So, this guy walks into a medical drama show. He has double vision and urinary incontinence, so he's diagnosed (with no tests) with myasthenia gravis. "Start him on IVIg and plamapheresis," says the doctor.

Well, that cures his double vision immediately, and presumably his MG because that's no longer an issue. But then it's discovered he also has thyroid trouble and celiac disease. That can't just be a coincidence! Who ever heard of anyone having more than one autoimmune disease at once? It turns out what he really has is polyglandular autoimmune syndrome, which has attacked his thymus gland, causing MG.

I sure got a kick out of all that. Don't these shows use medical consultants?

Abby
who honestly never watches tv, no, really, it was just this once, and even if she did she would never watch medical dramas

House has been "out there" in LaLa land for a long time now.

I don't expect much accuracy from it anymore.

MG has been on before. Several seasons ago. Some athletic guy bicyclist who "masked" his MG with EPO ???? never heard of that one.
House jabbed his thigh with Tensilon and the MG went away for a few minutes, and then came back. TADA!

I'd laugh, Abby, but I have celiac disease, hypothyroidism and myasthenia gravis. So, are you saying that it doesn't happen? Just trying to clarify what was funny.

I like watching "House" because of the creative problem solving involved. I do not like the show because House is an abusive doctor and, while they do show his frailties, they ultimately portray him as great. It's a complex show which presents complex issues with medicine. Bottom line, I have liked watching it.

I do like when shows bring up MG, since so many people don't know what it is. I don't like "Days of Our Lives" but do like that Maggie on that show has MG (in real life too) and they often talk about it (supposedly, since I don't watch it).

In case you guys didn't see the latest "House" episode, here it is.

Last episode of House, featuring MG . . . and a green card marriage.

http://www.fox.com/house/full-episod...n-of-the-house

Original episode of House, synopsis.

http://www.housemd-guide.com/season2/206spin.php

Quote from House: "Treatment for PRCA is blood transfusions, treatment for MG is hypobaria."

Mrs. D., This guy was doping with EPO and when he stopped, the symptoms of PRCA came back. That's silly too since it's an autoimmune disease and usually Pred or Methotrexate is used.

The treatment for MG is hypobaria, eh? When i saw that show the first time, when it originally aired, I did laugh. And what ER doctor does both IVIG AND plasma? More isn't always better. How would they know which treatment works better, so they can continue it in the future?

"House" isn't a comedy but it can be laughable. However, I find most of what they discuss is fairly accurate. But it's just a show. How many shows really reflect reality? Not even reality shows do. They often reflect human truths though but, in my opinion, they shouldn't ignore facts like "House" can.

I know you meant this to be a humorous post but I guess I'm not in that kind of mood, considering I DO have 3 AI's.


Annie


Role of hypobaria in fluid balance response to hypoxia.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15772501


PAS Type I

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/124183-overview

PAS Type II

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/124287-overview

Type III

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/124398-overview

My wife watched an episode of “Mystery Diagnosis” about MG. It actually had Dr. Howard from UNC on the show. My wife had it solved in the first 3 minutes.
Mike

No, just the opposite! I know that it's very common to have thyroid and celiac disease along with MG. What I thought was funny was that the fact that the way the diseases appeared together made the doctors doubt the diagnosis, because that would be "too much of a coincidence." They thought it was unthinkably rare, when it's actually very common.

I also noticed (I've heard this one before--maybe I'm the one who's wrong?) that they said that MG is caused by the immune system attacking the thymus. But what I really thought was funny was the way he prescribed IVIg and plasmapheresis at the same time. Put the immunoglobulin in, and take it right out again! While you're at it, maybe you can give him a blood transfusion and a dozen leeches.

I really enjoy the show. I don't understand why they can't hire a medical consultant or six to run the scripts past, though. I guess it's because most people watching it don't care about the details the way I do--going so long with an undiagnosed disease makes me very interested in all medical stuff.

Abby

Not long to go now.... House is supposed to end this season.

I am fascinated by medical things. It's one thing that makes my own disease easier to take, in a weird way. I really have gathered a lot of information over these past few years because of the reading I've done trying to understand what's wrong with me. For some reason, my brain retains this sort of stuff, while other fields of knowledge (like history) just trickle through my head.

The New York Times occasionally runs diagnostic contests. The last one, I came pretty close--I figured it was a glycogen storage disorder, but didn't know which one.

I grew up without a television, and we've raised our own kids without one (our concern wasn't so much bad influences as whether we'd be able to stop ourselves from wasting time with it--some people handle television very well, but we didn't think we could. Just a personal decision). Anyway, I do watch House on the internet, but it's a guilty pleasure. While I was getting my infusions, I spent the whole time watching medical dramas. I noticed that IVIg sure comes up a lot...

Abby