Mine is not a long story but I really need help looking for answers to many questions in my head. But first, an introduction.

I'm a 21 year old girl from the Philippines. My mother, aged 50 years old is a health conscious woman. Eats healthy and does her exercise regimen. She looks well for someone her age, but this is not the case for her health.

For half a year last year she's been having tingling sensations first in her fingertips, then progressed to her toes. Then after that she had numbness in the areas and now its reaches her fingers. She has also been feeling easily exhausted and tired and get's injured easily.

She consulted 6 doctors (homeopathy, endocrine, neuro) and was recently diagnosed. One said she has Guillain Barre Syndrome and another one, where she had lab tests said she has Polyneuropathy. Her lab tests also said she had severe demyelination. Were confused of this. Are they occurring at the same time? We don't have medical background and I really wish to help my mother recover from this.

There are neurospecialists here but the payment is extremely expensive and we don't know how to start asking the right questions. We don't want to waste money jumping from one diagnosis to another (as the case is usually). We try to search over the internet but come up with our hands empty.

Any kind of help will be most appreciated. Thank you!

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

In this country GBS is typically diagnosed as a form of neuropathy. It is a fast progressing thing, that involves motor function as well as sensory. It is now treated aggressively with IVIG. It can follow a viral infection or vaccine. But is considered a severe allergic response to something.

Polyneuropathies can be just sensory (numbness/tingling) or mixed with some motor (movement problems).

Severe demyelination shows up on some nerve testing whereas only sensory types don't show changes in conduction that dramatically if at all.

Average neuropathies can come from many causes, usually something in the environment (toxins, drugs, vaccines) or metabolic (hypothyroid and diabetes), or genetic running in families called CMT, or nutritional (low B12 levels or other nutrient deficiencies).

We have alot of information gathered about testing, using nutrients, and other treatments here at our PN forum:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum20.html

Knowing that there is treatment for a disorder/illness like this gives us some sort of relief. Mom used to have thyroid issues, although she did get treated for that years ago. She also took B12 supplements. Does chronic/ severe demyelination mean it's hard to treat? Thank you for your reply mrsD!

Welcome to NT!

I'm SO glad you found us! You'll be amazed at how much information and support there is over at the Peripheral Neuropathy forum. MrsD gave you the shortcut link.
My thyroid issue was directly related to the PN. You'll gain alot of knowledge on how this condition manifests and treatments that are available.

I'm sorry your mother is battling this. It is certainly a frustrating thing to have to contend with. Please let your mom know she is not alone.

It's great to have you!

Caring,
Rae

csanders12,

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Happy to see you have come to be with us. Just let us know if we can be of any help.

There are great number and caring fellow members here, you will see we are supportive and relaxing place. Our shoulders are here for support in many ways.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene

Thank you very much Rae! I'm so glad to have found this site! It's been such a blessing to find people who care.