Myasthenia Gravis: Therapy

General measures

  • Review of permanent medication due topossible effect on the existing disease (symptom exacerbation!).
  • Avoidance of psychosocial stress (symptom exacerbation):
    • Bullying
    • Mental conflicts
    • Social isolation
    • Stress

Conventional non-surgical therapy methods

  • If necessary, logopedic therapy, because speech is disturbed by impairment of the tongue, mouth, and/or palate muscles and by speech-dependent dyspnea (shortness of breath). Logopedic treatment is also recommended for dysphagia (dysphagia) (to learn swallowing techniques, among other things, for the prophylaxis of aspiration pneumonia (pneumonia caused by inhalation of foreign substances (often stomach contents)).
  • In the case of progressive (progressive) respiratory insufficiency, it must be weighed whether the sick person should be (permanent) ventilated (home ventilation). A distinction is made between non-invasive (machine-assisted ventilation via a breathing mask) and invasive ventilation (machine ventilation via a tracheostoma (after surgical tracheotomy)).

Medical aids

  • In the case of constantly existing double vision in the context of ocular myasthenia, an ophthalmologist-made prismatic lens in a pair of glasses or, alternatively, a prismatic film on an existing pair of glasses may provide relief.

Vaccinations

The following vaccinations are advised, as infection can often lead to worsening of the present disease:

  • Flu vaccination
  • Pneumococcal vaccination

Regular checkups

  • Regular medical checkups

Nutritional medicine

  • Nutritional counseling based on nutritional analysis
  • Nutritional recommendations according to a mixed diet taking into account the disease at hand. This means, among other things:
    • A total of 5 servings of fresh vegetables and fruit daily (≥ 400 g; 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit).
    • Once or twice a week fresh sea fish, i.e. fatty marine fish (omega-3 fatty acids) such as salmon, herring, mackerel.
    • High-fiber diet (whole grains, vegetables).
  • Observance of the following special dietary recommendations:
    • In cases of dysphagia (dysphagia), a switch to pureed foods and thickened liquids is recommended.
    • In severe cases, supportive or complete care via a gastric tube (PEG tube: percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy; an endoscopically created artificial access from the outside to the stomach) is required.
  • Selection of appropriate food based on the nutritional analysis.
  • See also under “Therapy with micronutrients (vital substances)” – if necessary, taking a suitable dietary supplement.
  • Detailed information on nutritional medicine you will receive from us.

Physical therapy (including physiotherapy)

  • Physiotherapy treatment
  • Respiratory exercises and tapping massages are designed to promote respiratory muscle function and limit bronchial mucus production.

Psychotherapy