Fell and confused
 

This morning I got up to go to the bathroom and suddenly felt that I couldn't walk and was generally weak so I grabbed for the wall to steady myself and proceeded to fall hitting my ribs on the toilet bowl and bruising my leg and hand. At that moment I was unable to get up as I didn't have the strength to push myself up from the floor. I rested a few moments and was able to get up and then went back to bed and took my meds. I am fine now except rib pain and some bruising.
I was diagnosed in 2010 with a presenting symptom of double vision and a droopy eyelid. I do have very mild generalized weakness that is not very troublesome and my voice gets weak. The only medication I take for the myasthenia is mestinon. I have never had muscles totally give out on me before or have difficulty moving as I did this morning.
I do have trouble doing anything fast, but I can normally function and perform tasks if I take my time. I am very reluctant to go the emergency room and feel fine now so I am planning on calling my internist in the am so I can get a rib x-ray. My neurologist is in Manhatten and will let him know as well.
Any thought or advice is well appreciated, I really don't now what to make of all this.

I have had several episodes similar to yours. It doesn't happen often. Usually it has been when I got a bit behind in my mestinon schedule. If you do get any warning, take it seriously and sit down. Sorry that you fell. This does not necessarily mean that you are going to do this all the time.

I'm sorry you fell. It has happened to me a lot in the last three years but I don't have a confirmed diagnosis and I'm not on meds. However, I do know it can be a very frightening experience. For me it is a warning I need to take things much slower for a while. I can't advise you from my position but you have my empathy and I hope you are able to rest up and take care until your health is more stable again.

Sounds like it was a frightening experience for you and you were really caught off guard. Let us know how it goes..... I´m sure you´ll figure something out pretty soon :)

Thanks
 

I 'll let you know how it works out. I never thought I would have weakness severe enough for me to fall down. Usually I just feel mild weakness that is easily resolved with rest, but this episode was sudden and severe and I literally couldn't lift myself up without resting for a bit.
Thanks again, I feel better just for sharing with you.
Jean

You need to go to the hospital to get checked out NOW. Just like after a car accident, you may not "know" the full extent of your injuries until a couple days later unless you get checked out by a doctor. You cannot tell by how you "feel" how you are doing. You could've cracked a rib, which is dangerous. I won't scare you with details of what might happen, just go in!!! :hug:

I'm sorry you fell. And, yes, quite a few of us have had falls. I always make sure I've got Mestinon in my body and am steady before I even get up and start walking. My legs have been having trouble contracting if I don't.

It's a good thing to follow up with your neuro.

BTW, Are you "feeling" confused or confused about an aspect of what happened. Feeling confused is something that needs to be checked out right away (i.e., how people feel after they hit their head and have a concussion).

I don't know why I even tell people things like this. You've obviously already made up your mind that you're fine. But the problem is that only a doctor can determine if you really are okay. I hope you will be.

Annie

Followup from fall
 

Thank you Annie B, I took your advice and went to the emergency room and feel better for having gone. I have a chest wall contusion, thankfully no fractured ribs. I am a recently retired RN who worked in an emergency room and am reluctant to go unless it is a dire emergency.

SOOOO glad you took Annie's advice!

*sigh* Guess you didn't realize this WAS a dire emergency!

A couple of things I have noticed over the years of "talking" with other MGers:

• Most of us are "Type A"
• Most of us don't want to be viewed as "wimps"
• Some of us have WRONGLY been accused of symptoms being "all in our heads"

Learning curve...............MG is a MAJOR learning curve.

Gulp! :eek: I´m a teacher - What hope do I have of knowing when to go? :)

Glad you went.

Anacrusis

jeatak, I'm very glad you did go in. What is that saying . . . doctors (and nurses) make the worst patients. ;)

A contusion, as you know, can be worse than a broken rib. Did they grade the contusion for you or let you see the x-ray?

I really hope you'll heal quickly. Did they check your oximetry? Do you have an oximeter at home? If it's not a bad contusion, it may not interfere with your gas exchange (lungs).

I hate going to the ER too. It's not exactly a fun time.

Jana, Is it a type A thing or a control thing or a denial thing or all of the above? :cool:

Anacrusis, I think that teachers, being critical thinkers, would probably know when to go in. Of course, I'm biased since my parents were teachers and so was I.

Annie