A Reflection on "Holly's story: My experience with MG treatments" YouTube Video

 

Retrieved from: Myasthenia Gravis | Ausmed Lectures

To further my learning, I watched the video "Holly's story: My experience with MG treatments" on YouTube. Holly described her experience with this condition. She was diagnosed in August 2015. She explained that she had been complaining of a few symptoms for years prior to the diagnosis. These symptoms were getting fatigued very easily, experiencing random bouts of choking to where she wasn't able to swallow or talk, and having double vision. As I mentioned above, after a few years of experiencing these symptoms, she was then diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, or MG for short. Holly was diagnosed by her primary care doctor and was prescribed treatment by a neurologist. Holly was then prescribed Mastodon for her diagnosis. Although she was initially diagnosed with ocular MG, she later found out she had generalized MG and was prescribed a different medication. Within a year, Holly's health was deteriorating quickly. She had trouble standing while doing dishes and cooking, she needed help with her ADLs, etc. The doctor then asked Holly did she wanted to feel better soon. Of course, she said yes, so the doctor then prescribed her to 16 milligrams of prednisone.  Her symptoms were improving however, she didn't like how her body felt while being on the medication. Currently, she is not on any medication and her symptoms are showing back up.

So, what exactly is MG? It is a condition caused by the breakdown in communication between nerves and muscles. Because of this, there is weakness and rapid fatigue of muscles under voluntary control. Symptoms include weakness in arm and leg muscles, double vision, and difficulties with speech and chewing. In my neurobiology class, we have learned all about neurotransmitters, junctions, neurons, etc. We learned that communication between nerves and muscles goes through what is called a junction. When someone is diagnosed with MG, the communication between the nerve and muscle is interrupted at the neuromuscular junction.

I recommend others to watch this video to further their learning on Myasthenia Gravis. It was interesting to hear about Holly's experience with this condition. Holly explained how this condition is affecting her physically and mentally. One main reason I chose this video is because I have never heard of Myasthenia Gravis. I wanted to know what exactly it is and how affects someone diagnosed with it. This video definitely helped me understand this disease more.

Resources

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Myasthenia Gravis. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/myasthenia-gravis#:~:text=Causes%20of%20myasthenia%20gravis,with%20the%20muscles%20they%20control. 

YouTube. (2017, July 13). Holly’s story: My experience with MG treatments. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8mF1sL5ZMM