Do i need to explain to everyone that i have Myasthenia gravis??

i am a 22 year female with myasthenia gravis 2 years ago. I'm getting sick and tired of myself for not being healthy enough and quite embarass to look at people straight in their eye for my left eye is cross which make me see double evey time i look up. i just want to be back to be normal, even with medicine, it not helpng at all! I'm still young and this illness is making me losing my social life. What kind of health insurace out there that approve me for this illness? are there any alternative medicines, herbal treatment beside western meds?

I was diagnosed with MG at the age of 46 and I am now 57. No matter what the age, if still affects your life for I was in the prime of a career and life. It came on me with droopy eyes 3/4 shut, drunk walk upon taking a walk, and I looked like I had a stroke on right side of my face. I was diagnosed by a positive test on the AcHr test conducted by a neuroopthomoligist. I didn't have insurance at the time but the Muscular Dystrophy Association linked me up with an MDA clinic which my visits were no charge. I did have my thymectomy 7 months after the test and 4 months after the MDA doc did the final confirmation from a strenuous workout. I did improve after the thymectomy but went downhill real bad to the point I ended up on the ventilator 2 times in May 1997. I do contribute that to not enough aggressive treatment. I was first put on prednisone at high doses and then later my neuro near home took from June 1997 to March 1998 to put me on Imuran, an immunsuppressant. It took to October 1998 to kick in and I felt great. I came off prednisone and was doing well. I did allow another neuro to take me off Imuran and I crashed very severely in July 2002. Now I am working part time which is set by my neuro. I will never work full time again and I get my SSD. It was rough for I got to the point I was a ragdoll. My advice to you is to treat this disease very aggressively. Mestinon wasn't enough. As you find the right combination of meds, you can lead a near normal life. I did go through the emotional part for the love of my life of 6 years did leave once I was diagnosed but that was his own ignorance. My life has changed tremendously for now I take care of me and have set boundaries in my life. I do know different people get IVIG's and instead of Imuran take Cellcept. Also most mgers do take an antidepressant to allow you to stay emotionally stable through the ups and downs of this disease. I keep the philosophy that if it is broke, fix it so DO NOT give up. I have fired 5 docs in my MG life and I have a great team right now. Also I know of women that have given birth but with the supervision of their neurologist. I recommend you to join a support group online at yahoo which is bettesmyastheniagravissupport. You will learn alot and talk to people that do understand what you are experiencing. Anytime you want to talk, email me: missloretta2001@yahoo.com and I will help you as much as I can. Go out and reach for that wellness that is there and don't settle for less!!

Good luck and God Bless

I so wish I had an answer to help you with this. I just want to express to you how terribly sorry I am that you must deal with this. I know how important social life is to each person, and to have to give that up because of shame & humilitation is horrible.
I can't imagine what it must feel like to be in your shoes, but know this, I can't imagine a single person who would find your circumstances entertaining, or a single person who would not empathize with you and do anything to make your day to day experiences better & easier.
Hold on to the friends you have, and deeply consider confiding in them the hurt & emotional distress you're dealing with. After all, if you can't confide in your friends, who can you confide in? The truest of friends would do anything to be there for you & help you overcome the embarassment of a condition that is beyond your control.
You did nothing to deserve this, and you did nothing to cause this. Sometimes bad things just happen, & all you can hope for is to learn something great from the bad you're dealing with.
God be with you & guide you through this trial. He will strengthen you. God Bless You.

:)

I am sorry to hear you have contracted this disease, I had a friend in California whose wife had gotten this also, I can't remember a lot about this but what I do remember, at the time he had Blue Cross, which covered it and although it took the doctors a while to finally get the right medicines, they finally did and she got back to a some what normal life, they had two children after she was diagnosed and the last I heard before I moved away is they where all doing well. I hope you will find a good medical group that can give you the treatment you need, my prayers are with you, may God Bless.

I am sorry to know of your situation as I went through that when I got MG during my early 20's. No many people will understand MG as it is rather rare but you could help yourself by relaxing more. It is not helping to exert yourself. Do light workouts and follow through with the medications prescribed by the doctors. Medications will definitely help to ease the double-visions and muscle-weaknesses. I am now in my mid 40's, had thymectomy when I was 24 of age. I had few crisis once or twice a year, but managed to cope with medications. (Mestinon & Prednisolone)