Myasthenia Gravis

[KHA0354]

My 86 year old Mom has had MG contained for about 4 years. Over the last month she has experienced shortness of breath, more fatique. She's had all the heart tests and after wearing a heart monitor they decided they needed to install a pacemaker. Shortness of breath got worse, went to the ER. As they were getting ready to make the incision for the pacemaker she went into cardiac arrest. Almost didn't make it. They stopped and now aren't sure why she had the problem. They are trying to stabilize her now. She is still having trouble breathing, some nausea. They want to try the pacemaker again in a few days. Heart rate has been all over the map, better now. They thought about doing a cardiac cath but were worried she couldn't tolerate it. I'm worried about trying the pacemaker again. They said they would have a full anesthia team in the room this time.

Will the pacemaker make a difference? Will she survive this time? Without the pacemaker, I'm not sure what her options are for correcting the shortness of breath and irratic heartbeat.

She's been on Mestinon and things were going well until this last month.

They upped her Mestinon dosage last night.

Any others successfully had a pacemaker? Did it make a difference.

Thanks

[amm34]

First, I am sorry. This caught my eye b/c that is something I have been contemplating. I am only 24, but about 16 mos after dx I starting having syncope, which was confirmed as thrid degree heart block on monitor. My doctors seem to think that mestinon is exacerbaing the condition. It is hard to say, but I have had about 3 neuro consults and cardio and they all seem to think mestinon is responsible. We have scaled it down as low as I can tolerate. My doc want to put in a pacemaker if I can't stop mestinon. I am currently refusing. We'll see. But, regarding your mom, perhaps the increase in mestinon is doing this. Something to talk to the elctorphysiologists about.

Good luck!

[KHA0354]

My Mom is doing better. They got the pacemaker in. Yes, the doc is going to reduce her Mestinon dosage. She is still having some difficulty with fluid building up and shortness of breath. But better. Thanks