Living with Myasthenia gravis
Information, shared experiences and research connections for people living with myasthenia gravis and those who support them.
Understanding Myasthenia gravis
Weakness often starts around the eyes, tends to come and go, usually gets worse with activity and better with rest, and can begin at any age.
Signs & symptoms
MG symptoms vary from person to person and can change from day to day. They may include:
- Drooping eyelids
- Blurred or double vision
- Changes in facial expression
- Trouble speaking, chewing or swallowing
- Weakness in the arms, legs or neck
- Shortness of breath
Tell your care team about new or changing symptoms.
Diagnosis
- 1Exam and history
A neurological exam checks muscle strength, eye movements and how muscles tire with use.
- 2Blood tests
Blood tests can look for antibodies linked to MG, such as acetylcholine receptor or MuSK antibodies.
- 3Nerve and muscle tests
Tests such as repetitive nerve stimulation or single-fiber EMG measure how well signals pass from nerve to muscle.
Care & treatment
- Monitoring
- Regular visits help track symptoms, which can change over time; some people go into remission.
- Treatment
- Options can include medicines that improve nerve-to-muscle signals or calm the immune system, treatments that filter or replace antibodies, and for some people, surgery to remove the thymus gland.
- Your plan
- Sudden trouble breathing or swallowing can be an emergency called myasthenic crisis, so ask your care team what to do if it happens.
Discuss benefits, risks and follow-up with your care team.
Everyday life
Because MG symptoms can change, simple notes can help you and your care team.
- Track when weakness is better or worse, such as time of day, activity, rest or illness.
- Keep an up-to-date list of all your medicines, since some medicines can make MG symptoms worse.
- Write down infections, surgeries or stressful events, which can sometimes trigger a flare.
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Myasthenia gravis.
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Read articleExplore research for Myasthenia gravis
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- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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