Great! The fact that you're his first MGer also explains his excitement when you responded to the Tensilon test just like the textbook says you're supposed to do.

I'm glad you got the Mestinon prescription. Here's some things to know. First of all, if it bothers your stomach, take with food. It bothers some people's stomachs, but not others'.

Mestinon has a really short half-life. After about four hours, about half of it has already left your body. So if you find that it works, but only for a few hours, typically the neuro will tell you to take it more often instead of taking higher doses. That makes a lot of sense.

Understand that too much Mestinon can make you weaker. So pay very careful attention to how it affects you. If you keep a journal, you will be surprised at the patterns that show up that you hadn't noticed. Write down when you took the meds, what symptoms you have when, and anything else that seems relevant: how much sleep you got, what activities you did, any emotional upsets, heat or cold. A lot of MGers do better in the cold.

Some people find they need Mestinon at night, if they wake up choking or wake up with double vision (your eyes move in your sleep). If you do, ask for Time-span, a time-release version of Mestinon that saves you from having to get up in the middle of the night to take a pill.

Again, take new symptoms seriously! Any trouble breathing, choking, or sudden or extreme weakness can be a sign that you're headed for a crisis, which is a medical emergency. There are emergency treatments for MG.

Abby