What is a common symptom of myasthenia gravis that could occur after surgery?

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by weakness in the skeletal muscles, which are responsible for voluntary movement. One of the hallmark symptoms of this condition is fluctuating muscle weakness that can affect various muscle groups, including those involved in speech. Difficulty in speech, also known as dysarthria, can arise due to weakness in the muscles that control the movement of the mouth and throat.

After surgery, patients with myasthenia gravis may experience exacerbation of their symptoms due to various factors such as stress, postoperative medication effects, or reduced activity. Since speech requires coordination of multiple muscle groups, any weakness in these muscles may lead to noticeable difficulty in articulation or speaking clearly.

The other symptoms listed in the options, while potentially concerning in different contexts, are not typically associated specifically with myasthenia gravis in the postoperative setting. For instance, blurry vision may occur as a symptom due to ocular muscle involvement but is not as directly indicative of the condition’s characteristic fluctuation of weakness affecting speech. Severe headache and bowel obstruction are conditions that can arise due to many different causes and are not specific indicators of myasthenia gravis.