In My Experience - Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)

Affecting just 1 or 2 out of a 100,000 people, Guillain-Barre Syndrome is very rare autoimmune disorder that attacks the peripheral nervous system. With this disorder, one's immune system attacks the nerves that carries signals between their body and their brain. GBS can cause pain, weakness of the muscles and even temporary paralysis.

The cause of this disorder is not known but it is speculated that the disorder most often occurs after an immunization, trauma, surgery or viral infection. There is also no known cure for GBS but there are treatments that can ease symptoms and shorten the duration of the illness.

There are six types of GBS but the most common form causes ascending paralysis - that is paralysis beginning in the legs and moving upwards. Commons symptoms may include problems walking, lack of feeling or tingling in fingers and toes, breathing difficulty, muscle weakness/pain and numbness. Symptoms manifest and progress over a period of time - in as little as 2 hours or as much as three weeks.

Most patients recover completely but some may continue to experience weakness, numbness and pain. There are few patients who are unable to return to their normal lifestyle and even fewer who die from GBS. A relapse of Guillain-Barre Syndrome is very rare.

I had my experience with this disorder at 8. I remember being at my aunt's house, playing monopoly with my siblings and cousin, and not being able to move my legs. Of course, I was very freaked out by this sudden leg paralysis and I went into a full blown panic attack. Within minutes, my elbows locked up and I couldn't move my arms. It took less than 3 hours for me to be paralyzed from my neck down. By that time I was already in the hospital and hooked up to an IV and respirator because I was having trouble breathing.

I was hospitalized for about a week but I don't remember much about being there because I was under strong pain medications. The illness came on suddenly and seemed to leave suddenly.

The doctors were stomped and diagnosed me as having Juvenile Rheumatoid

Arthritis. I was prescribed medication which I took for over 3 years. I visited my doctor every month for years so that he could monitor me as I was growing.

After my bout with the illness, I was very weak and always short of breathe so I did not participate in a lot of activities that required me to move/run a lot. Up to this day I still have shortness of breath and weakness in my muscles/joints.

When I moved to the United States, I remember telling my doctor that I had Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis and being told that there was no such thing as Rheumatoid Arthritis in children but she wasn't able to tell me a name for the illness I had suffered. I read up on many diseases and wasn't able to find a name for the illness until I visited a neurologist about a totally different issue. I was very relieved to have a name to the illness and read as much information as I could find about it because I was very scared that this illness would strike me again.

It's amazing how knowing this name has saved me from a lot of heartache because in 2007 I wasn't able to receive an epidural as it would have caused permanent paralysis. If it was believed that I had Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, I would have received an epidural and I wouldn't be writing this article today. I thank God that I was saved from total paralysis and am able to be an active mother in my daughter's life.

Sources:

http://www.gbs-cidp.org/aboutgbs.htmhttp://www.neurologychannel.com/guillain/prognosis.shtmlhttp://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/gbs/gbs.htm