Double Vision and Autoimmune Diseases like MG: Can anyone relate?

Posted by agirlthing1977 @agirlthing1977, Aug 8, 2022

Started having double vison after covid. Had MRI ,CT SCANS, MRA seen Neurologist & everything has came back Good. Seeing a Neuropathy doctor she diagnosed me as to having Myasthenias
Gravis autoimmune disease. She put me on
Prednisone steroid 20 mg tried that didn’t help bummed it up to 40 mg started to gain so much weight feeling horrible water retention light headed also didn’t help with double vision. Can anyone relate ? I’ve had this for 2 years and nothing or anything seems to help so depressing.

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Those eye drops are not healing the root cause of your double vision.
Please continue to search for answers.

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I have TED (thyroid eye disease) and am about to start infusions with Tepezza.
Does anyone else have a similar situation or experiences with TED?

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Had ocular symptoms only. Early intervention (thymectomy). Complete remission.
27 years good. Never on immunosuppressents

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I had a thymectomy with only presenting ocular symptoms. Never progressed further, and complete remission 27 years so far. Never took immuno suppressive.
Good luck.

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I developed ocular myasthenia gravis after I completed radiation for my breast cancer ( November 2020). I never took a steroid. My ocular MG went into remission June 2021. I had both cataracts removed and both upper and lower eyelid were lifted. My right upper eyelid drooped with my MG. Double vision in the beginning but went away.

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It could be the diagnosis isn’t correct or else you would also be taking Mestinon (pyridostigmine bromide) to help with your symptoms. Mestinon is typically the first drug prescribed for MG. For me Mestinon alone didn’t help at all even at high doses with my droopy left eyelid and double vision until I was started on Prednisone. When I reached the 40mg Prednisone level the double vision started to go away and is currently gone while now I am at the 20mg level and taking Mestinon. Have you had a positive diagnosis of your MG?

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@peterp

It could be the diagnosis isn’t correct or else you would also be taking Mestinon (pyridostigmine bromide) to help with your symptoms. Mestinon is typically the first drug prescribed for MG. For me Mestinon alone didn’t help at all even at high doses with my droopy left eyelid and double vision until I was started on Prednisone. When I reached the 40mg Prednisone level the double vision started to go away and is currently gone while now I am at the 20mg level and taking Mestinon. Have you had a positive diagnosis of your MG?

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I started ocular (droopy eyelid and double vision). Neurologist opted for early intervention thymectomy. Completely remissed within two years. That was 27 years ago. Never went on drug immuno- suppressents.

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Hello am sorry to read this and sorry not familiar with the disease but just wondering if you have seen an Ophthalmologist .. maybe clutching at straws here - but after I was diagnozed with narrow angle glaucoma and put on glaucoma drops (which you haven't said you have) but thru night when woke up was seeing double and went to emerge - nothing done as it went away but did happen quite a few times; especially at night or after a nap - my alarm clock, ipad screen, etc. and after laser Iridotomy to releae pressure saw 2 of husband coming up stairs and still when looking at close object and far, hard to explain, but thankfully is not as bad... and I wondered if you are using eye drops for dry eyes or any other eye issues - allergies ? Some drops have side effects but am sure Neurologist checked this. Years later I still sometimes wake and quick look at clock across room on dresser is double etc. and it's frightening enough but your having this it must be hard to cope... may not matter now but was it covid, or perhaps the needles to prevent (before or after) as sometimes it's the ingredients in drugs/injections that can really affect our eyes and eyesight (e.g. antibiotics)... hope some more helpful comments will give you some hope for the future and just thinking outside the box about other causes ... best wishes, J.,

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For Myasthenia Gravis, prednisone does usually help symptoms quickly. However, the side effects are bothersome for most. Another medication is usually prescribed along WITH prednisone and prednisone dosage is scaled down.
I have Myasthenia Gravis (MG). I have researched every REPUATABLE sites for all MG information. Finding information and getting correct treatment were definitely not the same! Once I found a neuerologist (after 2 yrs) and got the correct treatment, my MG stabilized. I never did use prednisone, my choice not to. IVig infusions stabilized my MG until the IMURAN (azathioprine) was able to 'hold its own'. I have only taken the Imuran for more than 3 years and am doing well.
Once my MG was stabilized, I started the MG RGV Support Group in the Rio Grande Valley way down deep in Texas. I continue to research MG. MG education can save your life! Many do not know the difference between a cholinergic crisis and a Myasthenia Gravis crisis! Two of my support group members were only prescribed Mestinon by two different neurologists. One person was being told to take more Mestinon, take more Mestinon until he was up to 16 tablets a day! He was bordering on a cholinergic crisis. If how much Mestinon has been taken and MORE Mestinon is given thinking Myasthenia crisis instead of cholinergic crises can have very serious consequences!
It is most definitely important that your medical professional KNOWS MG!!

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@kay56

For Myasthenia Gravis, prednisone does usually help symptoms quickly. However, the side effects are bothersome for most. Another medication is usually prescribed along WITH prednisone and prednisone dosage is scaled down.
I have Myasthenia Gravis (MG). I have researched every REPUATABLE sites for all MG information. Finding information and getting correct treatment were definitely not the same! Once I found a neuerologist (after 2 yrs) and got the correct treatment, my MG stabilized. I never did use prednisone, my choice not to. IVig infusions stabilized my MG until the IMURAN (azathioprine) was able to 'hold its own'. I have only taken the Imuran for more than 3 years and am doing well.
Once my MG was stabilized, I started the MG RGV Support Group in the Rio Grande Valley way down deep in Texas. I continue to research MG. MG education can save your life! Many do not know the difference between a cholinergic crisis and a Myasthenia Gravis crisis! Two of my support group members were only prescribed Mestinon by two different neurologists. One person was being told to take more Mestinon, take more Mestinon until he was up to 16 tablets a day! He was bordering on a cholinergic crisis. If how much Mestinon has been taken and MORE Mestinon is given thinking Myasthenia crisis instead of cholinergic crises can have very serious consequences!
It is most definitely important that your medical professional KNOWS MG!!

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Wow @kay56 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! We’re so glad to have you here to share with other members. You are so right, education is THE key to dealing with autoimmune diseases! You seem to have done all the correct things and you started a support group. The Autoimmune aAssoc is have a 2 day virtual conference in October that you may want to check out. They also have great newsletters.
https://www.accelevents.com/e/aicommunitysummit2023?utm_source=ainews&utm_medium=email&utm_content=reg&utm_campaign=summit23
If I may ask, how did you find Connect?

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