Can Sjogrens mimic myesthenia gravis?

[araminta]

I look so exhausted sometimes with heavy eyelids and dark circles under my eyes, in fact my whole face seems to sag!   I'm wondering if it could be a symptom of MG, or if it's related to Sjogrens (which I'm almost certain I've got due to the accumulation of symptoms).   I suppose I could have both.     

I don't have double vision or blurred vision, which I see can be MG symptoms.

[jazzlover]

Fellow member "irish" has both, so it's possible.

Have you been tested for Lyme disease?

[irish]

A person can have Myasthenia gravis in just the eyes and it probably could affect the face muscles also. Normally it affects arms, legs, eyes, face and hands. The muscles become weak and it is hard to walk, lift feet, lift anything in hands at times, etc. and eye lids get droopy and can't keep them open very wide so that results in some difficulty with blurred vision at times. Also, the diaphragm can be affected and breathing becomes difficult. This can result in respiratory failure and several weeks of ventilator and 4-6 weeks of hospitalization.

I would ask your GP about seeing a neurologist for testing if you are having a lot of issues like this that need to be assessed. Good luck. irish

[araminta]

Thank you both for your replies.   I am so sorry Irish that you are having to put up with this as well as all the other problems. 

I have an ophthalmology appointment in September so I will bring the subject up then.

I haven't been tested for Lyme disease, but I'm in the UK where I don't think it's quite so prevalent (though not certain about that), and I certainly don't remember having anything resembling a tick bite.