Important Dates in Time…

I was diagnosed in December of 1998, the call from the doctor came just before Christmas. At first I was told that I had GBS, then I became aware about six or seven months later that the neurologist kept referring to my syndrome as CIDP.

Another important date will be in early November, which will mark four years that I have been off all treatments for CIDP. I have shown no sign of progression or relapses.

8-28-1999 – just passed my 8th year & continue to improve. yesterday it was 110 degrees [set a record next town over] with hi humidity. it was the first time in 8 years i allowed myself to sweat. prior to that if i tried that much activity a setback was sure to come. woohoo! hang in there everyone. never give up. never give in. take care. be well.

gene gbs 8-99
in numbers there is strength

13 March 2004 I went into the hospital with GBS. – 22 August 2004 the Neurologist said it was CIDP – __June 2006 new Neuro says I really have residuals of GBS – __February current Neuro confirmed the DX of GBS residuals.

May 15 & August 3, 2005 are my dates to celebrate. I was diagnosed in May and released from the hospital with a walker in August. 100% paralysed and my family had been told I would be in the hospital a lot longer and go home in a wheelchair. I didn’t do any of that!

God Bless,
Tonya Correll

[COLOR=red]08-10-99 last day I walked! Woke up 09-24-99 paralyzed wonder what the h3ll?![/COLOR]

GBS started showing symptoms from 23rd of May 2005 and I was hospitalized from 27th of May till 9th June and from 10th June in rehab till 30th June 2005. Since then like GBS residuals become my life partners. In July, 2005 I got a new ‘GBS family’ for sharing the sentiments.

Whenever I feel something wrong is happening in my body, I rush to this site and look up in various threads if somebody also feels the same. This site and its threads never disappoint me. I get the answers and thereby save my precious time & energy and of course, money too. I now know something happens daily for the time being and it vanishes after some time.

In January 2005, my friend finally got me to go to the doc. Took her 3 years, but she never gave up. My hands were in horrible pain and felt like a ton of bricks were hanging off my forearms, reducing me to tears almost daily.

The doc ran tests, then suggested an MRI. To rule out MS. I asked for a neuro consult first. After I saw the neuro, he set me up for nc/emg, more labs, MRI, and lumbar puncture. nc/emg showed demylenation, lumbar puncture showed elevated protein in fluid. Labs- some good, some not so good.

My symptoms started about 5 years prior to this, but didn’t think it was anything, I suffer from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and thought the symptoms were from that.

In August 2005, the neuro gave me the diagnosis of CIDP.

I have had IVIg, Steroids and am currently having 6 plasma exchanges per month.

My nc/emg, new one, showed improvement, but recently, I am really feeling like it has kicked up into high gear. I have never felt improvement and appear to continue to decline. I use a walker (rollator) to get around.

My 1st GBS anniversary is Oct. 25, 2003 and my 2nd is June 2, 2005 so it’s been almost 4 years since the 1st episode!

Great idea Cheryl, maybe I should add the dates as annual events to my Outlook calendar. Then post it on the forum as bizzare holidays every year.:D

Here they are:

[INDENT][B]March 2001[/B]: noticed slight numbness in toes while in Peace Corps in Thailand
[B]September 3, 2004[/B]: Watana Navagharen MD, a Thai neurologist in Chiangmai, diagnosed Parkinson’s. MRI showed nothing.
[B]August 11, 2005[/B]: Dr. Quan, a Chinese neurologist in Denver, made first correct diagnosis: CIDP with antiMAG IgM
[B]August 6, 2007[/B]: Dr. Romero, an Italian oncologist in Ft. Collins, changed the diagnosis to paraproteinemia to get approval for Rituxan.
[B]???[/B]: first infusion with Rituxan or denial.[/INDENT]