Living with Guillain-Barre Syndrome

In late October 2008 I had the worse intestinal virus ever! I thought I had never been so sick in my whole life. I returned to work Halloween afternoon, but my feet were tingling and before my shift was over, my feet were numb and the tingling had climbed up my legs. November 1, 2008 it took me 20 minutes to get out of bed. I struggled to get downstairs and should have gone immediately to the ER but thought I was still weak from my bout with the intestinal virus. As the day progressed, the tingling sensation was up around my waist and I couldn’t feel my lips. I called my Mom and she took me to the ER. The ER doctor insisted that it HAD to be potassium defiecency, even though my blood work was fine. I finally had an MRI and it was decided that GBS was the diagnosis.

Later that evening I was transferred to Alleghany General Hospital in Pittsburgh. At that time I was having difficulty breathing, talking and had never been so scared in all my life. I had a respirater, a feeding tube and was totally paralized for 9 days. I found out later that the GBS was very aggressive and the staff were surprised I survived. I spent 35 days in the NICU, then was transferred to Healthsouth Harmarville for rehab. At that time I couldn’t sit on my own and when I did sit up with assistance, I felt like an egg. At rehab the staff helped me heal more, taught me how to walk, talk and think again. I am still having balance issues, breathing problems and will probably never be the me I once was. But, I will be better than before: I have more patience, I enjoy life far more than I ever thought I could again and with the help of God, my family, friends, and strangers I will keep getting stronger. I still have PT Mon-Fri, to work on my balance and strength.