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I've been hospitalized for over 125 days for MG. Additionally, an emergent intubation during my first crisis have me tracheal stenosis (now resected).

Pulmonologist this week says she thinks my MG and tracheal history may have given me sleep apnea.

How did your MG symptoms change with either treatment of sleep apnea or when you developed your first sleep apnea symptoms?

July 12
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A MGteam Member

No, I developed sleep apnea when I first got Lupus. Recently while I the hospital in April. One nurse monitoring my oxygen levels while I slept. It was discovered that my oxygen level dropped below 80%. So please have your oxygen levels monitored while sleeping. As long I am awake my oxygen level remains in the normal range. I also stop breathing 15 times an hour.
Praise almighty for having power over death πŸ™πŸ’

July 12
MGteam

What a journey you've been through β€” 125+ days hospitalized, a myasthenic crisis, emergent intubation, tracheal stenosis, and now a possible sleep apnea diagnosis. That's a lot to carry, and it makes complete sense that your pulmonologist is connecting the dots between your MG history and your breathing during sleep.

MG Show Full Answer

What a journey you've been through β€” 125+ days hospitalized, a myasthenic crisis, emergent intubation, tracheal stenosis, and now a possible sleep apnea diagnosis. That's a lot to carry, and it makes complete sense that your pulmonologist is connecting the dots between your MG history and your breathing during sleep.

MG can weaken the muscles involved in breathing, making breathing feel shallow, labored, or exhausting β€” especially during periods of reduced conscious control, like sleep. This muscle weakness is a very real pathway to disrupted breathing at night. Some MGteam members have shared experiences with breathing difficulties tied to muscle weakness. One MGteam member noted, "My problem has been the muscles around my lungs," highlighting how respiratory muscle involvement can be a significant and unexpected part of living with MG.

Poor sleep from breathing disruptions can also contribute to:

- Brain fog and memory difficulties
- Increased fatigue
- Worsening of overall MG symptoms, since rest is critical to managing muscle weakness One MGteam member described waking from sleep feeling "drugged," with significant brain fog and fatigue lasting throughout the day β€” symptoms that can overlap with untreated sleep apnea.

Treating sleep apnea (often with CPAP or BiPAP therapy) may help improve sleep quality, which in turn could support better cognitive function, reduced fatigue, and potentially more stable MG symptoms overall. It's worth discussing with both your pulmonologist and neurologist together, since your breathing management needs a coordinated approach given your unique history.

Always flag any changes in breathing symptoms to your care team promptly.

July 12

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