21.   The Queens doctor told them that she had two elderly patients showing unusual forms of muscle weakness and disorientation.

22.   Then her weight plummeted to seven pounds less than before she was pregnant, and she developed heart palpitations, insomnia, muscle weakness and protruding eyes.

23.   Over time, that damage builds up to cause muscle weakness or paralysis, fatigue, dim or blurred vision, memory loss and other cognitive problems.

24.   Other symptoms include tingling limbs, burning or tingling mouth or tongue, muscle weakness and stomach problems.

25.   A severe case may bring high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, muscle weakness, paralysis and in rare cases, death.

26.   Advanced symptoms include a shuffling gait, speech difficulties and muscle weakness.

27.   Diagnosis is difficult, because initial symptoms, such as numbness, muscle weakness or visual disturbances are temporary and can have other causes.

28.   Lessard said the muscle weakness was the major problem.

29.   Other symptoms range from overwhelming fatigue and muscle weakness to joint pain, intolerance to cold and trouble swallowing, breathing and sleeping.

30.   Prosperi suffers from myasthenia gravis, an illness that causes extreme muscle weakness.