives (if there is any doubt, read Kathy's latest blog - it is awesome)........it will not shorten your life. It may make it more trying @ times, but there are lots of meds out here that really help.

It sounds like you had the antibody test. I know my test was waaaaaay high, but not everyone has that.

I should tell you that I am recently diagnosed myself (March of last year and had my thymus removed in April...........

Before I was diagnosed, EVERYTHING was hard - everything! I couldn't walk, talk, breathe (only a few times and only for a short time), couldn't even tie my own shoelaces or get out of bed......it was awful! I thought I was going crazy!

You should take heart that you have been diagnosed and given meds NOW - it will make all the difference!

The really frustrating thing about MG is that you don't know how you are going to feel from one day to the next........

Remember to rest when you are tired - do not overdo it! That is not the thing to do with MG. You cannot "work though" the tired. It will make you feel worse.

Some people only need Mestinon, while others (like myself) need steroids in order to feel better............

You WILL GET THROUGH THIS! It will be a pain in the butt initially, but with a good neuro, you will thrive and feel better

There may be days when you cannot get off the sofa, but there will be others when you feel like superwoman!

You will also need a good support group, since so little is understood about MG and people can be thoughtless @ times.

I just finished a round of IV IG and was able to get all of my housework done, dinner made, the works! That stuff (for me) is go-go juice!

Hang in there and let me know if you need to talk!
Erin