Cured?
My husband was diagnosed with MG two years ago. This past summer, a different doctor determined that "the patient doesn't have MG".
Is this possible? His neurologist retired and we aren't sure what to do. Just stop taking the medication and see what happens?
It's understandable to feel confused and concerned about the change in your husband's diagnosis. Autoimmune disorders are often complex to diagnose, especially when test results and symptoms can be misinterpreted or evolve over time. Why did this particular doctor not believe that MG was a correct diagnosis?
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The symptoms of MG are caused by antibodies that mistakingly signal the immune system to attack healthy tissue. Some people do not show any antibodies when they are tested, which is called seronegative MG and can be more challenging to diagnose. Scientists believe this group may have antibodies that have not been identified yet. But the antibodies that are detectable, Acetylcholine receptor (AChR), Muscle-specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK), and Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (LRP4) when they are present, should be enough for a doctor to be confident about a correct MG diagnosis. Do you know which antibody your husband has or if he is seronegative?
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Stopping medication without medical advice can have consequences. If your husband has been on medication for MG, suddenly stopping it could trigger symptoms or lead to an MG crisis. It's crucial to consult a healthcare professional before making any changes to his medication regimen. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with a different MG specialist, which I recommend to see their views as you currently have a split opinion, here is a link for an MG specialist search throughout the USA: https://myasthenia.org/living-with-mg/find-medical-experts/.
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Keep track of any symptoms your husband experiences, regardless of the diagnosis. This information can be valuable for healthcare providers as they assess his condition.-Jodi, Team Member
Hi there - thanks so much for reaching out. It's interesting to hear that your husband received two different diagnoses. Is he still experiencing MG-related symptoms that he was experiencing prior to his initial diagnosis? Perhaps there's another neurologist or practitioner (neurologist, opthalmologist, neuromuscular specialist) nearby that he can make an appointment with to confirm about the medications. Here are two articles that might be helpful: https://myasthenia-gravis.com/doctor, https://myasthenia-gravis.com/living/switching-doctors. Please keep us posted on how things go. Warmly, Abby (Team Member).
