Saturday, October 22, 2011

MG Crisis

After 60 bottles of IvIg 19 days in the ICU dad was finally won the battle. Dad first realised he was suffering from myasthenia gravis disease, a neuromuscular disorder, when one day his right eyelid started drooping. After some lengthy examination, the neurologist comfirmed that he was suffering from ocular myasthenia gravis. For the next 14 years he was on steroid to suppress the immune system response until recently. As the dosage was decreasing over the years and nothing happened, the neurologist decided to withdrawl it totally. Then, slowly over the next few weeks, the eyelids began to droop, the head was just too heavy to hold up and chewing was a chore. The neurologist noted and decided to increase his steroid. A sudden increase in dosage and frequency, dad suffered an MG crisis. Barely made it to the A&E when his lungs collapsed. Intubated for the next 17 days. At 71 and with an irregular hearbeat, we were worried. Both hands and one foot had intravenous lines. He was drifting in and out of consciousness unable to speak he wrote. When he wrote about dreaming of his parents and his recently deceased sibling, brother got really worried. Then miraculously he recovered. The lungs strong enough to breathe on it's own. Yesterday, he was discharged from UMMC. 21 days later.



10 comments:

laws of success said...

This is great to have a new life after combat with the death you can say it. Neuromuscular Disorder is a serious matter at all.


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doc said...

looks like your dad can't be taken off his regular medication. glad everything turned out well.

praise God!

stay-at-home mum said...

Glad he is feeling better now.

iml said...

Doc:
Amen.

SAHM:
Life is so unpredictable.

missyc said...

Hi iml

was blog hopping & came across this post, glad to hear yr dad is recovering. I have been reading about MG elsewhere & your post certainly helps me prepare for any eventuality despite not being diagnosed/confirmed, its a scary journey. UMCC which medical ctr are u referring to ?

iml said...

missyc:
If you think that you may be suffering from MG do seek advise from a neurologist. There are tests to confirm if you are indeed suffering from MG. It's incurable but can be kept undercontrol with the supervision of a neurologist and proper medication. Take care

iml said...

missyc:
UMMC, University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

missyc said...

hi again,
my eyes must be playing tricks again :( the double vision, I thot I saw UMCC earlier. I've been asked a few times if I had MG test done, seeing a neuro @UMSC, the private wing of UMMC for other health issues, but I'm still waiting out for 3yrs post op effect to slowly wean off..tks for the info

iml said...

Missyc:
It's my mistake. If you live around the vicinity of UMMC you might want to consider seeing Prof Goh Khean Jin a neurologist specialising in this field. He took charge of my dad during his stay.

missyc said...

iml,

hehe..tks for the info btw I was seeing him for something unrelated & he did offer to do further tests if necessary of which I've decided put on hold :p