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November 2007
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| I was diagnosed with GBS (Guillain-Barre Syndrome)
in Feburary. I went to the ER five times until they found out
what was wrong. I spent four weeks in the hospital, and then 30
days in a nursing home. At the same time I was also a student
at the local college, and June 13th I received my college degree.
I had to use the walker for the processional, then a wheelchair
to get on the stage. After that I walked (not to well); however
I got my college degree with dignity and honor.
This is Kathy's success story.
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December 2007
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I was diagnosed with GBS (Guillain-Barre Syndrome) in 1981.
At the age of 9 years. I have dropfeet and still some other
weakness in both my legs. But the good news is I am a cyclist.
I make use of braces when I walk or cycle. I was in Athens in
2004 and I was in France this year for the world champs.Hopefully
I will see you in Beijing next year. So, the bottom line is,
you can overcome GBS!! Good luck with your recovery.
This is Susan van Staden Pox's success story.
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January 2008
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After 4 ER visits I was diagnosed with GBS. I was about to
celebrate my 40th Birthday with a new baby at home. I was an
Airline Pilot with the best airline and my life was so on track.
Once diagnosed, I was admitted into ICU very close to life-support
for about 2 weeks. I spent 3 additional months in the hospital
and walked around 5 months. Almost a year later, I returned
to work as an airline pilot as good as new. If you ever see
me piloting your BIRD so to speak, let me know, we have something
in common. Terry, Southwest Airlines
This is Terry's success story.
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February 2008
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I've never had more than
the sniffles until November 2007. Within weeks, I went from walking,
jogging, and living a healthy life to helpless in ICU as a result
of GBS. Initially, I experienced tingling in my toes and fingers
that spread upwards within a week. Then I began wobbling uncontrollably,
and lost the ability to climb the stairs to my bedroom. By the
end of the first week, I became weak, unable to write, or walk
without difficulty.I had tingling and numbness in both hands and
feet.
After describing my symptoms, I was diagnosed with GBS. I spent
1 week in ICU for administration of IVIG. I was devastated not
being able to walk, barely talk, and my independence quickly vanished.
I am a fighter, so I was determined to regain control and be self
sufficent again. It's been six weeks, and I am walking again with
a cane! I am still weak on one side, and experience pain and tingling,
but I am self sufficient, and am able to use a computer which
is very important being an IT professional. After receiving GBS/CIDP
information I have gained a better understanding of GBS. Thank
you, for the wealth of information! It made a big difference in
my life, and it helps me to know there is a branch in Chicago.
I haven't recovered 100%, but I do have hope, and that's all that
matters!
This is Ernestine's success story.
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March 2008
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Two and a half months after
giving birth to her first child, our daughter Brie, prepared to
return to work as a first grade teacher. Brie went to school for
two days before being rushed to the hospital ER, and placed in
the ICU unit after being diagnosed with GBS and essentially totally
paralyzed from head to toe. All of this took place in October
2007, where she "celebrated" her 28th birthday without
her little daughter, Kiera. While our whole extended family was
a quivering, freaked-out, distraught mess, Brie remained a tower
of strength and power that was amazing to all of us.
After leaving the ICU unit and spending a month in the rehabilitation
hospital, Brie showed determination and grit while undergoing
the hard work to learn to walk and hold Kiera again. The exceptional
care at the hospital, including correctly diagnosing and administering
treatment within the first couple of hours after entering the
emergency room was truly a huge factor in her speedy recovery
(after an equally speedy decline).
Now as Brie tells it: "It was the knowledge that was obtained
through the many people involved with the GBS/CIDP Foundation
that convinced her that her condition will be temporary, and better
days were ahead and the extreme desire to be back at home with
her "new" family (husband Brad and Kiera)."
Brie intends to go back to her first grade class on a part-time
basis shortly, and we cannot express our appreciation to the Foundation
for all the support that has been and continues to be provided.
This is Brie's success story.
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April 2008
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My story starts 34 years ago when I was 4 years old. My parents
went to bed for the evening and I awoke to the blazing sound of
Johnny Carson. Unable to move I some how mustered the strength
to call out to my parents. When they reached me I was completely
paralyzed, and they rushed me to the hospital. While there I went
through the worst time in my life, I went into cardiac arrest
3 times, my eyes crossed, and I had a feeding tube. After 3 months
in intensive care I went home unable to walk or crawl. After many
months of therapy I regained my mobility. At the age of 10 I had
surgery on my feet to put in bone blocks in to keep them from
rolling inward. Now that I am about to embark on my 40th birthday
I am a living testimony that there is life after GBS. As a result
of GBS I was left with drop-foot which does cause lots of pain
and discomfort but my life has been as normal as expected.
This is Shelly's success story.
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May 2008
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My first encounter with a relatively unknown illness, Guillain-Barre
Syndrome (GBS), occurred in 1962 at the age of 26. The chilling
part is that I experienced the very same trauma again in 2002 at
the age of 66. There is no known cause and very little treatment
for GBS. And while it is very rare to have this illness once, it
is even rarer to experience it twice. Each individual's experience
is different relative to onset and severity. For me, within 36 hours
it meant complete paralysis, breathing through a tracheotomy, unable
to speak or swallow and being fed through a feeding tube. Both times
I spent many days in the ICU and many hours being rehabilitated.
This is a harrowing time in one's life and you are left to wonder
more than once, "Why me??" The first time I was very busy with
3 small children, with 2 more to arrive later, so it was pretty
much life as usual upon recovering. But this last time, 40 years
later, there was a new wrinkle. My family found the GBS Foundation
headquartered in Pennsylvania and found a great deal of support
and information from that source. Now, six years down the road
from that second episode, I think I have found out "Why me??"
Four years ago I became the chapter liaison to the Foundation
for the East and South Bay areas of California. My "job" is to
respond to newly diagnosed patients in hospitals within this area,
hopefully providing encouragement, as well as information and
support to them and their families. I am told by my patients and
their families that there is no substitute for talking to someone
who has "been there, done that". And, when I am there with them,
I absolutely "know" I am in the right place.
This is Beverly's success story.
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June 2008
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I had GBS in 2000. It paralyzed me completely. I spent 8 months
in the hospital. I have excersied continually since. I only have
very limited movement and cannot walk. I use a power-chair. However
this past week I have regained usage of my left hand and arm. I
can write now, (I had to print), and my strenght is coming back
in the arm. I thought maybe this would help someone else to know
that some times the feeling and usage can come back. It has been
Eight years since I have closed my hand, made a fist or could write.
I was 72 years old when I was stricken and I am 80 now.
This is Billie's success story.
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July 2008
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I am a 64 year old Catholic Priest. In December 2, 2006, I woke
up with numbness on my fingertips. Not realizing or even bothering
about what it was, I continued with my pastoral duties as usual.
The following day, after a long busy Sunday schedule of Masses and
other church activities, I took a short afternoon nap and when I
woke up, the numbness had spread to my palms and soles. My primary
doctor initially thought it was just an allergic reaction to a new
medication that I was prescribed. But after three days he realized
it was something else and referred me to Neurologist. After
a series of tests, I was hospitalized since I could no longer
walk and had totally lost my sense of touch. My neurologist treated
me with "immunoglobulin" intravenouisly for five days, after which
I began to recover some movement with legs. My recovery has been
long and difficult. As a priest when I said Mass I needed a high
chair to seat on while I am at the altar, and another priest to
hold up the Sacred Host and Chalice during consecration. (For
quite a while I couldn't even hold a fork with my hands.) I had
to ultimately seek disability retirement from my pastoral duties
after one year because I had suffered 10% permanent nerve damage.
Now, after one year and a half, I am able to walk easily with
a cane; I can say mass by myself again - although I still need
one altar server to lean on in distributing Holy Communion. I
can drive by myself again and have fully adjusted to my life with
disability. I still have a slight numbness on my palms and soles,
but looking back to what I was in December 2006, I am very grateful
to Almighty God for giving this recovery and a continued opportunity
to be able to minister to others.
This is Father Arejola's success story.
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August 2008
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I came down with Guillain-Barre one year ago this month. Maybe I
was lucky. They caught it within five days. Still in that time I
went from being able to run a sub-6:00 minute mile to barely being
able to walk. I was hospitalized and used a cane for months afterward.
However in this one year I have regained my ability to bike, run,
cross-country ski and swim. In June I was able to hike to the bottom
of the Grand Canyon and back. I am 47. I still can’t run as
fast as I did, but I feel my speed is returning slowly. I plan to
enter a running race this summer and try Telemark skiing next winter.
This is Peter's success story.
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September 2008
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Three short years ago, on Memorial Day weekend, I, too, was sticken
with GBS. One day I bent over to pick something up and fell over,
thinking I lost my balance. This was a Wednesday. By Sunday, I was
totally paralized, in a coma-like state and got worse from there,
if you can imagine. I spent three weeks in intensive care and a
total of three and a half months in the hospital. I completely recovered
within that 3.5 months, thank the good Lord. I know many people
do not. Keep a positive attitude, and, of course, prayer was a big
part of my recovery. I was 86 then. I will be 90 in December.
This is Lucy's success story.
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October 2008
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I contracted GBS on 11th February 2005 when 47 years old. I stopped
breathing 36 hours after entering the hospital and then spent 8
weeks on a ventilator - completely paralyzed, except for movement
of my head. Three things kept me sane and drove my recovery: 1.
I told myself that I would never let GBS get me down. 2. I made
the clock in my hospital room my friend and not my enemy (every
minute gone is a minute closer to recovery). 3. I set myself a target
- it was to walk out of hospital unaided - and I used that to help
me battle through the daily pain and struggle. After 16 weeks of
treatment, I did it! Sports were and are my great passion. I was
an active marathon runner and tri-athlete before I was ill and desperately
wanted to start again. I started with short walks, and then progressed
to walking with trekking poles. I could stumble and jog 50metres
after 14months of recovery, this went up to 2km after 18 months
and I am now able to run 15km, as well as cycle 60km and swim 1500m.
I am not as strong and still have limited movement in my feet and
toes, as well as some paralysis in my face. But hey, I am alive!
GBS taught me that mental strength is the key. Focus on what you
can do and not what you used to be able to do. Finally, set yourself
a target. Yes, there will be ups and downs, but that target will
move you on and push you harder than you thought possible. You can
do it!
This is Martin's success story.
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November 2008
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I had just had a spinal fusion on my back done. The day I came home
from the hospital, my 5 year old daughter, Makyra, came down with
strep throat. My husband took her to the urgent care where they
put her on antibiotics. A few days later while I was at home recovering
from my surgery Makyra started complaining that her legs hurt. I
brushed it off and told her that she would be ok and that she was
probably just tired. She got increasingly fussier and the next day
she came home from summer school and my son DeAron(7 at the time)said
she had fallen off of the bus steps. I was a little concerned so
I had my husband take her back up to the children's hospital and
they diagnosed her with joint inflammation due to strep. They told
us to give her Ibuprofen and it should subside. Well, by the end
of the next day she was screaming constantly and stuck paralyzed
in a fetal position. I called my Mom (my husband was at work) to
come get her and take her back to the hospital. She did and the
next phone call I got (I could not hardly walk let alone drive)
was that they were taking her by ambulance to the downtown children's
hospital and it was not good. They were concerned about her breathing.
My mom followed the ambulance and later came and got me and took
me to the hospital to stay with her. Ten days later in the hospital
they decided it was Guillain-Barre Syndrome. The rehab was a lot
of work as we were rehabbing together but we got through it. She
had a lot of friends and family members praying for her and myself.
She recovered amazingly fast through intense therapy. She came home
having to relearn to walk, use the bathroom, use her hands, write,
eat, and all of the normal things we take for granted every day
but she did it and amazingly well! I am so proud of her. She is
a real trooper!
This is Candice's success story.
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| February 2009 |
I was diagnosed with GBS in October 2008. I am 26. I was admitted
to the hospital six days after my symptoms began and was treated
with plasmapheresis. Within two weeks I was completely paralyzed
from neck down, intabated, and then given a trech. Amazingly, I
was off the trech and transferred to rehab in three weeks! On the
first day of rehab I couldn't sit up on my own. My progress seemed
slow at first and I struggled with myself to push through the pain.
Then one day it was like I had an inner strength i never knew I
had. I would do an exercise for 10 minutes one day and would double
the time the next day. It became a game to me, it was fun to see
my family and therapists reactions!! This continued for the next
three weeks until one day, when I was doing a standing exercise
in the parallel bars and decided I would rather try to walk. I walked
20 feet! Everyone was crying because all of our hard work was paying
off! I am home and going to outpatient therapy 3 days a week. I
continue with support of my family, amazing therapists and doctors
to push myself everyday so that hopefully soon I will be able to
walk without a walker, drive my car, return to work, and be "normal"
again! Living with GBS has been one of the toughest experiences
of my life but I am very lucky to have met so many caring and supportive
people that are now lifelong friends!
This is Jennifer's success story |
| March 2009 |
I contracted Guillian Barre Syndrome on July 4th 2008. I woke up
that day feeling weak and confused. By the next morning I could
not walk down my stairs and later that day ended up in the hospital
paralyzed. The doctors told me I had GBS and that I may end up on
a respirator. After seeing my three children leave the hospital
that day I promised myself I would focus and use all of my mental
ability to control my breathing and exude positivity with every
breath I took. Well, I ended up not needing the respirator and got
out of the hospital two weeks before the doctors initially said
I would. Although I left the hospital with a walker and could not
step on my own, I promised myself I would walk sooner than I would
and would stay ahead of every timeline doctors game me. Well after
enduring the most painful three months of my life, I’m ahead
of schedule. And today I can not only walk full speed, but I can
pass a soccer ball and have baseball catch with my son. I am living
proof that if you stay positive and focus all of your energy and
determination, that pure will can prevail. I look forward to a full
recovery and plan on proving every doctor that tells me I can’t
do something wrong. To everyone in need, stay positive, be strong
and show the world what you are made of. Good luck to all.
This is Ted's success story. |
| April 2009 |
My son Tucker was diagnosed with GBS at 17 months old. He was in
the ICU within 5 days of symptoms and lost all mobility except moving
his fingers. Now, 10 months later, he is running, jumping, and playing
like a regular 2 year old. He still lacks any reflexes and will
need to get some hearing tests done, but otherwise he is flourishing.
During the Charlotte, NC walk-a-thon I brought his stroller for
his miracle mile but he refused to use it. We left it on the side
and he walked his whole mile only stopping to play with bugs! Tucker
is not only my little miracle but he is an inspiration to everyone
who meets him.
This is Jessica Beatty's success story |
| May 2009 |
In January 1992 I was hospitalized with Guillain-Barre Syndrome
and within days of hospitalization was totally paralyzed, unable
to move any part of my body and couldn’t even lift my head
off the pillow. I could only blink my eyes. I had been an all-state
track and cross country runner, as well as excelling in other sports.
I underwent several weeks of hospitalization, 13 plasmaphoresis
treatments, months of rehab, etc. In September 1993, I competed
in the Queen City Expo bodybuilding competition and placed 4th!
Over the years since, I have competed in half-iron man triathlons,
long-distance duathlons , ultra distance cycling, etc. and placed
in the top 3 in each and every race. For those currently dealing
with GBS, please hang in there and never give up.
This is Kim's success story
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| June 2009 |
Never take anything for granted, not even walking! My story starts
in September 2006. I had just had my first son and two weeks later,
I was having excoriating headaches with lower back pain. I was on
maternity leave from the AF, spending time with my newborn but all
I could do was concentrate on the incredible pain I was having.
Not long after the pain, the weakness started. I couldn’t
even carry my baby up the stairs. Each step felt harder every day,
trying to stand up from the couch while holding him was a challenge.
I went to the doctor and no one could figure out what was wrong
except on wonderful doctor who suggested GBS. Now I was overseas
at the time so no support from family besides my husband and not
even a month old baby. I was put in the Italian hospital for two
week with numerous tests and constantly in pain that had me in tears
all day and night. No pain meds! Every day, I was getting weaker,
from only having to hold on to handrails to having to have someone
walk me to a walker. They treated and released me. Only two days
later, I was back in pain and getting sick so I went to my doc on
base which they sent me to Germany. The care there was wonderful.
I was there another two weeks but my new established family was
not. But I was kept on morphine which greatly helped the pain and
doing physical therapy. So for the first 8 months of my child’s
life, I could do nothing but lay with him in bed especially since
that’s where I was all the time. So now, I am fully recovered
still in the military and doing everything I could do before.
This is Jammie Catoe's success story
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| July 2009 |
On December 7, 2005 I was diagnosed with GBS. I was quickly diagnosed
by my primary care physician even though he had only seen of it
before mine. That same night I was admitted to ICU where I remained
for two days being placed in the care of a Neurologist considered
the best in knowledge of GBS in my area. I was started on a treatment
of seven doses of IVIG but continued to get worse. I lost the ability
to walk and stand. I was put on a ventilator where I remained for
two months. At my worse I could open and close my eyes and move
my left wrist. My family put Christmas bells on my wrist so that
I could call a nurse if needed. My spinal tap indicated that I had
close to four times more protein in my CSF than most of the cases
my doctor had seen. To make matters worse, I developed a stage four
bed sore. As of January, 2009 I am a little over three years into
my recovery. I have never regained total feeling in my feet but
other than that God has allowed me to make the most outstanding
recovery. Physical therapy was the hardest thing that I had even
gone through. Now I am able to walk, continue to train in Tae Kwon
Do, drive, work and do just about everything that I could do before
I had GBS. God bless all of you who have gone or are going through
GBS. Maybe sometime in our life time we will see a cure. I hope
that my story can help someone in some way.
This is Michael D. Roach's success story
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| August 2009 |
Life was pretty normal until I was diagnosed with GBS in January
or 2005. I fell walking in our house and couldn’t get up as
I was too weak. My doctor was out of town but the doctor on call
diagnosed me with GBS. He told me that I needed to get to ICU as
I would need the help of a respirator. Within 48 hours I was on
a respirator. I soon was placed on a ventilator for 3 months, as
well as having a feeding tube and central line. I received two bags
of IVIG to help slow it down. It went from the bottom of my feet
to the top of my head, totally paralyzing me for 5 months. I spent
7 weeks in rehab, and 7 months out-patient therapy. The therapy
was grueling but it paid off as I am walking, driving, and doing
most everything that I used to do. This is with the help of a walking
stick as I have drop foot in both feet which hurt each day with
electrical shocks going through my toes and feet. I get tired easily
but continue to praise God for His healing in my body as I am a
walking miracle. As a Pastor I cannot tell you why some with GBS
are walking and others like my friend who had GBS in September of
2004 are not, but my trust continues to remain in God. I would encourage
those of you with GBS to keep a positive attitude and work hard
in therapy. It pays off!! God Bless.
This is Ron Sullivan's success story
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| September 2009 |
I was diagnosed with GBS on July 24, 1984. I was 21 years old,
active and about to start grad school. Within 48 hours, I was intubated,
and on a respirator within 72 hours. I had total paralysis and went
through two \"code blue\" episodes when my heart rate
dropped to almost a flat line during my 3 1/2 months in the hospital.
I was certain I would never live through this, much less recover.
I'd like for current patients and their families to know that I
was working by Christmas of 1984, regained my pre-GBS weight (had
gone from 180 lbs. to 130 lbs.) by March of 1985, and am currently
a happy, healthy 46 year old with 3 beautiful healthy children.
Post GBS, I have participated in charity running events, played
basketball in adult leagues, and enjoy a very active life again.
There is a brighter day ahead no matter what it may seem like now.
This is Scott Tarter's success story
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| October 2009 |
In 1982, I was a healthy 23 year old competitive figure skater
just in the beginning of a professional career. One morning, on
the way to the rink, I felt weak and sore all over my body. Thinking
I would feel better in the cold, I continued to the rink. By the
time I got there (20 minutes away) I had the most painful tingling
in my legs and my heart was pounding. Within 15 minutes the stabbing
pain traveled up my arms, back and entire upper body. By the time
an ambulance arrived, I was limp on the floor, screaming, in more
pain than I could even describe. When I arrived at the hospital
the entire right side of my face was paralyzed and I had no control
over my eyes or mouth. No amount of pain killers or morphine could
begin to relieve this kind of pain. Two days later, I was on a respirator
and all my organs were starting to show signs of distress. The doctors
were baffled. During the next two weeks I had 3 spinal taps, numerous
MRI's and more blood tests than I could imagine. I don't remember
much after the first 2 weeks. I do remember a tube being taken out
of my throat and being told a diagnosis. I was in the hospital for
2 months when the excruciating pain started to come back. Strangely
enough, it came back in the same order, my legs first, then my back
and upper body then my arms. I was told that my nerves are regenerating
and it would get better. I was back home in 2 1/2 months, 45 pounds
lighter and so weak that I had to be in a wheel chair. I refused
to let Guillain-Barr� get the best of me. I remember standing in
my ice skates, holding on to the barrier for dear life, walking
like a baby across the rink. I became obsessed with my recovery
and pushed myself day and night. 5 months after my diagnosis, I
was back to teaching ice skating. Now almost 30 years later, I still
have twitching on the right side of my face and right side gets
weak when I do to much with it. I believe that being a figure skater,
my body was strong enough to fight this horrible disease. But I
have to thank the doctors who would not give up on me. I am so glad
to read that thanks to all the research, GBS is more easily diagnosed
even though it is quite rare.
This is Amy Forman's success story
|
| November 2009 |
On June 6, 2009 (Saturday) I was diagnosed with GBS. I had been
feeling unusual for the prior week or so, with some tingling, numbness
and loss of balance, but the 24 hours before I went to the emergency
room was absolutely awful. I was paralyzed from the hips down, my
arms would not work correctly, and I was having difficulty breathing.
My face was even numb! I had felt so sick on Friday(the last day
of school) like I had been electrocuted, however, my 2 young boys
were moving up in grades (4th and 5th), and graduation, awards and
class parties kept me from the neurologist that day. As a teacher,
I had so many obligations! Being up all night in pain and an extreme
loss of functions/mobility, I had my boyfriend drive me to the ER.
The doctor did a lumbar puncture, an EMG and immediately established
the GBS diagnosis. I was put on the IVIG treatment immediately with
consult from a neurologist, which caused meningitis symptoms - so
I felt even worse. However, treatment was in motion and the alternative
of plasma exchange did not sound appealing. After another 4 treatments
of the IVIG, the doctors discussed going to rehabilitation to learn
to walk, OT, and basic daily functions - but I wanted to go home.
My family was so supportive, my church was holding me in their prayers,
and my little children saw their mom in a new light. I firmly believed
with my heart and soul I would walk out of that hospital. After
a week, I stood up (with my walker!) and was discharged home. Three
weeks of daily PT and lots of exercises to do on my own, I was on
my way to recovering to normal functions. I was given Lyrica as
a script, which I will have to take daily for a while, and I notice
an increase in symptoms if I miss a dose. Tingling in my finger
tips, and a heavy numb sensation in my feet still linger no matter
what I do, but that too will come to pass. It has been almost 3
months, and I keep up with walking, exercise, and stay on my healthy
diet - so I know that I will recover 100%. I was one of the lucky
ones, and know that many, many others suffer deeply with GBS for
long periods of time. I think my good physical health, and the quick
treatment of the IVIG and great medical care all contributed to
my recovery. My faith in the Lord and firm belief that I WOULD BE
OKAY was the strength I needed to get through this. Anyone who reads
this, please know that GBS is not forever, and your body will be
okay again. Sometimes even better than before, because of the new
awareness of the need for physical strength and internal health.
This is Katherine Power's success story
|
| December 2009 |
On January 14th, 2008 I was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre
syndrome. I had a severe case of polyradiculoneuropathy. It
all started with me feeling like crap, I went to the doctor to
see what was wrong with me and they told i just had a virus and
to come back the following Monday to see how I was doing. I didn't
quite make it all the way til Monday. I was going downhill extremely
fast, I felt weaker and weaker by the minute. The pain I went
through was unbearable, it was like nothing I had ever felt before.
The most accurate way to describe the pain is like someone is
peeling all your skin off layer by layer and then running over
you with and eighteen wheeler again and again. The night I got
to the emergency room my status was declining rapidly. If they
did not diagnose the problem any sooner I would have died because
I could no longer breath on my own. I went to Wayne Memorial Hospitals
emergency room to begin with, and by the next morning I was flown
to dukes intensive care unit. I spent 5 weeks there in PICU, for
2-3 weeks out of that stay I was completely unconscious and had
the most wild, intense, crazy visions you can possibly imagine.
The things that went on in my mind while I was unconscious were
indescribable. After I became conscious, it was a struggle to
rebuild everything that I lost. I had to learn how to talk, breathe,
swallow, etc. After my 5 week stay, I was sent to Pitt Memorial
Hospital in Greenville where i spent 16 long agonizing weeks recovering
from this disease. It was by far the hardest thing I have ever
had to go through in my life. It changed my entire outlook on
life, I am a different person than I used to be. The doctors told
my parents that I was most likely going to have to go home on
a ventilator and that I would be unable to stand alone after 6
months. On May 3, 2008 I walked out of Pitt with the aid of a
cane. It has been almost 2 years later and if you looked at me
you would have no idea that anything has ever happened to me.
I have people ask my about my traech scar and I tell them that
I was paralyzed and they are just confused because it doesn't
look like I have been through anything like that. I am blessed,
and extremely thankful to be here on this earth. Every day I thank
God for allowing me to stay here, and I never take the small things
for granted in the world that go unlooked all the time. It was
hard having a positive outlook on things while I was sick but
I managed to pull through and make it. I had to dig deep and really
fight for my recovery. Guillain-Barre is a horrible thing to go
through but it is very possible to make a full recovery. I am
proof, miracles do happen.
This is Harris Brogden's success story |
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