gillian barre

I was reading a biography of Andy Griffith and found out that he suffered from a disease called gillian barre syndrome. I have never heard of this condition before and I am more than interested in finding out what it is. I understood that it is some king of strange condition but it apparently did not stop Andy from working. Is there anybody who could share their knowledge with me?

Hi there! I don’t know much about this disease but maybe what I know can help you understand at least something of it. I read about it recently in one of my know-all books. Nobody knows what triggers this disease. Mostly it affects people a few days or weeks after a respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infection, or following recent surgery. Some think it is a reaction from influenza vaccine. Guillain-Barre Syndrome is a neurological disorder in which the body's own immune system begins to attack the body itself, rather than it's normal enemy, foreign material and invading organisms. It targets the myelin sheath, which surrounds the axons of many peripheral nerves.
The syndrome is characterized by muscle weakness, paralysis of the limbs and breathing muscles, onset of the disorder is sudden and unexpected. Symptoms are progressive, increasing in intensity until certain muscles can't be used at all. Sometimes can a person become almost totally paralyzed. It can interfere with breathing, blood pressure and heart rate and becomes a medical emergency. However, most patients will recover from even the most severe cases, with perhaps a residual degree of weakness. There is no cure for GBS. There are several treatments available, but due to the nature of this disorder, these are highly individualized and closely monitored in hospital.

It been in my family now for 18+ years, My brother a fit healthy person one day just felt sick and started feeling pain in his lower legs, weakness in limbs and hard breathing, I thought it was the flue, but alas The Monster
Guillain-Barre invited inself into our family and we have never been the same.


When he was 18 he just fell over one day and then the journey started, Hydro therapy, Plasma, and lots of support and care, from a fit young man to a wheel chair bound person, learning to walk again and dealing with the change in lifes direction.

Mark ( my brother ) started to learn to walk again and could leave the wheelchair he had became a-customed too. now 18 years later the monster has returned, This time the monster has gone to his upper limbs and now his lung fluid is about 1.4 , The course of plasma has began again and the waiting has started.
waiting to see if the monster will let him live of take his life.

If you have this desease, Then remember one thing, you can fight it, you cant hide from it.

Look after your health beacuse the fist attack was a warning sign, keep healthy and eat right and hopefully medical science will work this one out.

Regards
jason.
Brother of mark.

Hi

I am a 47 yr old female and I was shocked to hear that your brother got Gillian Barre twice. I was told it was a one time thing. Can we talk through emails ? Mine is ********


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Sure can**************


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Yes, you can get this more than once, I am a 3 time surviver.

twinblond wrote:

Hi I am a 47 yr old female and I was shocked to hear that your brother got Gillian Barre twice. I was told it was a one time thing. Can we talk through emails ? Mine is ******** ***this post is edited by moderator *** *** private e-mails not allowed **

Hi,

I suffered from GBS when I was 7 years old. I am now 35 but the effects of this disease are still present. I still feel fatigued on occasions for no apparent reason. I recently was offered to take a flu vaccination but was told that this could lead to a reoccurrance of this disease. I was also not aware that you could get it more than once. Any thought on what effects a flu vaccination could cause.

Regards

Scot

My god.. all this time my family and friends have been reminding me of GBS and always get worried when i'm really sick with the flu. i always tell them not to fuss and that it won't come back... just like the doctors said. well they told me there's a good chance it doesn't come back... just like chicken pox. i'm amazed too to find out that people actually did get it back.
was it exactly the same? was it a lesser dose?

when i was 15 i had gillen barre syndrome it started with tingling feet and my face was kinda pulled to one side i had no energy my parents took me to the doctors at the emergency room they said i was faking it three days in a row then on the4th day i fell to the ground i was in the hospital for a month i lost all my nerves to my body i couldnt move it went from my feet to my face then my legs and arms i had to learn to walk all over again i was in a wheel chair for six months it was really scary i was the second one in New York state to have it im fine now im 33 i just can never give blood or have a flew shot at least thats what i was told they said i was real lucky because it could have left me paralized it was a really bad time

For sure this is a strange disease. I am currently being treated for gbs.
I feel very fortunate the 2nd neurologist spotted the signs and diagnosed me correctly.

my battle started almost 6 years ago (my current age is 55) after a virus i noticed i was extremely weak. went to doctor. doctor sent me to neurologist he was lost. i stopped seeing him after about 6 months.

i gradually got a little better but never regained all my stength. After a bout with another virus i lost most of my stength in my legs. went back to the doctor he did not have a clue after lots of tests. he sent me back to the neurologists. i told him not the same one he agreed.

the 2nd neuro knew his stuff he did a spinal tap (great fun) to confirm his dio. after that he had me take the immun-globin treatments. did 3 treatments in one year, about 3 months apart. i am now on a med called imuran. to suppress my imune system. it has seemed to help. i am gaining stength but very slowly. I have not had a treatment in almost a year.

by the way the neurologist told me this syndrome is either chronic or isolated. if isolated it will appear then be gone but if it is chronic it will or seems to appear over and over without the immunglobin treatments.

ok there you go for what ever it is worth. i hope this helps someone.

my wife and i prayed for a long time before we finally discover what the problem was.

this disease is very serious and can be fatal.

oh yes i almost forgot. if you have been diagnoised with gbs i strongly suggest you begin an exercise program and get on and stay on a healthy diet.

recovering

pops