Attacking Myasthenia Gravis: A Key in the Battle Against Autoimmune Diseases

by Ronald E. Henderson

Using his insight as a longtime physician, Dr. Ron Henderson describes the productive life he lives despite having a rare autoimmune disease known as myasthenia gravis (MG). He also provides a forum for three other MG patients to share their inspirational stories. A disease unfamiliar to many, myasthenia gravis means "grave muscle weakness" and causes severe weakness and loss of strength in voluntary muscles in various parts of the body. Often debilitating, MG falls into the category of "autoimmune" diseases, which all involve problems related to the immune system. Explaining MG symptoms, treatments, research, and disease-management tips, this book becomes a useful guide for MG patients, their families, and their physicians. And the book goes further. Using MG as an example, Dr. Henderson and others provide tips to all who suffer from chronic health problems for which there are treatments but no cures. Forced by MG to retire eight years ago as an obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Henderson now enjoys improved health but realizes he can never expect to be well unless a cure is found for MG. In this book, he announces plans to expand research into MG and other autoimmune disease through his founding of the International Autoimmune Disease Research Foundation.

Genres: Medical

296 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2002

Reviews

[Lacey Mastrodonato · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a person who has been diagnosed with MG this year, I had hoped that I would learn more and gain some useful information to help manage or improve this condition. Not the case. Everything in this book can be easily found in shorter, more concise articles online. This was really aimed more at the author's personal experience and not much of it was relevant to somebody newly diagnosed, or with more symptoms of ocular MG than general MG. Sadly, there aren't many books about MG out there that aren't for med students or medical professionals.

[Robert Ely · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first deep dive into MG

I was diagnosed with MG in 2025 and this is first deep dive reading about MG. The book a little dated at this point in time but still a good read and practical ways of life to deal with MG