Undergoing Multiple Major Surgeries

Although I was just was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG) in October of 2020, I had symptoms most of my life. At times, they were severe and included breathing problems.

While I had an undiagnosed neurological disorder, MG was never mentioned as a possibility. I had 3 major surgeries before being diagnosed and I have had 1 surgery after receiving my diagnosis.

Given a cautionary drug

When I was pregnant, I was on 5 months of bed rest with premature labor every day. The doctors could not figure out why. At one point, because of preterm labor, I was given an injection of what they were calling a "motherload." It turned out to be magnesium - a drug that is typically avoided in MG.¹

I remember it well. They could only give so much every few seconds. At first, it caused a nice warming feeling. But by the time they were done with all the magnesium, it felt like I was burning from the inside out. All I could do was rest - I was so tired!

My hysterectomy

My first surgery was a hysterectomy 6 months after the birth of my third child. On the day of surgery, because MG was not even considered, it was a normal surgery with whatever anesthesia the anesthesiologist used.

I had no problems. But I also had no major symptoms at this time. Apparently, the muscle and ligaments could not hold things up any longer. All they did was put me under and prep me to start surgery when everything fell out.

According to the gynecologist, if I was having surgery that day everything would have fallen out anyway.

Hernia repair

My second surgery was a hernia repair about 20 years after the first surgery. There were more symptoms of myasthenia gravis that had shown up a few years prior to this surgery, yet I was still undiagnosed. I was also not experiencing symptoms at this point.

It was a regular surgery ... incision from ribs to hip. Again, no special treatment, including anesthesia, due to no diagnosis. Everything went well! I healed extremely fast.

Non-cancerous tumor

The third surgery was about 3 years after the second surgery. I was still undiagnosed and didn't have active symptoms. But, I had been prescribed 3 Z-packs, 1 right after the other, due to what my medical provider at the time was telling me was an infection at my jawline. I had a large mass just under my jaw.

I had called and made an appointment with an ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT) as the Z-packs were not helping. But I had to cancel and reschedule because I had developed C. diff from too many antibiotics.

When I finally made it to the ENT, I was shocked to find out that I had a tumor that was interfering with the nerves on that side of my face.

Surgery was the same as the first 2 surgeries, including anesthesia, because I was still undiagnosed. The ENT told me after surgery that it was a non-cancerous tumor the size of a golf ball. The weird thing is, when the MG acts up now in my face, that area is more active than the other side with symptoms.

Transfered to a new surgeron

The fourth surgery was also a hernia surgery. It was done laparoscopically. The surgeon that did my first hernia repair refused to do surgery on me after I was officially diagnosed with MG because the small hospital was not set up for the possible complications that may come.

But, she did find a surgeon for me that she felt was qualified. Unfortunately, it took 4 months. But the wait was well worth it. The whole surgical team was familiar with myasthenia gravis, taking very good care of me!

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