Diagnosis

[Flip]

Has anyone on here had a normal emg but suffers from obvious physiological manifestations of an autoimmune disorder?  My symptoms are manifesting quickly.  I already know that I carry the SSB antibody associated with Sjogren's.  I have severe dry eye and dental problems.  Now my right eye is drooping and both hands are atrophied as well as my arms.  I can hardly do anything with my hands.  I'm not crazy but looks like the symptoms of a disease called Myasthenia Gravis.  Go to the Rheumotologist on Dec. 12th.  Does anyone have this?

[irish]

I have sjogrens with positive blood work both SSA and SSB plus positive ANA plus high antistriated muscle antibodies. The striated muscle antibodies are very high and I was diagnosed with myasthenia in 2006 although after going through my life history, etc. the doc has ascertained that I have had it since about 1963 or so.

I am an old grandma and still putzing along. I had the droopy eye in the later years, but I also had the feeling that I would stop breathing off and on for years. Docs always told me it was asthma and here it was muscle involvement of the diaphram with the myasthenia.

I don't know what you mean by atrophy of your hands and arms. When we have myasthenia we get weaker to some degree, and we can also have loss of muscle tone from the sjogrens. Do you have any tendonitis or carpal tunnel in your hands?? This can affect the muscle tone in the arms and hands and it can be noticeable.

I am glad that you are seeing the neuro as he can do the appropriate tests to see what is going on. Myasthenia is one of the more common neuromuscular autoimmune diseases and for some reason the docs still don't hone in on it. It is also one of the oldest neuromuscular diseases to be identified and named--back in the mid 1800's if I remember correctly.

Hope you can get this mystery solved. IRish

[kellyk]

Sorry I am goin to try and reply here to your post.. I had an endo scopy today and they put me out and I am having some trouble concentrating.. so bare with me

I have had many many EMGs that were normal..I was told looks like a muscle disease acts like one.. but the tests were normal.. even despite slowly progressive weakness   After 2 muscle biopsies I was  told I was crazy ... etc..then a third biopsy they found what appears to be a rare metabolic myopathy ( small chance of a myopathy related to my SJogrens.. still under investigation.. )

EMgs are only as good as the person doin them.. and it isn't always conclusive either.. depends on what the problem is

What were you hoping the emg would tell them..Did you have a single fiber emg.. I believe that is what is used to Dx MG... but not totally sure...

I am Seronegative and my blood work is completely normal.. it took a lip biopsy to get my Sjogrens Dx.. and nine yrs of dealing with drs...

I would think a positive antibody would indicate Sjogrens.. hopefully you will see a good Rhueme.. good luck

[Joe S.]

Welcome to the forum.

[Patze]

Hi Flip,

Let me also welcome you to the SJS World and family!  Please look around the board as there are scores of topics that you might be interested in, and scads of information to be had.

The others have given you some good information, and I wish you well at the rheumy's next month.  By chance, have you seen a neuro about your hands and other symptoms yet?  If you have, what did he say about them?

Again, welcome and I hope that you find this board is as warming and informative as I have.

Take care of yourself -

Patze