Abdominal weakness
 

I am currently getting IVIG (thank goodness!!!).. but have been having a problem the past few months when IVIG starts wearing off with worsened abdominal/trunk weakness.. Does anyone else get this?
Most of my weakness is proximal and face. I have a sleep study scheduled, but still have about a month to go before that happens.. It's just so anxiety provoking to be so weak in the trunk - when I got admitted initially my PFT's were low, trunk was so weak, and I coudlnt' breathe well at all.. last week at my neuro apt my PFT's were great, but as the IVIG wore off I felt worse.. I feel like if I press down using my ab's that I am going to rip my muscles off of my ribs? It kind of hurts in a strange way.. Anyone else have these symptoms? Even going to the bathroom can be hard at times, then about 4 days after IVIG things get easier for a week or so.. but never "normal"

I get the abdominal weakness as well, including pelvic floor and sphincter muscles, especially when the MG gets really bad. I usually do not have the strength for a bowel movement until I have had my morning mestinon. After ending up in the ER with shortness of breath and released, I did not have much control of my bladder for 2 days. This has been better since I have been on pregnisone.
Sorry you are having the same trouble
kathie

BNY806 said, "...Even going to the bathroom can be hard at times..."

Kathie said, "... did not have much control of my bladder for 2 days..."


As 'those guys..' say in eastern Canada, "Good on YA!!!" In the past, this topic was avoided like the plague! About 42 people nodded their head when they saw that.... :)

So i'm not alone in that? I do feel like EVERY muscle is affected.. I guess I used to kind of hold in my stomach so it would be a little more flat after having a baby. ..but now I don't have the strength to do that.. I feel like a lump O jello sometimes!! I remember when I crashed I couldn't do a thing, including go to the bathroom, get up off the toilet etc.. it was so awful! I just don't want to reach that point again! The abdominal/respiratory weakness makes me so uneasy!

Thanks yall :)

For me, no mestinon = no bladder control.

Well....something to look forward to....urg. :(:(:(

Maybe it won't do it to you. Everybody is different.

Do yall ever feel like your ab's are going to be torn away from your ribs when your torso is weak? I have hormones exacerbating things in addition to my IVIG starting to wear off - ugh.. I pressed down on something with my hands (which I never knew used your abs before).. but my abs were so weak it felt like they were going to rip apart from my ribs! then I was sore for a day - like a pulled a muscle from such a simple task.. laughing can even bring on this abdominal wall strain!

I think that may be the intercostal muscle pain that I occasional get. They are such small muscles but they hurt really bad. It kind of feels like the rib is pulling away. One time there were so painful, I could not hook my bra for 2 weeks. I had to ask my teenage daughter! How embarassing!

Kathie

When I was recovering from my hysterectomy, I wore a surgical binder around my abdomen that was adjustable by velcro. Do you think something like this would give you additional abdominal support and relieve the abdominal wall pain? I think I got mine at Walmart, it was not very expensive.
kathie