A myasthenia gravis care team often includes several types of specialists who work together to manage symptoms: 

• Neurologists lead the care team, as myasthenia gravis primarily affects nerve and muscle communication. They conduct blood tests to check for biomarkers and nerve tests like electromyography to see how nerves and muscles work together.   

• Rheumatologists may help if other autoimmune diseases are present because they specialize in treating diseases that attack the immune system. 

• Pulmonologists are lung doctors who monitor and treat breathing issues, which can be affected by myasthenia gravis. 

• Ophthalmologists are eye doctors who can address vision-related symptoms, such as drooping eyelids or double vision. 

• Speech-language pathologists assist with any speech or swallowing difficulties due to weakness in the muscles of the throat, face, and jaw. 

• Physical and occupational therapists help patients maintain muscle strength and mobility and navigate daily activities safely to avoid injury. 

• Primary care physicians coordinate care and manage general health needs. 

Myasthenia gravis is both an autoimmune and a neurological disorder. It is autoimmune because the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy parts of itself. In myasthenia gravis, the immune system attacks the proteins that allow nerves and muscles to communicate. This causes problems in the neurological system, which controls muscles, leading to muscle weakness and tiredness. The condition mostly affects muscles that control eye movement, eyelids, facial expressions, chewing, and even breathing. Because it’s both an autoimmune and neurological disorder, rheumatologists and neurologists may work together to help manage it. 

Myasthenia gravis is treated in a few different ways to help people manage their symptoms. Doctors may prescribe medicines like acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, which can improve muscle strength by helping nerves send signals to muscles more easily. Immunosuppressive drugs, which slow down the immune system, can also help by stopping the immune system from attacking the body’s own muscle proteins. In more serious cases, doctors might suggest treatments like plasmapheresis or intravenous immunoglobulin, which work quickly to reduce symptoms by removing harmful antibodies from the blood or adding good antibodies to fight the disease. Some people might also have surgery called a thymectomy to remove the thymus gland, which can lower the immune system’s attacks over time. 

Myasthenia gravis can start with mild symptoms, like drooping eyelids or tiredness in the face or neck. Over time, the weakness can spread to other muscles, making it harder to chew, speak, or even breathe in serious cases. The condition can get worse during times of stress, illness, or with certain medications, which may lead to what’s called a “myasthenic crisis.” In a myasthenic crisis, muscle weakness becomes so severe that breathing muscles are affected, and emergency medical help is needed. Managing symptoms, getting enough rest, and avoiding triggers like stress or infections can help slow the progression and keep the symptoms more stable. 

Most people with myasthenia gravis can live a normal life span, especially with good medical care. Even though myasthenia gravis is a chronic (long-term) condition, today’s treatments can help most people control their symptoms and live active lives. Some people may have periods when their symptoms get worse, especially if it affects their breathing. With the right treatment and regular check-ups, most complications can be prevented. 

There are various reasons why you may want to see a specialist, such as: 

• Your primary care provider recommends it. 

• Your condition requires expert knowledge and specialized care. 

• Your symptoms persist or worsen despite treatment. 

• You need specialized testing or procedures. 

• You want a second opinion.  

It’s important to see a provider with expertise in your specific condition. Each provider profile in MediFind’s doctor database includes information on which conditions they treat, years of experience, research contributions, languages spoken, insurance plans accepted, and more.  

You can find doctor in any of the 10 largest U.S. cities by clicking below:

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MediFind’s rankings are based on a variety of data sources, such as the number of articles a doctor has published in medical journals, participation in clinical trials and industry conferences, as well as the number of patients that provider sees for a given condition. Note that MediFind’s provider database is not based on user reviews, and providers do not pay to be included in the database. 

Most profiles in MediFind’s doctor database include a list of insurance plans accepted by that provider. However, it’s a good idea to contact the provider’s office to make sure they still accept your insurance, then doublecheck by contacting your insurance plan to confirm they’re in network. 

MediFind offers direct scheduling for certain providers using the “Request Appointment” button on that provider’s profile. If the schedule option is not available for a provider, tap the red “Show Phone Number” button on their profile to get their contact information. If you prefer to find providers who offer online scheduling, select “Schedules online” under the “Availability” category of the filter feature on the left side of the doctor search results page. 

Second opinions are an opportunity to confirm a diagnosis and its root cause, learn about alternative treatment options, or simply gain peace of mind. Many people, especially those with serious diagnoses, get second opinions so they can understand all their options and make informed decisions, so don’t hesitate to get one if you have any doubts or need more information or clarification regarding your care. Note that some insurance plans require second opinions, while others don’t cover second opinions, so be sure to confirm with your insurance provider first.   

Prepare for your appointment by gathering the following items: 

• Copies of medical records (dating back at least one year) 

• Your medical history, including illnesses, medical conditions, surgeries, and other doctors you see 

• Family history of disease 

• List of current prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal remedies or supplements including names and doses 

• Allergies to medications, food, latex, insects, etc.  

• List of questions and concerns 

• Your insurance card 

You might also contact the provider’s office to see if they offer transportation or childcare services or if you’re allowed to bring a loved one for support or to take notes during your visit. 

Here are some sample questions: 

• Can you explain in simple terms what this condition is and how it’s treated? 

• What symptoms or side effects should I watch for? 

• What tests will be involved, and when can I expect results? 

• Are there other specialists I need to see? 

• What’s the best way to reach you if I have follow-up questions? 

MediFind’s Clinical Trials tool asks you a series of questions to help you narrow down your search by health condition, age, gender, location, how far you’re willing to travel, and more. Each question you answer filters down the number of trials until you find the ones that are most relevant to you. 

MediFind’s Latest Advances tool features summaries of recent articles published in medical journals. We use cutting-edge technology to scour medical publication databases for the latest research advancements on any given condition, then we simplify this information in a way that’s useful and easy to understand. 

Look for the filter feature on the left side of the doctor search results page. Select “Female” or “Male” under the “Gender” category to search for female or male providers exclusively. If the “Any” option is selected, it will pull results for both male and female providers. 

Look for the filter feature on the left-side of the doctor search results page. Select “Offers telehealth visits” under the Availability category to search for providers who offer virtual appointments (video calls). 

Reviewed on: 11/11/24  

By: MediFind Medical Staff 

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