As we bring Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month to an end, I wanted to once again explain what Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is.
Myasthenia Gravis is a rare autoimmune disease in which the immune system interferes with communication between the nerves and muscles. As a result, the messages sent from the brain do not always reach the muscles properly, leading to muscle weakness that can affect vision, speaking, swallowing, mobility, and even breathing.
📱 Imagine a Text Message That Never Arrives
Imagine your brain sending a text message that says, “Move!”
The message is sent.
The muscle is ready.
But somewhere along the way, the signal gets blocked.
That’s what people living with Myasthenia Gravis experience.
Symptoms can fluctuate throughout the day, leaving a person feeling relatively strong one moment and profoundly weak the next.
💪 How MG Can Affect the Body
For some, MG affects vision, causing drooping eyelids or double vision.
For others, MG can affect:
- Speaking
- Swallowing
- Facial expressions
- Lifting objects
- Walking
- Breathing
- Muscle strength and endurance
Many people living with MG also experience profound fatigue that can interfere with daily life.
One moment, a person may appear perfectly fine. The next, everyday activities such as climbing stairs, chewing a meal, brushing their hair, or simply holding a conversation can become exhausting.
Symptoms can also fluctuate from hour to hour or day to day, which is one reason Myasthenia Gravis is often referred to as the “snowflake disease”—because no two people experience MG exactly the same way.
👀 The Challenge of Invisible Illness
Because symptoms often fluctuate and are largely invisible, many people living with MG are told:
“But you don’t look sick.”
The truth is, invisible does not mean imaginary.
💚 My Personal Experience
As someone living with MuSK-positive Myasthenia Gravis, I know firsthand that this disease can change nearly every aspect of a person’s life. It certainly changed mine.
There was a time when simply breathing felt like work. When something as automatic as taking a breath suddenly requires effort, you gain a whole new appreciation for every effortless breath.
Tasks that most people complete without a second thought—talking, eating, climbing stairs, or even taking a deep breath—suddenly required effort, planning, and energy that I often did not have.
Yet, despite the challenges, this disease has also taught me resilience, gratitude, and the importance of advocacy.
While June may be coming to an end, awareness should continue year-round.
Awareness matters because earlier recognition can lead to earlier diagnosis, treatment, and support. The more people understand Myasthenia Gravis, the easier it becomes for those living with the disease to receive compassion, support, and timely medical care.
If sharing my story helps even one person seek answers, advocate for themselves, or feel less alone, then every difficult moment has served a purpose.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about Myasthenia Gravis and for helping spread awareness—not just during June, but throughout the entire year.
Thank you for taking the time to read this entry from The Dual Diagnosis Diaries. My hope is that by sharing my experiences, someone else living with chronic illness will feel a little less alone.
Founder • Author • Advocate • Future Wellness Coach
Kia Lorice
The Dual Diagnosis Diaries 💜
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