Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsD
GB is an autoimmune process... and some people can have a slower variant of it.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3152164/
Because it is uncommon, many physicians never see it and miss the diagnosis until the patient is in big trouble breathing.
My friend had plasmapheresis because IVIG was not available back then. She was hospitalized for 2-3 weeks and had PT for 3 months. She had just finished chemo and surgery for breast cancer, and about 2 months while recovering got a virus. She was in her early 40's then. I watched with horror as she became weaker and weaker and I called her husband who was in Wash.DC and he rushed home and took over-- deciding to put her in the hospital.
If they don't put you in the hospital, I'd try to elevate your head/chest off the bed so you can breathe more easily. |
Thanks Mrs D - I have had my head elevated for over a week now to calm the coughing down but unfortunately this seems to have given me a really painful neck - muscle thing now so am back on the flat. I showed my husband a GBS info page just in case I really do stop functioning or breathing. He agreed that it does sound very similar to my symptoms but also that I'm only a week over flu now where it says 3 weeks and that my symptoms aren't really getting worse - I'm not paralysed - just not getting any better yet either. Can only give them the info really. Also GP did diagnose a chest infection so could just be this making me breathe very rapidly. I can slow my breathing down when I'm awake and focused - it's just when I'm sleeping I can't if that makes sense? Very dizzy too but again they will say this is lack of food. My appetite returned briefly today and I managed a poached egg and tiny slices of toast with enjoyment. Unfortunately the intense nausea has come back now though.