Does anyone have experience with Myasthenia Gravis ? - UPDATED

[UnatcoAgent]

Hey everyone,

My girlfriend's father has suddenly been hit with a condition where he cannot control his eyelids, and a such cannot see. His eyelids are closed, and he has lost the ability to open them.

He had this once 8 years ago for a period of months, and then it went away all of a sudden. It has just started again, and I thought I would see if anyone here has dealt with anything similar.

The doctor's are not sure what it is, but they suggested it could be Myasthenia Gravis

Here is the disease description

Any help / suggestions / comments would be welcome. Thank you.

Rob


Updated - he's on steroids now that are supposed to reduce the symptoms of this disease. Unfortunetly, it's not working, which means he likely does not have the disease and it's something else. Do you think this could be a response to stress?

 

[deejayshakur]

i studied it in neuroscience 1 but haven't had any clinical experience with it yet. his body probably just went haywire. did the docs suggest any meds?

 

[UnatcoAgent]

He's taking something now apparently, and went to see a specialist this morning. I have not heard any news since then.

 

[UnatcoAgent]

Originally posted by: deejayshakur
i studied it in neuroscience 1 but haven't had any clinical experience with it yet. his body probably just went haywire. did the docs suggest any meds?

I thought it was a neurological thing also, but who knows. It's pretty scary.

 

[Howard]

Can he open them with his fingers?

 

[UnatcoAgent]

Yes, they can be opened with his fingers, but not normally.

 

[gasser11]

Originally posted by: Sabot


The doctor's are not sure what it is, but they suggested it could be Myasthenia Gravis


Rob

If that's what they suspected, there are a number of tests that they can run to diagnose him. The usual test that is done is the Tensilon test...simply put...MG results in destruction of receptors on the muscles and a signal can no longer stimulate the muscles. Therefore certain muscles, like the one holding up his eyelids, are weak. Tensilon is a drug that prevents breakdown of the signal, and if he has MG, then he will almost immediately get better. Let me know if you want more detail about the pathophysiology of MG.

Other tests that they can run include electromyography or a blood test.

People with MG do NOT have an increased mortality, but their quality of life is of course changed due to muscle weakness or trouble breathing if it involves the muscles of respiration.

There are also a number of other causes of his droopy eyelids (called ptosis), but I can't think of a condition right now that has ptosis coming and going.

 

[UnatcoAgent]

Originally posted by: gasser11

Originally posted by: Sabot


The doctor's are not sure what it is, but they suggested it could be Myasthenia Gravis


Rob

If that's what they suspected, there are a number of tests that they can run to diagnose him. The usual test that is done is the Tensilon test...simply put...MG results in destruction of receptors on the muscles and a signal can no longer stimulate the muscles. Therefore certain muscles, like the one holding up his eyelids, are weak. Tensilon is a drug that prevents breakdown of the signal, and if he has MG, then he will almost immediately get better. Let me know if you want more detail about the pathophysiology of MG.

Other tests that they can run include electromyography or a blood test.

People with MG do NOT have an increased mortality, but their quality of life is of course changed due to muscle weakness or trouble breathing if it involves the muscles of respiration.

There are also a number of other causes of his droopy eyelids (called ptosis), but I can't think of a condition right now that has ptosis coming and going.

Please, any information you can give me. I've sent you a private message about this also.

 

[UnatcoAgent]

Updated - he's on steroids now that are supposed to reduce the symptoms of this disease. Unfortunetly, it's not working, which means he likely does not have the disease and it's something else. Do you think this could be a response to stress?