Hi, I’m Jess. I’m 21 and I got diagnosed with myasthenia gravis after I just turned 20.

My first year with Mya (I like to call it) was certainly a confusing, uncertain and long journey.

I got my first symptoms while visiting Exeter uni. I was laughing with two of my best friends when I felt something off with my face, they both looked at me concerned because they thought I was upset. This was my first sign something was wrong. After 8 hours overnight in Exeter A&E, no one had any answers for me and so we got sent home. That was the first of many A&E and GP visits, where I was just trying to get some answers. After being told it was symptoms from a car crash I had earlier in the year, being told it was in my head, and being thoroughly dismissed I only got more frustrated and upset.

Two weeks after I had been to Exeter I had a 6-month travelling trip around South East Asia planned. I had been the previous year and had decided this time I wanted to go and find a job out there. Since being told my MG symptoms could’ve been from my car crash, I decided to get on the plane. I spent a very frustrating two weeks in Thailand, where more symptoms began. I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t walk up or down a hill like normal, or why I was struggling to lift my backpack onto my back. I started falling over on simple walks, so decided I needed to come home, my plans for the next 6 months diminished.

Eventually, after a few more appointments, phone calls and research, my wonderful GP thought it might be Mya, and she was the one who pushed for the tests to be done so I could get my diagnosis. After this, I was non-stop researching Mya, reading everything I could on it. Things seemed to move quite quickly, and I got referred to Southampton Hospital.

I feel as though over the past year I’ve had every treatment possible, whether it be hours in the hospital having PLEX (plasma exchange) or increasing my dosage of medication and starting steroids. The most intrusive treatment was my thymectomy at the end of 2025, spending Halloween in hospital upset I couldn’t dress up!

While my life has taken quite a change the past year, I’ve been grateful to learn a lot about myself and how tough I am. I’ve proven to myself I can still do the things I love, even if it takes a bit more effort, planning and a helping hand or two. I’m especially thankful for the people around me, who have been amazing at dealing with Mya and I, and always knowing how to make me laugh, even if it looks like I’m not sometimes.

Can you donate £20 towards our MAM 2026 Appeal?