Since my mam took ill i have tried to read what I can about Guillain Barre, I have shared this with my dad who was very interested to learn, we have spoken to other people who have had this or family/friends etc but tonight whilst watching ITV News there was a chap on who was supposed to be a specialist in this area, he said something that confused me. He said that Guillain Barre starts when an individual contracts food poisoning, I have never heard this before, neither have I heard that it is hereditary. Has anyone else heard this? Is this a new finding? I like to look for answers to be able to share them with my mam.
Hello, my daughter's severest case of GBS was directly caused by gastro enteritis from campylobacter virus. It commenced around 2nd week January and she's still in rehab unable to use her hands or legs.
Could you give me the name of the programme, I missed this item.
Hello, thanks for replying. I’m sorry to hear that GBS has invaded your life, its one of those things that bot many people know about so I appreciate you sharing your story with me. I’m in the UK and it was a clip on the ITV Tyne Tees News from 9.9.2015 they were interviewing a young lady who had been doing fundraising for her father and they brought this chap on who claimed it starts off through a form of food poisoning. I hope your able to watch this, it should be available on the IVT iPlayer.
I don't know any studies that say GBS is genetic/hereditary, but I know a man whose uncle and nephew both got GBS within a few years of one another. Both were mild cases, and the individuals recovered quickly and completely. This was the only time I've heard of this.
Food poison (causing an intestinal infection) is one way of contracting GBS. I contracted my GBS from the flu shot. I did read somewhere that it could be hereditary and it was recommended to me by one of many attending physicians that my son not get the flu shot because of what happened to me. Also, my sister has Epstein-Barre, which is a risk factor for GBS. At the very least, this is something for you to consider. I hope your mom is doing well. Every case is different and even with my quick “revovery”, it’s a very frustrating process to go through. Good Luck.
I have never heard this before either. I got GBS after having an upper respiratory infection. The first therapist that I saw asked me had I recently had a Flu Shot? I had not, but will never have another one. The first one that I ever had in the 1970's put me in the hospital for a week. Like others have said, seems every case is somewhat different and it it a nasty condition to have. It has been 3 years since I was diagnosed and I still do and probably will always have residual side effects. Hope your Mom does well. It is a slow process. Don't rush it. Slow and easy is the way.
There isn't any proof that GBS is hereditary, but infections are a trigger. My uncle had GBS 30 years ago, and both my youngest brother and I had Rheumatic Fever when we were young - but many years apart. Both illnesses affecting family members are co-incidental.
Hello xtine. I was in the same boat in 2013/2014. Recovery is slow but also exponential. I can use my hands a little bit now and can also walk very short distances with a rollator. What your daughter MUST do is continue sending messages from her brain to her fingers, toes, shoulders, arms, legs, neck. Even though there may not be a response for weeks, eventually there'll be flickers that she can build on. Recovery from GBS requires patience (of which I have always been in short supply!) and perseverance.
xtine said:
Hello, my daughter's severest case of GBS was directly caused by gastro enteritis from campylobacter virus. It commenced around 2nd week January and she's still in rehab unable to use her hands or legs.
Could you give me the name of the programme, I missed this item.
I think you will hear all kinds of things about how you can get gbs. I don’t believe it is heredity. I have heard about eating bad chicken. I got it after an upper respiratory infection and extreme stress when I lost a parent suddenly. My mom had died and I flew to her funeral. When I went to my mom’s house I found papers that my jealous sister had been sabotaging my relationship relationship with my parents for over 15 years. I believe that situation, stress, and getting sick caused my gbs. Learn to trust yourself and what you believe to be true.
How severe was your initial bout? I also got GBS from an upper respiratory infection, 3 months ago. I felt great after ivig treatments, but then started physical therapy & feel horrible again. I thought I would be "cured" after about 6 months.
deltarat said:
I have never heard this before either. I got GBS after having an upper respiratory infection. The first therapist that I saw asked me had I recently had a Flu Shot? I had not, but will never have another one. The first one that I ever had in the 1970's put me in the hospital for a week. Like others have said, seems every case is somewhat different and it it a nasty condition to have. It has been 3 years since I was diagnosed and I still do and probably will always have residual side effects. Hope your Mom does well. It is a slow process. Don't rush it. Slow and easy is the way.
In my case it was a flu vaccination in my upper arm. Immediate effects were flu like sickness. Then respiratory ailments, wheezing, restricted airway. And oddly fainting spells that could occur at any time ie.) once when standing on a stepstool, once in shower, once at work, once while in the bathroom. Each time I woke up on the floor minutes to hours later sore or with injuries like a cut on the head. After several trips to Dr. and not figuring out what was wrong with me, one night while getting out of bed my knees buckled under me and I couldn't stand. Rushed to ER where creeping paralysis moved slowly up my body, then I blacked out. Unconscious I was in a coma 3 weeks, Dr's figured out it was GBS. I woke up paralyzed completely where I stayed that way for 18 months needing full life support. After years of sub-acute and nursing home care I went home but still can't walk or stand, seems I'm in a wheelchair for life. Some of us never recover the ability to walk or stand but it's difficult for me to find anyone with a case as bad as mine. Booo. :-(