Hi everyone,
This is my first post here. I am not "officially" DXd yet. My eye Dr and Hematologist both say MG but going to see a Neuro Optho next week. My question is did any of you get MG after chronic stress? About 3 months ago i woke up one morning with a droopy eyelid. After 2 weeks with no improvement I went to the eye Dr. who did some tests and concluded MG. I have done alot of research on the internet since then and am convinced this was brought on by stress. I am a very happy person who always tries to look at the bright side of things however the last couple of months I have been dealing with issues with a grown son. One day I had a complete meltdown and cried and shook for hours. My 16 year old refers to it as "the day I had my nervous breakdown" It was right after this that the Ptosis started. However I had been waking up in the mornings for several months with a shaky, weak feeling in my left arm and hand. I kept thinking I had slept on it wrong but am now wondering if this was one of the first symptoms and I didn't know it. I just have so many questions but wanted to see if any of you started symptoms after stress or if you think it was there and the stress set if off? I am sooo glad I found this forum.

For me, I have no idea whether it was the stress before, during, or after MG...but can assure you that emotional wind-ups have nasty results. Just knocks the stuffin' out of me when I target energy at things I either can't or shouldn't be trying to 'fix'.

Welcome to the best site ever for MG. Stress is a MAJOR factor with MG. Any trama to our body or mind brings it on or makes it worse. Mine became DXed after the birth of my son 18 yrs ago. Learning to live with MG is hard but it is possible. I like you always look on the bright side of things but when we get weak it is sometimes hard to do that. A positive additude will bring you a long way with MG. We at this site are here for each other no matter what and we learn from each other as well.

Hi and welcome to the forum! While MG is different for everyone, I would guess from what you wrote, that the symptoms were there and the stress helped them along. Ask as many questions as you want. We are always here to help and support one another. Take care.

Hugs,
Pat

I agree with Pat, usually it is a combination of things, 1. is having MG, 2. stress worsens symptoms, along with heat, hormone fluctuation, viruses, & infection...... On & On..... even allergies, anything that would effect your immune system.

Stay Cool,
Mary

dog lover. I am relatively new to this site myself. Iwas diagnosed about a year ago and to date my MG is still not under control. Stress and heat definately seem to be the knockout punch for me. Good days/bad days, but always bad after extreme heat or stressful situations. I have done much research since being diagnosed and find this disease is MUCH different for everyone, and not understood by many people that do not have it. This is by far the best and most informative site I have foud. Welcome and hope you find the site as informative as I.

Thanks to all of you for the info and input. It is so appreciated. I had never even heard of MG before this and am so relieved it is not as life threatening as some of the things they originally suspected like brain tumor or lung cancer, but it is still very scary. I noticed several of you mentioned the heat making it worse. That makes so much sense to me. I am a pet sitter/dog walker and there are days I am walking dogs when it's 90* out and am completely wiped out when I get home. As for the stress, I am working VERY hard on accepting the fact that I can't fix everything even though I want to. I am one of those people who is always looking for a solution to every problem but this has made me realize the stress I have put on myself has effected my health tremendously.

I do have a couple more questions. Will the Ptosis get better with medication or is something I am going to have to learn to live with? Mine is only in one eye and it is always droopy but much worse at some times than at others. It is so wierd because when it is at it's worst it is like one eye is a slit and the other looks huge. It has become very hard for me to drive and read. I also have very blurry vision now when I am watching TV or reading. Also does the Mestonin help with the chronic fatigue at all?
Thanks again,
Kendra

Kendra
Prednisone is the only thing that has helped my eyes, with the blurry, & double vision, I also get the inflammatory floators, black spots that float millions of them, & ptosis. It took awhile but the pred won ! I do still have to be careful not to read to much, as the double vision acts up.
Hope it gets better for you!
Mary

Mary,
Thanks again. I hate to hear this because I was hoping I wouldn't need Pred. Do you ever get used to the blurred vision and the Ptosis? I don't want to sound vain but it really is making me self concious too. I wear sun glasses whenver possible. I hope that doesn't sound like I'm more concerned with my looks than my health but it is hard enough for us females to feel pretty without having to deal with things like this. I am also very concerned with being able to drive. There are alot of times I have to have my 16 year old drive me around because my neck is KILLING me from tipping my head back so long. So if the mestinon doesn't help with the Ptosis what does it help with? I still have sooo much to learn about this disease!
Kendra

Hey Kendra,

I take only mestinon and it does help my ptosis and double vision as well as weakness. Other meds helped more, but I had to stop due to serious side effects and I opted not to take pred. I've had MG for going on 11 years and had a thymectomy in 02 and after 4 years was much better than I was. While we are all different in many ways with this disease, we are very much alike in many other. Heat is very bad for us and rest is key. When your eyes start to tire you will usually get symptoms. If you rest them and put a cool cloth on them, they may be better for awhile. MG is very unpredictable, but if you push it, it will win everytime. Hope this has helped. Take care.

Hugs,
Pat