Myasthenia Gravis For support and discussions on Myasthenia Gravis, Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes and LEMS.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-01-2013, 08:06 PM #1
4-eyes 4-eyes is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 642
15 yr Member
4-eyes 4-eyes is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 642
15 yr Member
Default

Every one of those sounds like MG, except maybe the throat soreness. However, everyone's interpretation of pain is different. One person's pain may be another person's "irritation."

I'm glad your doctor will do meds for MG, despite the test results. Sounds like you have a good doctor.

Good luck!
4-eyes is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
"Thanks for this!" says:
pingpongman (03-01-2013)
Old 03-01-2013, 10:13 PM #2
bny806 bny806 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 576
10 yr Member
bny806 bny806 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 576
10 yr Member
Default

Hi Cmak, and welcome!

I am also not a confirmed diagnoses, but get IVIG for my mystery illness after I crashed and landed in the hospital.. (18 months or so ago now)

I have that throat closing sensation sometimes- as if the back of it has collapsed on the front of it... one night it got so bad after a busy day at work, that when I went to talk m y voice coudln't seem to make it out as it was obstructed by this collapse!!! It was terrifying!!! I had all over weakness and droopy face badly at that time.. I couldn't eat or drink without choking (so stupidly I didn't eat or drink much for a day or two until I got my IVIG).. and then I was normal again (well new normal)... It comes and goes.. but it is very anxiety provoking for sure!

As far as the depth perception stuff, my vision is double and just weird.. ghosting at times, and other times if I focus on something up close for a while it takes a while for me to get my eyes back when I look away and at something else

As far as the hot baths go - I will never forget before I completely crashed (or maybe while i was crashing) I took a shower and got out and coudln't do a thing.. I laid there like a lump of jello.. couldn't breathe, swallow, move or anything.. can't say I've taken a lot of hot showers since! Summers are fun!

I take plaquenil - they thought maybe sjogrens as well, as my markers were elevated, i have dry eyes and mouth.. I had horrid joint aches.. and it helped so much with energy and the aches.. until they backed me down to the maintence dose.. It's not as useful it seems then.. Benadryl makes me worse for sure though - all of my symptoms, and I look into a mirrior and it looks like my face has melted off (but again I have no concrete diagnosis)

What tests have they done, or are they scheduling you for? any other treatments? Do they think a myopathy or myositis is a possibility - since you have sjogrens? did they do a ck on you?
bny806 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 03-01-2013, 11:02 PM #3
crmak crmak is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 19
10 yr Member
crmak crmak is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 19
10 yr Member
Default

Interesting! I am so excited that I can come here and get such great input! Thanks!
As for tests, I had a 'Myasthenia Gravis Panel' blood test done and was told it was negative..I am going to ask my rheumy for the details so I really know what was done.
Next week I have an MRI of my brain, and another of my spine. I'm anxious to see what they show, if anything. I've had an echocardio thing done on my heart and it looked great. Had that done because of a weird episode I had where my usual muscle spasms seized up hard around my ribs but led to me having chest pains and difficulty breathing. Flexeril didn't help at all.

And then on April 4th, I've got an EMG muscle test scheduled.
I've had a history of odd breathing problems that crop up every so often, even leading to pulmonary tests & xrays which frustratingly never show anything. My 'bubble wrap sticking' sensation that I have in the bottom of my lungs sometimes drives me nuts! I hate it, yet nobody can ever see it on an X-ray.

I have definitely been diagnosed with Sjogrens and CFS, and bny806, Plaquenil helped my weakness and joints at first too. But nothing has really made a huge enough difference to where I can do any housework or walk up stairs well.
And my muscle spasms have gotten worse..except very recently while on Prednisone.

Benedryl makes me feel so gross, too! My legs and back get the creepy crawlies bad..like restless leg throughout my body. Weird!

bny806, you asked if they did a ck on me. Do you mean a check for Sjogren's, or something else?

And AnnieB3, at first they thought I had Lupus, but ruled it out with tests. They looked at Fibromyalgia, but I don't have pain as much as extreme weakness. I'm pretty okay if I'm still, but any exertion is awful.

Thanks again to you all. Sjogrens only explained things to a certain point. What I'm learning here from you all makes me think my Neurologist is on to something because MG seems to answer a lot of questions.
Thanks again!
crmak is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 03-01-2013, 11:31 PM #4
bny806 bny806 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 576
10 yr Member
bny806 bny806 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 576
10 yr Member
Default

crmak- interesting!!! I get the creepy crawlies too!! I have documented non length depended small fiber neuropathy (epidermal nerve biopsy was "significantly" abnormal").. sometimees I cant tell if its my muscles vibrating or my skin crawling - can't tell the difference!! I have heard people on here with MG talk about that sensation when they get overly weak and tired.. It worsens the more I use an extremity usually

My neuro did a test that wasnt' initially on the panel that came back a 20 (and normal is 0-20) which made them curious.. it was the acetocholine modulating antibody I believe... ..

ck, as in cpk.. which is a measure of muscle breakdown- MOST of the time people with myositis, some myopathies etc will have elevated results.. MG won't (not that I'm aware of anyhow).. if it comes back elevated then they do a muscle biopsy many times.. people with LUPUS can have polymositis, and i'm sure sjogrens also increases the risk as well..

Keep us posted on everything! Hope you get some answers.. and good answers!
bny806 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 03-02-2013, 04:53 AM #5
AnnieB3 AnnieB3 is offline
Grand Magnate
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,306
15 yr Member
AnnieB3 AnnieB3 is offline
Grand Magnate
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,306
15 yr Member
Default

Shelly (thanks for that), Do you ever get rashes, like to the sun? If so, have they been biopsied? Sometimes SCLE can present with only a rash and possibly Anti-Ro AB's. Which lupus tests did they do?

When I'm in between doses of Mestinon, my throat can get dry and it can feel sore on occasion. Without enough acetylcholine, your mucus membranes can become drier.

Yes, those sound like MG symptoms. I echo what bny said about the CPK and polymyositis. Did your doctor do that test?

It's possible that they didn't do the MuSK antibody test. You should get your records to see if they did.

I hope you get answers soon.

Annie
AnnieB3 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 03-02-2013, 08:29 AM #6
4-eyes 4-eyes is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 642
15 yr Member
4-eyes 4-eyes is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 642
15 yr Member
Default

Hi, the tight squeezing chest symptoms sound like the "MS hug.". Is the brain MRI to rule out MS, as that isn't a typical MG symptom? Also, the severe restless legs and crawling sensations are very common with MS. You might want to run your symptoms by the folks on the MS list. They are very helpful and caring.

Good luck.
4-eyes is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
"Thanks for this!" says:
southblues (03-02-2013)
Old 03-02-2013, 09:01 AM #7
seishin's Avatar
seishin seishin is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Austin, TX - USA
Posts: 94
10 yr Member
seishin seishin is offline
Junior Member
seishin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Austin, TX - USA
Posts: 94
10 yr Member
Default

It sounds as if the brain MRI will help point you in one direction or the other (MS or MG). Although for perspective, when I started experiencing restless legs, I researched and was able to confirm it can be a symptom of MG. The chest pain I've had ranges from flickering pains in muscles of the ribs and sternum, pain at the top point of inhalation, and eventual spread and intensity of pain to the point it felt my chest was being crushed. So I'm curious whether that's similar to the pain you've experienced or if it was more along the lines of the 'MS hug' which people describe as a boa constrictor squeezing band sensation.
seishin is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
"Thanks for this!" says:
southblues (03-02-2013)
Reply

Tags
throat


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Confused Pablette Peripheral Neuropathy 4 04-09-2012 03:11 AM
Help- I am so confused rainbow2011 New Member Introductions 4 11-22-2011 01:33 AM
Confused flor Stroke 4 11-28-2009 04:46 AM
Confused EnglishCountryDancer Parkinson's Disease 3 10-21-2009 02:01 PM
Confused Scorpio2169 Spinal Disorders & Back Pain 3 08-20-2008 09:55 AM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:10 PM.


Powered by vBulletin • Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

vBulletin Optimisation provided by vB Optimise (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2025 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
 

NeuroTalk Forums

Helping support those with neurological and related conditions.

 

The material on this site is for informational purposes only,
and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment
provided by a qualified health care provider.


Always consult your doctor before trying anything you read here.