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My Lab Came Back Normal/negative Antibodies. I See My Neurologist For The First Time On Monday. My PCP Ordered Blood Test.

A MGteam Member asked a question 💭
Morristown, TN
October 23
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A MGteam Member

It's great that you have an appointment with your neurologist on Monday. Here are some key points to consider and discuss during your visit:

- Medical History and Physical Exam: Your neurologist will likely start by reviewing your medical history and performing a thorough physical exam. Be prepared to discuss your symptoms Show Full Answer

It's great that you have an appointment with your neurologist on Monday. Here are some key points to consider and discuss during your visit:

- Medical History and Physical Exam: Your neurologist will likely start by reviewing your medical history and performing a thorough physical exam. Be prepared to discuss your symptoms in detail, including their onset, duration, and any factors that worsen or improve them.

- Antibody Testing: Even though your initial antibody tests came back normal/negative, it's important to know that around 15% of people with myasthenia gravis (MG) do not have acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies. Additionally, up to 40% of those without AChR antibodies may have muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) antibodies. Your neurologist might consider testing for these if not already done.

- Seronegative Myasthenia Gravis: If you don't have AChR or MuSK antibodies, you might have seronegative myasthenia gravis. In rare cases, low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (LRP4) antibodies might be present.

- Electromyography (EMG): This test measures the electrical activity of your muscles and can help diagnose myasthenia gravis, especially in mild cases that other tests might miss.

- Symptom Documentation: Since symptoms can vary and may not always be present during your appointment, it’s helpful to document them. Note how they look and feel, and any patterns you observe.

- Neurological Exam: Expect tests for muscle strength, tone, balance, coordination, reflexes, sensitivity to touch, and eye movements.

Discussing these points with your neurologist will help them better understand your condition and determine the next steps for diagnosis and treatment.

October 23
A MGteam Member

I have had numerous blood tests and they have all come back negative to the antibodies they test for. Once while in the ER in the hospital waiting for a bed the hospital neurologist said, yes I don't have the antibodies they know of, the research is ongoing and something might eventually test positive. That said, I was confirmed to have MG by a single fiber test, which was performed at John Hopkins. This test is confirmation enough to absolutely verify I have MG. It took them two years to finally diagnose me with a number of nerve tests.

2 days ago
A MGteam Member

I have my appointment with my Neurologist Monday also , these questions are very helpful.

October 23

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