Guillain–Barré Syndrome
The mind is perfect. Guillain–Barré doesn’t touch the mind. It traps the active mind in a broken body - gbsyndrome
image by: GBS / CIDP Foundation of Canada
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What It's Like to Get Temporarily Paralyzed
The electrocution test at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City is pretty much the worst. They take you down to the dungeon of the hospital with the evil scientist doctor to test to see how much nerve damage you have. The way they do this is by hooking you up to an electrocution table, and strapping your body in metal. Then the madman dips an electric prong in water, touches the device to various parts of your arms, legs, hands, and feet, and proceeds to turn up the juice to see if you can feel it. He starts real low, and then continues to up the voltage. One spot at a time.
It feels like I'm down there for hours, being electrocuted bit by bit, piece by piece, and the whole problem…
Resources
What to Know About Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Given the numbers we have so far, says Putrino, one’s risk of developing Guillain-Barre syndrome (or GBS) as a result of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine amounts to 100 in 12.8 million, or roughly 0.0008 percent. GBS can occur as the result of an extreme immune response, and in fact is a known potential side effect associated with other vaccines, including the flu shot, says Putrino. For that reason, it’s unsurprising that it’s been found to be a very rare side effect here, too.
A Solitary Confinement
Is one man’s attempt to chronicle the reality and the challenge presented to anyone unlucky enough to be struck down by Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
Does the flu vaccine cause Guillain-Barré syndrome or not?
So it appears that there is a small risk of GBS associated with flu vaccines. But, as flu researchers have been quick to point out, the risk associated with actually GETTING the flu is much higher.
Study Finds No Vaccine Link to Guillain-Barré
Concerns about a connection between flu vaccines and the neurological disorder Guillain-Barré syndrome have been widely publicized since a small but significant association was found after the 1976 swine flu epidemic.
Suddenly Paralyzed, 2 Men Struggle To Recover From Guillain-Barre
People who come down with Guillain-Barre typically have had some sort of illness a few days or weeks before, like the flu, says Dr. Ken Gorson, a neurologist at Tufts School of Medicine and St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston. He's on the medical advisory board of GBS/CIDP Foundation International, which is dedicated to Guillain-Barre syndrome.
The Woman With Creeping Paralysis
Dr. Jonathan Silbert, an ophthalmologist, thought she might have an unusual version of Guillain-Barré syndrome (G.B.S.) known as the Miller Fisher variant. Guillain-Barré is a disease of the nervous system characterized by a paralysis that starts at the feet and moves up. In Miller Fisher, the disease starts at the eyes and moves down. With either, the risk is that the paralysis will reach the chest and make breathing impossible.
Rare neurological disorder, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, linked to COVID-19
The majority of Guillain-Barre Syndrome patients improve within a few weeks and eventually can make a full recovery. However, some patients with Guillain-Barre Syndrome have lingering symptoms including weakness and abnormal sensations in arms and/or legs; rarely patients may be bedridden or disabled long-term.
What It's Like to Get Temporarily Paralyzed
Nothing is as important as the exquisite ability to stand on my own two feet, something most people take for granted. I know all about this entitlement because I once had it too.
GAIN
We are the Guillain-Barré & Associated Inflammatory Neuropathies (gain) charity. We support those affected by Guillain-Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) and other associated inflammatory neuropathies. We fund research into these devastating illnesses.
GBS Support Group
Our main function is to provide a contact point for newly diagnosed patients and to get information to a patient and his/her family as soon as possible after diagnosis. It is the initial stages of these illnesses that is the most frightening, and when a visit from a recovered patient and information about this illness with the weird name is most valued.
AboutGBS.com
This is my website with which I am going to post information about my life altering experience with the uncommon medical condition known as Guillain-Barre Syndrome (Ghee-yan Bah-ray). It is my goal to be able to provide hope and knowledge to those who are currently suffering or recovering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome and their friends and families.
GBS|CIDP Foundation International
The GBS|CIDP Foundation International is the preeminent global non-profit organization supporting individuals and their families affected by Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), and related syndromes such as multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) through a commitment to support, education, research, and advocacy.
Guillain - Barré Syndrome Survivors
I made this page for people to share their stories. The awareness and support has grown dramatically. Rally behind and spread it!
Guillain-Barré Syndrome
A family story about a hellish condition. There are many books and forums out there that tell the story of GBS experiences. This is a blog that tells our story, of our wife, mother and grandmother Getting Better Slowly.
My Experience with Guillain Barre Syndrome
An online scribble of thoughts after experiencing Guillain Barre Syndrome.
About Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Guillain-Barré syndrome includes several variants, the most common of which is a multifocal demyelinating disorder of the peripheral nerves referred to as an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP).
Curt's Guillain-Barre Blog
Traveling through the Mist.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome Association of NSW
To provide support to people impacted by GBS/CIDP and related disorders through: •Giving information and support to improve the quality of life of these persons via our website, newsletters, email and telephone contacts, meetings and hospital visits. •Promoting research that will lead to a cure for these disorders, including providing financial support when possible from donations to our organisation. •Fostering the development of new treatments and models of care with the medical community. •Promoting the formation of local area networks in regional and remote areas.
Living with Polyneuropathy
Support community for Polyneuropathy, CIDP, GBS and CMT
CDC
Many things can cause GBS; about two-thirds of people who develop GBS symptoms do so several days or weeks after they have been sick with diarrhea or a respiratory illness. Infection with the bacterium Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most common risk factors for GBS. People also can develop GBS after having the flu or other infections (such as cytomegalovirus and Epstein Barr virus). On very rare occasions, they may develop GBS in the days or weeks after getting a vaccination.
eMedicineHealth
This syndrome causes the destruction, removal, or loss of the myelin sheath of a nerve. Myelin is the substance of the cell membrane that coils to form the myelin sheath. The myelin sheath serves as an electrical insulator to nerve fibers. It is also known as a polyneuropathy, which is a disease that involves several nerves.
KidsHealth
Although no one knows what causes GBS, scientists do have some theories about the syndrome and why it surfaces in the body. For example, doctors report that more than half of all GBS cases seem to occur after a viral or bacterial infection like those that cause sore throats or diarrhea. Occasionally, minor surgery or something else might trigger the GBS symptoms.
MayoClinic
There's no known cure for Guillain-Barre syndrome, but several treatments can ease symptoms and reduce the duration of the illness. Most people recover from Guillain-Barre syndrome, though some may experience lingering effects from it, such as weakness, numbness or fatigue.
MedicineNet
It takes a celebrity to draw attention to illnesses that often fly under the radar. Such is the case of William "The Fridge" Perry, the Ex-Chicago Bear football player who came to national attention when the team won the Super Bowl with Perry as a defensive star. In 2008, Mr. Perry spent five months in the hospital because of Guillain-Barré syndrome and survived an illness that is a potential killer.
MIT
Cases of GBS are somewhat more common following gastrointestinal or respiratory viral infections. GBS afflicts its victims in several degrees. At first, victims notice and odd tingling sensation at their extremities. These symptoms can include (but are not limited to) "crawling skin," insensitivity to hot or cold, difficulty in distinguishing textures, blurred vision, difficulty moving face muscles, dizziness, palpitations (sensation of feeling heartbeat), difficulty beginning to urinate, incomplete bladder emptying, incontinence (leaking of urine), constipation, and muscle contractions.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Guillain-Barré syndrome can affect anybody. It can strike at any age and both sexes are equally prone to the disorder. The syndrome is rare, however, afflicting only about one person in 100,000. Usually Guillain-Barré occurs a few days or weeks after the patient has had symptoms of a respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infection.
NHS
The symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome usually develop two to four weeks after a minor infection, such as a cold, sore throat or gastroenteritis (an infection of the stomach and bowel). Symptoms often start in your feet and hands before spreading to your arms and then your legs.
Patient
About 75% of patients have a history of preceding infection, usually of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract. A large number of infections have been linked, including Campylobacter jejuni, Epstein Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, mycoplasma and human immunodeficiency virus. This association with preceding infection suggests that antibodies to the infectious organism also attack antigens in peripheral nerve tissue.
ShareCare
Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a rare condition in which your immune system attacks your nervous system. The first symptoms involve weakness and tingling in your legs. These symptoms can become so bad that you can't use your muscles at all. There is no known cure for GBS but there are therapies that can help you to recover and deal with any complications.
The Doctor's Doctor
This is an inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nerves and is characterized by the rapid onset of weakness with paralysis of the legs, arms, breathing muscles and face. In severe cases, patients may be paralyzed, necessitating ventilatory assist. Most people recover but the length of the illness is unpredictable and may last months.
GBS/CIDP Foundation of Canada
Our foundation continues its long history of connecting patients and their families with caring and dedicated volunteers who have been affected by GBS, CIDP, and variants, such as MMN. It is our hope that no patient or family will have to go through any of these disorders alone.
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