Muscle Weakness

[megan2]

Hi,

Is muscle weakness something that goes along with POTS, or would muscle weakness be due to another condition? I have respiratory muscle weakness with MIP and MEP about 20% (pressures around 30 mm H20). I have weakness of my mouth/swallowing muscles, and my arms, legs, and hands. Has anyone had an EMG?

Thanks.

[futurehope]

I've had an EMG. I have positive Achr antibodies, so they were testing me for signs of Myasthenia Gravis. For now, my blood tests are abonormal and indicate Myasthenia gravis, but I'm currently not showing any signs.

[pat57]

[erikainorlando]

Yes...I have had many EMG's...never any fun! I have bad nerve damage from Guillain Barre Syndrome years ago.

When I have pushed myself with this POTS/dysautonomia, I get to where I can't even walk..too weak. Weakness (muscle weakness) is one of my biggest comoplaints with this...for what it is worth.

Erika

[bizbiz]

Yes, I had an EMG during mt TTT to record if there was any muscle / nerve activity in response to being tilted. My results showed that I had no MSNA (Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity) when tilted, whereas in a 'normal' person, the MSNA firing rate increases on tilt.

In terms of feeling weak, I do get bouts of this, and my my specialist was going to give me a prescription for a med used to treat MG, but fortunantly I did not need it.

He also told me that one of his patients has such bad weakness that her local doctor sent her for an MRI of her spine because he was so sure that she has a spinal tumour!

[erik]

I would not think it associated with respiratory muscles specifically, but always keep in mind that electrolyte imbalance can cause weakness (and lesser cousins fatigue, nausea, etc.) and is probably more common occurrence with POTS (from both treatments & condition). I'm guessing these were already checked for you, but just want mention this "fundamental".

[erikainorlando]

Hmm.Erik...and all you other brains out there!!

Help then. If I push myself, like say when I was trying to work, I would work perhaps 6 hours for 3 days in a row and then I would be sooo weak that I couldn't walk across a room. I would shake and stop moving..couldn't get my body to move...didn't work..like when I had Guillain Barre but if I rested I could move again (short periods) andIU had to be bed-bound for several days before I could begin to move regularly. Never had this before POTS onset.

Weakness is very severe for me..and I have to rest often and go very slow.

[tinkerbella]

I had one and my plummy just called today after talking with my cardio and the want me to see the neuro for another emg or muscle biospy. they feel I'm too breathless and weak to do any further plummy testing. I have Peripheral neuropathy and they want to see if I have progressed. My muscle biospy showed mild changes two 1/2 years ago.

BEFORE I started mestion, It always felt like an elephant was on my chest, but I just add in any exertion and I can't breathe. Often just at rest I'm so weak I don't know how I'm going to get up and I'm so breathless.

I swear the flu set me back to square one.

bellamia~