Hello everyone.
I thought I would come and introduce myself here having been participating on the MG forum for the last two weeks.
I first became ill with severe muscle fatigue in 2007 which made walking very difficult. I was consequently diagnosed with M.E. following a positive Epstein Barr. Over a period of 18 months I gradually improved until I was well enough to go out walking again, although I never recovered my full abilities and often became fatigued very easily.
At the end of 2009 I got a virus, I believe it may have been swine flu, with a high temperature. At this time I coughed awkwardly and tore a disc at the L5/S1 junction and my left leg went numb. Consequently on walking for a little over 10 minutes I developed slurred speech and collapsed and was unable to get up as arms and legs were giving way. From this point over the space of eight months I had a series of attacks/collapsing episodes in which all my limbs gave up on me. My speech was constantly slurred and I could not sit up for four months.
I was hospitalized for a month and had MRI brain/VEP/LP and full blood work up all fine. I have had mobile BP/ECG and echocardiogram to rule out cardiac arrhythmia. The ECG showed an exceptionally wide heart rate, with readings 36-186pbm. Consequently my GP now suspects carotid sinus hypersensitivity but feels this certainly does not explain the whole picture and suggests I may also have myasthenia gravis.
I am currently under review with neuro and cardio specialists but my health is rapidly deteriorating and I am now having problems with swallowing, chewing and breathing. I cannot sustain any eye movements (particularly up and to the right side) and muscle weakness prevents me from living any kind of a normal life.
I'm happy to talk with anybody with similar symptoms and would be really happy for any advice with getting a diagnosis and management in the meantime. I've found the support on this site invaluable and regret not having participated sooner.
Sorry for such a long-winded story and thanks so much for reading
wild_cat