I see my Dr. next month and plan to ask about this. I know they have to run a genetic test, but it has so many MG related symptoms and some that I have, {ok, just about all except for the high arches} Just thought I would share this in case anyone is interested.

Friedreich's ataxia
is an inherited disease that causes progressive damage to the nervous system resulting in symptoms ranging from gait disturbance and speech problems to heart disease.

Symptoms typically begin sometime between the ages of 5 to 15 years, but in Late Onset FA may occur in the 20s or 30s. Symptoms include any combination, but not necessarily all, of the following:

Muscle weakness in the arms and legs
Loss of coordination
Vision impairment
Hearing impairment
Slurred speech
Curvature of the spine (scoliosis)
High plantar arches (pes cavus deformity of the foot)
Diabetes (about 20% of people with Friedreich's ataxia develop carbohydrate intolerance and 10% develop diabetes mellitus)
Heart disorders (e.g., atrial fibrillation, and resultant tachycardia (fast heart rate) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy )
It presents before 25 years of age with progressive staggering or stumbling gait and frequent falling. Lower extremities are more severely involved.

These symptoms are slow and progressive.

Wow...I have every symptom except for the staggering/walking problems...Well, I also don't the vision/hearing impairment...I have MVP, but not the other heart issues...

I'm seeing a new neurologist in March...I sometimes feel like I have a genetic disease too just because i was born with a club foot, have had mild scoliosis, really high arches, and the array of autoimmune diseases...I'm going to ask the new one about this possibility too....

Do you have all of these sx, Joan?

NIcky

I don't have all of them but I have most of them, and I have had symptoms since childhood and since I do have another genetic health issue {Alpha-1} than I don't think it would hurt to be tested.

I know I have MG as my tests do show that, but... I also have things that are not typical MG, which are on the list for the Friedreichs. I just don't know.

Oh and actually, when I read about this I was thinking of others here in the group who have severe issues and require wheelchairs.

Some forms of celebellar ataxia are connected to gluten intolerance. (so are other autoimmune issues).

Have you tried high dose B12 ? Most of the above symptoms are re to low B12 for me - and respond to B12.

Xanadu,

Yes, I take B~12 shots, my B~12 isn't that low, but on the low range of normal so Dr. decided to start me on the shots to prevent it from falling below the normal range. {I have been taking the shots for a few months now and no difference}