Hi there everyone,

Thanks to Redtail and Erin for the welcomes... I tried to reply to some of Erin's questions and don't know if it worked. So I will try here again. I was diagnosed in 2000, I am 42 and have 3 children. My youngest is 4. I was diagnosed at University of Michigan Medical center. I had onset of symptoms in 1991 when my oldest son was 5 months old. Generalised weakness, arms, legs, double vision, smile, chewing. Went to a neuro then and they said it was psychosomatic about a year later my symptoms subsided. I thought I was crazy. Then in 1998 when my mom got sick with cancer they started again BIGTIME. This time I went to U of M they thougth it was ALS or MS. A nurse there had MG and suggested an ACR anti-body test. It was positive at 538 the highest anyone there had ever seen. Thank God It seems to have spared my lungs in that while I might get short of breath on occasion I have never not been able to breathe. Luckily Mestinon worked for me right away. They still put me on prednisone but I blew up like a balloon and read about all of the side effects and stopped taking it after 6 months. They of course recommended a thymectomy which I opted not to do after a CT scan showed my thymus gland as normal. I have never had to have plasmapharesis and take it one day at a time. I think stress is a HUGE factor in severety of symptoms, and if I don't sleep enough ( at least 8 hours) I always have a bad day. Diet also sugar, salt junk food intensify my symptoms.

Are you getting the site and buttons figured out?
Let us know if you are still having a problem with anything, someone will be happy to point you in the right direction.

Maria,

Just wanted to check in and see how you are feeling today.........I hope you are feeling great! When you get some time, please let meknow how you are!

Take care!
Erin