Symptoms of Myasthenia Gravis

The muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, and swallowing are most often affected. The onset of the disorder may be sudden. Symptoms often are not immediately recognized as MG.

In most cases, the first noticeable symptom is weakness of the eye muscles. In others, difficulty in swallowing and slurred speech may be the first signs. While rare, first signs of MG can also include difficulty with breathing. The degree of muscle weakness involved in MG varies greatly among persons with this disease. Symptoms, which vary in type and severity, may include:

• Drooping of one or both eyelids (ptosis)

• Blurred or double vision (diplopia) due to weakness of the muscles that control eye movements

• Unstable or waddling gait

• Weakness in arms, hands, fingers, legs, and neck

• Change in facial expression

• Difficulty in swallowing and shortness of breath

• Impaired speech (dysarthria)

• Shortness of breath