Tennis star Monica Seles diagnosed with myasthenia gravis
Tennis Legend Monica Seles Opens Up About Living with Myasthenia Gravis
Monica Seles, the renowned tennis player and nine-time Grand Slam champion, has spoken publicly about her diagnosis with myasthenia gravis (MG), a chronic neuromuscular disorder. Seles, who is in the International Tennis Hall of Fame, has been managing her symptoms for three years.
Seles's life has been a series of new steps that require adaptation, as she described in a recent interview. The symptoms of MG, which include progressive muscle weakness, double vision, and weakness in the arms and legs, first appeared while she was playing tennis. These symptoms often worsen with activity and improve with rest.
Seles noticed that she was missing shots, experiencing blurred vision, and feeling weakness in her arms and legs. She sought medical help and was eventually referred to a neurologist, who diagnosed her with MG. Since then, Seles has been adapting to her life after being diagnosed with the condition.
Myasthenia gravis affects the communication between nerves and muscles or causes the immune system to attack muscles. Common symptoms include progressive muscle weakness that worsens with activity and improves with rest, drooping eyelids, double vision, difficulty speaking, trouble chewing or swallowing, weakness in the arms or legs, and, in severe cases, weakness of throat or respiratory muscles leading to breathing difficulties.
Treatment options for MG aim to improve communication between nerves and muscles or reduce the immune system's attack on muscles. These treatments include cholinesterase inhibitors, corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, thymectomy, plasmapheresis, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy, and other management strategies. Most patients manage their symptoms effectively with these treatments, allowing a near-normal life expectancy.
Seles is speaking out about her diagnosis ahead of the U.S. Open, which begins on August 24, to raise awareness of the condition often referred to as "MG." She recalls the support from fans in New York after her stabbing incident as a significant and memorable moment.
Seles left her family when she moved to the U.S. at the age of 13 and had to cope with fame, money, attention, and changes in her life when she became a big player at the age of 16. She won her first major title at the French Open in 1990 and played her last professional match in 2003. Seles returned to professional tennis at the U.S. Open in 1995, three decades after her initial retirement.
Seles often advises the young players she mentors to adapt to changes, using the analogy of a ball bouncing and the need to adapt accordingly. She has had to "hit the reset button" multiple times in her career, including when she arrived in the U.S. at the age of 13, when she became a big player, and after being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis.
Myasthenia gravis most commonly affects young women under 40 years old and older men over 60 years old, but can occur at any age, including childhood. Seles, like many others living with MG, is determined to continue living her life to the fullest and inspiring others with her resilience.
- Seles's battle with myasthenia gravis, a neurological disorder affecting the communication between nerves and muscles, has not stopped her from inspiring others with her resilience in managing her symptoms, such as progressive muscle weakness and double vision, during her tennis matches.
- In her life after the diagnosis, Seles, the tennis legend and nine-time Grand Slam champion, has had to adapt to new steps, including balancing her health and wellness, especially managing medical-conditions like MG, along with her passion for sports, particularly tennis.
- In her quest for health-and-wellness, Seles took on the challenge of managing myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular disorder affecting sports athletes like herself, by consulting with medical professionals for treatment options, such as cholinesterase inhibitors, immunosuppressants, and thymectomies.
