Myasthenia Gravis Diagnosis After the Age of 55: The Risks

In case you missed it, check out part 1 of this article, "A Myasthenia Gravis Diagnosis After the Age of 55."

The "wild ride" I was on was a turning point in my life health-wise. I was nearing 60 years of age. Though I was ill, I never considered having anything long-lasting.

I was rarely sick

The sinus infection I had finally cleared up, though it took over 2 months to get over it. I was very ill, which was unusual for me. I had always been so thankful and fortunate that I was rarely sick. When everyone else would be ill, even in my own household, I rarely was.

For example, when I was an emergency room nurse, I had a patient that had come in for treatment for the flu. He turned his head towards me and coughed in my face, then turned away and vomited. I just knew I’d be ill within a few days.

Surprisingly, I wasn’t. I was always exposed to something from a patient, our children, or my husband, but rarely became sick. In fact, my husband once had the swine flu and I didn’t get it. It amazed me, but I never questioned it. I just thought I had a great immune system.

The early signs

However, looking back now I can see there were subtle signs my health was changing for at least a couple years prior, but I didn’t really notice it at the time.

One of the issues I started having was blurred vision every once in a while. Since I was working in front of a computer for hours and hours every day then, not to mention I was aging (though I’d never admit it), I just shrugged it off as being tired or needing my glasses changed.

As time went on, I’d get a little tired and would sometimes have blurred vision. But again, I thought it was from all the hours I worked and getting older. Later, I had more symptoms and finally a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis.

Testing for MG

I’d been put through about every test they could think of, well, at least it seemed that way! The doctors worried about my heart and circulation, but they checked out fine.

Also, I was told that due to my age, the thymus probably wouldn’t be an issue, but they checked anyway. My age?! Right or wrong, the tests showed it wasn’t.

Risks in older patients

When I was in nursing school, we were told that myasthenia was mostly found in young women up to the age of 35 and men about 60 and older. That’s since changed.

Research has also found that older patients are more likely to be prone to greater side effects to their treatment. So, older patients may present a challenge, not only for a proper diagnosis, but also appropriate treatment.¹

With the potential issues of treating an older patient with myasthenia gravis, I know now I was incredibly lucky! Things could have been much worse for me.

I know being older, you can run more risks with the disease and have more difficulty getting the appropriate treatment, because the doctors are looking for other causes and diagnoses.

Stay persistent

If you are an older adult, close monitoring by your neurologist is encouraged, especially if your symptoms worsen. Keep daily notes on symptoms, treatment, and outcome. Remain persistent in obtaining answers!