The impact of
MG symptoms
can pile up

Living with myasthenia gravis (MG) may be affecting you more than you think. Identifying the full impact of MG symptoms is an important step in managing your ability to do routine tasks and the things you love.

Recognizing
THE IMPACT OF
MG SYMPTOMS

Symptoms can show up in both big and small ways. Their impact can add up, interfering with independence and daily life, especially if symptoms are left uncontrolled. Recognizing how these symptoms affect you can help bring the full impact of MG into focus so you can share that critical info with your healthcare team.

Five questions to assess how MG symptoms impact your life

Take a moment to reflect on how symptoms affect your daily life. Review each question and write your answers in a journal or record them as voice memos.

Question 1 of 5

Watching and reading content

Does double vision or drooping eyelids stop me from driving, writing, texting or looking at content on a screen?

Completing daily activities

Have moments of fatigue or muscle weakness made it harder for me to make dinner, brush my teeth or do my hair?

Adjusting eating habits

How often have I had to change what I eat, such as choosing food because it’s easier to chew or swallow, rather than choosing foods I actually enjoy?

Communicating with others

Have changes in my speech, voice strength or fatigue made it harder to connect with others or made conversations more challenging?

Working and social activities

Have I had to use sick days at work, cancel plans with friends or unexpectedly need help because of fatigue, muscle weakness or vision problems?

Stay connected to your experiences with MG

Understanding how symptoms affect your everyday matters. Keep exploring to learn more about how MG symptoms may impact daily life.

See how Courtney* navigates the impact of MG in everyday moments

Tracking symptoms to understand their impact

Tracking your MG symptoms can help you understand how they show up in your everyday life. Understanding how your symptoms may change over time can make it easier to explain what you’re experiencing to your healthcare team.

Illustrated image of woman writing notes

Options for tracking symptoms include:

	Journaling to note daily changes
	Recording videos to capture symptoms in the moment and later share with your healthcare team
	Using the Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) scale to track the severity of eight signs and symptoms
	Using the Myasthenia Gravis Impairment Index (MGII) to track the severity of ocular symptoms

Taking a closer look at MG symptoms

For many living with MG, symptoms often begin in the eye muscles and eventually progress throughout the body. Eye muscles are structurally different from other muscle groups and are therefore more vulnerable to the effects of MG.

Symptoms include:

Eyes and vision

Eyelid drooping
Blurred and double vision

Limbs and neck

Difficulty supporting neck
Weakness in the arms and legs
Trouble walking or standing

Face, mouth and throat

Problems with speaking
Choking, due to difficulty chewing and swallowing

Breathing

Difficulty breathing, including shortness of breath

Everyday experiences with MG

Living with MG can mean constantly adjusting just to get through the day. Explore the impact of MG through the everyday experiences of people* living with it.

Ocular symptoms affecting confidence

“I can feel self-conscious dealing with my ocular symptoms. At times, I've had to take photos with a droopy eyelid. At work, I have a hard time looking at the screen because of double vision.”

Vanetta, diagnosed with MG in 2003

Hispanic American man with short haircut smiling

Bracing for the unpredictable

“I often experience frequent changes in my MG. One day I may be able to walk just fine; then the next day I can barely get out of bed. Other times, my eyes just don’t work properly. That’s when I experience double vision and droopy eyelids.”

Alexis, diagnosed with MG in 1997

Reluctantly relying on others

“After my MG diagnosis I had to go to rehab to learn how to walk again. It was the most embarrassing part for me. I was used to being independent and now I wasn’t. I had to have assistance to go to the bathroom and bathe myself. I felt like I had returned to an infancy state.”

Dawn, diagnosed with MG in 2003

Exploring the treatment landscape

When your symptoms begin to affect your daily life, it may be helpful to check in on your care plan. Take the next step by exploring available MG treatment options. As the treatment landscape continues to evolve, there may be opportunities to talk to your healthcare team about other options, including biologics. Learn how biologic therapy works in managing MG.

Unseen Impact: Real Life with Ocular Symptoms of MG

Take a closer look at ocular MG symptoms with this illustrated guide.

3 MIN READ

TRACKING SYMPTOMS

The Benefits of MG Symptom Tracking with the MG-ADL Scale

The MG-ADL scale is a tool that may help make symptom tracking easier.

6 MIN READ

DISEASE & TREATMENT

Understanding the Different Types of Myasthenia Gravis

Just like people, MG diagnoses can be unique. Do you know the different types?

5 MIN READ

*All MG community members featured on this page are paid contributors to MG United

argenx, a global immunology company, created MG United to support people living with myasthenia gravis (MG) and those who care for them. By providing information on MG United, argenx aims to help improve the lives of people suffering from this autoimmune disease. MG United does not offer medical advice; always consult your healthcare team for personalized medical guidance.

The brands listed are the trademarks of their respective owners.

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The impact of
MG symptoms
can pile up

Recognizing
THE IMPACT OF
MG SYMPTOMS