Myasthenia Gravis Symptoms (MG)

Table of Contents Introduction Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment

The characteristic symptom of myasthenia gravis is fatigability, which means that a muscle that is used repeatedly starts to become weak.  The symptoms usually start in the face muscles and spread to the other parts of the body as the disease progresses.  One of the first signs that occurs is drooping eye lids that gets worst as the day goes on; other signs that could develop include double vision, difficulty talking, and difficulty chewing.  The muscles get weaker with repeated use and improve with rest.  As a result, the patients feel better when the wake up in the morning because they are rested. As the day goes on, the patients use their muscles more, and tend to be the weaker. As the disease progresses the symptoms spread and the shoulders and thighs become week and the weakness could eventually spread to the muscles that are used to breath; the patient could develop shortness of breath and stop breathing if not treated properly.