Can anyone share any information about diet/foods and how it improves/worsens MG.

I would really love to know the foods to AVOID and the foods that could possibly help.

I am taking all my meds and taking good care of myself but every little bit helps!

Thanks so much for all your info and support.

Hi, It's really important to stay away from water containing Quinine, High volumes of Magnesium, I think on the MG associations web site, they have a list of things to stay away from. I also believe artificial sweetners can cause us some problems, and should be use sparingly. I'm going to have to find my list I have that the MDA sent me.
Not sure where it is right now.
Love Lizzie

Hi,
I don't have lots of time - my hubby needs the computer - but I find bananas really help. Even before I started taking steroids I needed bananas to feel strong. Now I take supplements (potassium) and eat bananas. I've not had any trouble that I know of with sweetners - and I drink a lot of diet pop (my weakness).

Hope this helps - I'll maybe try to check in later and add a few more thoughts.
~Kathy

I've noticed that baby bananas and chocolate really help! Also, oj with high pulp makes me feel great!

Quninne is BAD stuff for us with MG - avoid it @ all costs!

Whole milk is great as well!

How are you? Are you feeling OK?

Big, big hugs!
Erin

I'm getting a great laugh out of everybody saying bananas ... I've been craving them and eating 2-3 a day. I didn't think anything of it except they're easy for me to eat but I must be low on potassium or something. I've also developed a sweet tooth which I never had before - I was never a fan of chocolate, more into savory than sweet tastes but that's changed too since I went through my year of recovery.

Yep a craving for bananas can mean you may be low in potassium. Its something you should get checked, as being on pred can lower your potassium, and if its low it can cause some bad symtoms, so ask your dr to check it out for you.

Mine was way low, and my GP ran through all the symptoms which included heart problems, but when he got to weak muscles we both just laughed, how do you tell the difference between mg weak and potassium weak, at least we got a laugh out of itl

This is funny, cause I too always keep bananas around for potassium. As I'm always low as well. Prednisone can sap it too. I also take a supplement for potassium. Potassium sups. are also good for cramping that Mestinon can cause .
One other thing about food, and MG. Eat as natural as you can. It's not easy, I know, but if you can get organic foods, those are probably the best for us. I know I can't always do it, but if you can, it really is the best way to go.
Check labels, and chose the one with the least about of chemicals. And it's very important to take Vit. D. B12, etc..And always let your Neuro know what kind of vitamins you're taking, cause things like Echenasia(sp?) are bad for us. My neuro always wants to know the brand, the amount..etc.. It's all very important to our health. Annie may know more about the vitamins.
Love Lizzie

i eat at least 2 bannans a day also because of the severe diarreah - but also since you were talking about weak muscles from your potassium being low and how do you know - how do you know if your muscle weakness is from the mestinon - i take mestinon 90mg 4x's a day and 180mg long acting at night

iI was diagnosed with mg 3 years ago in july - i am on a large dose of mestinon 90 mg 4x's a day and 180mg long acting at bedtime . I have also had plasmapheresis for months which really did not work that well for me - as fast as my plasma was being replaced - was as fast as the mg levels came back. then they tried ivig which has helped me for the past year - my insurance company changed from united hc to aetna and aetna does not cover this because they feel that ivig is experimental in mg - this helped me so much - i was having ivig every 8 weeks for 2 days - i was even able to work p/t as a triage ob/gyn nurse again - my worse symptom is severe diarreah which i know is a side effect from mestinon - it is sometimes uncontrollable - i do take over the counter meds for this but sometimes it does not matter . i eat at least 2 bannanas a day - my mg when first diagnosed put me in iciu due to not being able to swallow and talk - the mestinon has helped greatly - i dont think without this medication i would be able to function - my eyes twitch and droop and most of the time if i take a picture even if i smile i look sad - i also have a big problem with my upper arms - it feels like lead to pick up my arms to blow my hair - and there are times that after i work i could sleep for days

there are so many bad things for mg that we cant take but that we need to help us with all the other side effects - what does your neuro say to do