One year ago this week I had a trans-sternal thymectomy. At the time all I had was 6 weeks of ptosis (eyelid drooping). Within 10-14 days of the thymectomy the ptosis was gone. I stopped taking mestinon about a month later and have been symptom free ever since. I have heard that if a thymectomy is done shortly after symptoms appear the chances of "remission" are better.
Every pain, painpill, every sleepless night recovering from the thymectomy was worth it if it meant going into remission.