Oct 22 Seminar – Exercise, Men’s & Women’s Issues and MG

Posted August 30, 2017 by myasthenia

Sunday, October 22, 2017

FALL SEMINAR

Exercise & MG – Speakers Jennifer Ford, PT & Angela Mackowiak, PT
Men’s & Women’s MG Issues – Speaker David Randall, DO

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

1775 Dempster Street

Park Ridge, Illinois

Atrium & Auditorium

Important: Park in the Parking Lot B. This is BEHIND the hospital!

Use the Children’s Hospital Outpatient Center Entrance.

Directions & Map

Among myasthenia gravis patients, concerns about activity vary as much as MG symptoms. Should I exercise? Can I regain my balance? Can I get back to endurance sports? Can I get pregnant? How does MG affect my monthly cycle, or menopause? What about my performance – at work, at the gym, or even in the bedroom?

On October 22, NorthShore University Health System experts David Randall, DO, (neurologist and Assistant Clinical Professor for the University of Chicago), and neurologic physical therapists Jennifer Ford and Angela Mackowiak will address these issues.

Event is free, includes lunch. A donation of $25 per person (or amount of your choice) would help offset costs.

11:30am – 12:00pm Registration

12:00pm – 12:40pm Luncheon

12:40pm – 1:00pm Conquer MG Updates

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Presentations and Discussion

Please register by Tuesday, October 17 to be included in the count for lunch. You can register by clicking the button below. Or call the office at 1-800-888-6208. (Walk-ins are welcome. But your advance notice helps us plan for enough seating and food.)

MG and Vision Issues

Posted August 30, 2017 by myasthenia

Thank you, Neuro-ophthalmologist Thomas Mizen, MD, Rush University Medical Center, for explaining MG vision issues to 65 Spring Meeting attendees on May 4, 2017!

You can see a short clip from Dr. Mizen’s presentation – or the full presentation – on our YouTube channel.

Here are highlights from Dr. Mizen’s presentation:

In 15% of all patients symptoms and signs are confined to ocular muscles.
Only half of patients with ocular myasthenia gravis have detectable muscle antibodies.
Ptosis (drooping eyelids) and diplopia (double vision) are common initial symptoms, but the disease remains restricted to ocular muscles in only a minority of patients.
Myasthenia gravis with Musk antibodies is not manifested as ocular myasthenia, whereas both acetylcholine receptor and LRP4 antibodies can be found in the ocular subgroup.
Each eye is controlled by 6 muscles and 3 nerves. The coordination of eye movement occurs in the brain stem neural integrator controlling these nerves and muscles.
When we sleep at night the eyes roll up. In the morning through the process of fusion the two images are brought together to form single binocular vision, seeing one image with two eyes. Throughout the day the eye movement control center maintains fusion to see one object in all positions of gaze
Double vision, or diplopia, results when the two eyes are not working together. It can occur as a result of underaction of any of the 6 muscles.
Double vision can vary throughout the day. It is worse with fatigue, less with rest.
Variability of diplopia also makes a solution difficult. We seek a solution that works the majority of the time. It may require different glasses with different prism for different activities (for instance, one pair for distance, one pair for reading). Ocular symptoms may also respond to treatment with medication.
In addition to the eye movements, the eyelid also may be involved with MG (ptosis). Ptosis usually responds to the same intervention as for double vision.

Strides Against MG Walk 2017 – Photos

Posted June 14, 2017 by myasthenia

Walkers eagerly kick off the 2017 Strides Against MG Walk.

The 5th Annual Strides Against MG Walk welcomed 230 participants on Sunday, June 4, at Berens Park in Elmhurst, Illinois. The walk raised $26,000 for Conquer Myasthenia Gravis, a nonprofit organization that funds MG patient assistance and research, and provides patient education and support.

“Last year I was in the hospital with MG (myasthenia gravis), so it feels great to be here today,” commented Sara Hasemeyer (below, second from left). Her husband Matt appreciated the upbeat tone of the day, noting, “When we walked into the local support group, we were the youngest ones. This is entirely different.”

Kathy Tijerina volunteered for this year’s event, despite struggling with MG symptoms of weakness. Overwhelmed by the Walk’s upbeat spirit, she said, “Next year I’m bringing my whole family!”

Board chair Bob Rosecrans explained the name of the organization, Conquer Myasthenia Gravis, or Conquer MG for short, “reflects our desire to wipe out this rare autoimmune disease.” Check out the walk photos below! For lots more walk pictures, visit our Facebook page, Conquer Myasthenia Gravis.