Asking for good thoughts & vibes

**JustJoy** · 03-10-2007, 07:03 AM

Not for me, but for my nephews wife. I found out 6 days ago that she is going through her 2nd bout of Guillain-Barré Syndrome. She is such a beautiful, sweet, caring woman in her early 30's with a 2 year old son. She has been in ICU for the past 6 days on a ventilator (as she is having a hard time breathing). She is in good spirits and such a trooper. She recovered well from the last bout (but does have some facial paralysis). We are hoping and praying this time will be the same. The first 4 weeks are the worst.

Here is a little background on the syndrome. If you would..... please keep her in your thoughts.

Guillain-Barré (Ghee-yan Bah-ray) Syndrome, also called acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and Landry's ascending paralysis, is an inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nerves those outside the brain and spinal cord. It is characterized by the rapid onset of weakness and, often, paralysis of the legs, arms, breathing muscles and face. GBS is the most common cause of rapidly acquired paralysis in the United States today, affecting one to two people in every 100,000.

It typically begins with weakness and/or abnormal sensations of the legs and arms. It can also affect muscles of the chest, face and eyes. Although many cases are mild, some patients are virtually paralyzed. Breathing muscles may be so weakened that a machine is required to keep the patient alive. Many patients require an intensive care unit during the early course of their illness, especially if support of breathing with a machine is required. Although most people recover, the length of the illness is unpredictable and often months of hospital care are required. The majority of patients eventually return to a normal or near normal lifestyle, but many endure a protracted recovery and some remain wheelchair-bound indefinitely.