I found this AWESOME article!!
 

I found this awesome article that seems to explain a lot about what goes on with us.

http://www.kclj.si/ikn/DEJA/Continuu...htoMGorALS.pdf

(Pages 4-5)
Respiratory muscles. It is frequently
difficult to reliably distinguish the
status of the respiratory muscles
from the functional status of the lungs
themselves. However, simple observation
is often quite revealing. Patients
with respiratory muscle weakness due
to MG often present with tachypnea
and shallow breathing. They may be
anxious because of an inability to draw
a full breath. Asking patients to inspire
forcefully and loudly through the
nose (inspiratory sniff) can give one a
good indication of inspiratory muscle
strength. To assess expiratory muscle
function, patients should be asked to
cough or clear their throat. Outward
protrusion of the abdomen against
the examiner’s hand is an indirect
measure of diaphragmatic strength
since the abdominal contents will be
pushed upward instead of outward if
the diaphragm is weak. A weak sniff
and cough along with significant
tachypnea or tachycardia
are signs of clinically important respiratory
muscle weakness.

So, that sort of explains why our hearts beat so FAST sometimes, huh??

That is really interesting. That explains alot from my problems, such as the fast heart beat and shallow breathing.

thanks!

Well, it's a good article but it doesn't explain WHY we have tachycardia. It simply explains how doctors can "see" muscle weakness with their eyes, ears and a hand to the chest.

I'm sorry if that upsets you, Jana. It is a good article and I'm glad you keep posting such good stuff. I have this thing with the truth and I have to call it like I see it. You are free to disagree!!!! ;)

What I don't like is how they inaccurately talk about anxiety. When I had my crisis, I was very calm. My two ABG's showed hyperventilation but it wasn't due to anxiety. Our ABG's often look like we are hyperventilating when our MG is bad but it's not usually due to "anxiety" but weak muscles and an imbalance of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Tachycardia happens because when muscles are too weak to pump oxygen, our heart takes over.

Tyson, that does not necessarily explain why your heart rate would be high. There are lots of reasons why a person gets tachycardia. Your doctors have said that your MG is "fine." Is it really fine or do your doctors only see you early on in a day when you may be okay? You do tend to push yourself and, therefore, your MG. You have other possible reasons why your heart rate could be high - and you know it! ;)

Annie

Annie, I didn't read the whole article, yet. Waiting to refill my ink and print it out. TOO hard on my DV eyes right now to read the whole thing from the computer screen. I'll be sure and check out the anxiety part.

I seldom take offense with people who disagree with me. No diva personality here. :D (Plus, I wouldn't last long at our family Christmas and Thanksgiving get-togethers -- LOL. They probably sound MUCH like your dad's debate team practice sessions did!!)

I wasn't actually LOOKING for answers to the heartbeat "question". I know of a young family whose father has been diagnosed with ALS after first being diagnosed with MG. I was just doing a search -- hoping BEYOND hope, ya know -- and ran across the tachycardia info during that search.

Arterial blood
gas measurements are a relatively insensitive
measure of impending respiratory
decompensation in MG since the
initial changes are usually consistent
with hyperventilation and may falsely
be attributed to anxiety.

Is this what you are talking about, Annie?? Am I misreading or misunderstanding?? Because I "think" that the author AGREES with you -- and is saying that a person who does NOT understand MG may "falsely" conclude that ABG measurements are a result of hyperventilation, when IN FACT, they are a result of an impending crisis.

Yeah, that's a direct quote from the MG book I have at home called "Neuromuscular Junction Disorders: Diagnosis and Treatment." It's by Meriggioli (IL), Howard (UNC) and Harper (Mayo). And I think every MGer should have a copy of that quote in their purse or wallet if they ever have a crisis! Maybe on the back of their medical alert card. The "hospitalist" who discharged me after my crisis said, in a very mocking tone, you must have been anxious because your ABG's showed hyperventilation. If I hadn't been so weak, I might've been able to throw an intelligent debate session her way. ;) I've never been anxious or even used a paper bag! Makes me nuts how both ignorant and insulting some doctors can be.

I never took debate in high school. I just took it at home. Oy.

I'm very sorry to hear about that father who's been diagnosed with ALS. I can hardly talk about that disease it upsets me so much. I hope it's an accurate diagnosis. I'm very sorry for him and his family.

Annie

Yeah, he's not even 40, yet -- it's breaking my heart -- I can't even imagine what it is doing to his wife, his children, his parents, his friends...........they are all in my constant prayers.

Whenever I start having an MG "pity-party", I just remind myself about ALS.:(

Well, on an "up", note -- at least the author of this article did use some good references.

I was on the high school debate team for a short time -- I quit because I wanted to CHOOSE which view I represented -- didn't like the way they flipped coins -- LOL!!