Botox and GBS

    • Anonymous
      October 1, 2007 at 9:58 pm

      Does anyone know if Botox is contraindicated for women who have had GBS?

      I have searched the internet for any studies that may associate using Botox for cosmetic purposes with recurrances of GBS, and I can not find a thing. I would think if there were a connection, someone would publish something.

      My neurologist moved out of town, so he is not available to ask.

      I was 26 when I developed GBS. Now I’m 37 and wanting to shed a few wrinkles but not if there is any chance of getting GBS again.

    • Anonymous
      October 1, 2007 at 10:27 pm

      hi lrh & welcome,

      a very few neuros have given their gbs patients botox in relation to their illness, but i can’t remember any details. perhaps some will post here. with us gbsers one never knows what will trigger gbs. 1 pro sentence. 1 nay sentence. where do you live? i may be able to recommend a gbs neuro near you. i keep a list. take care. be well.

      gene gbs 8-99
      in numbers there is strength

    • Anonymous
      October 2, 2007 at 4:39 am

      I found this just doing a quick search in Google…

      [I][A case report of acute polyradiculoneuritis developing after multiple injections of botulinum toxin for cervical dystonia]

      Onoue H, Matsunobu A, Nagaishi A, Yukitake M, Kuroda Y.

      Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Neurology, Saga Medical School.

      A 68-year-old man receiving four times of injection of botulinum toxin type A for cervical dystonia developed acute polyradiculoneuritis 10 weeks after the final injection. He had been complaining of paresthesia in four limbs after the second injection of the treatment. On neurological examination, bilateral facial palsy, bulbar palsy, difficulty of breath, flaccid paralysis of all limbs, sensory disturbance of all modality and areflexia in all limbs, and positive Laseque sign were noted. Albuminocytological dissociation was present in the CSF and the conduction velocity was significantly impaired in all peripheral nerves examined. After receiving two times of intravenous highdose IgG and two times of pulse therapy, his neurological deficits gradually improved. To our knowledge, this is the third case report of acute polyradiculoneuropathy developing after botulinum toxin therapy, suggesting that botulinum toxin therapy is involved in the pathogenesis in our case.[/I]

      There were two articles/reports on similar phenomena and obviously you would be getting Botox for a different reason than these folks and therefore a different dosage/location of injection etc. Personally I would skip it, I just wouldn’t take the chance, however, I’ve had people tell me I look younger when my face is paralyzed so I can understand the appeal. I’d talk to your doctor about it, it’s certainly less invasive than traditional plastic surgery and may have no more risks than stubbing your toe.

    • Anonymous
      October 2, 2007 at 2:52 pm

      I think i’ll opt for the wrinkles!!!! :p

    • Anonymous
      October 2, 2007 at 3:26 pm

      If you have doubts and are afraid of getting gbs again-then why even take the chance or put the poison in your body just for vain purposes. If it were for life and death purposes then that would be different. Its not the way you look on the outside that really matters in life, its the way you treat yourself and others that makes you Beautiful. Just my opinion, and yes I am older than you(a smidge) and I have relapsing/remitting type of chronic gbs(acute onset), I wouldn’t change or chance it myself. Take care.

    • Anonymous
      October 2, 2007 at 4:51 pm

      LRH,
      WHen I got GBS for the first time, it was in 1986. I did not have any of the usual reasons for getting it, but stress. I was able to walk, but not well. I had a wholistic doctor that kept the symptoms down. Twenty years later I got it again in OCtober of 2006. It will be one year next week that I was at my worst. I had twenty years of healthy eating and no immunizations – not even a tetanus shot. Again I blame it on major stress. I did not think that I would ever get it again. So I would vote No on the Botox. I used to teach about Botulism in my science classes. This anaerobic bacteria prefer an environment with little oxygen – where they multiply and create the poison. It makes the glass jars of homemade canning explode in your basement. I would not get this injected so close to the brain. Instead I would read books such as The Wrinkle Cure by Dr. Perricone to learn how to prevent the wrinkles from the inside out. Swtiching to olive oil instead of those with Omega 6 fatty acids, not smoking or drinking, sutting out sugar. You are still young enough to prevent wrinkling. I wouldn’t take the chance of getting GBS again. There are so many different ways to get it – that is why it is a syndrome. Until they know for sure what causes it, I would be wary.

    • Anonymous
      October 2, 2007 at 10:41 pm

      Thank you all for your insights. The unanimous consensus is to pass on Botox. Why even take the chance, right?

      I guess I was hoping that there were many, many GBS patients that were successfully using Botox without relapse. I was also hoping that in the eleven years since I had GBS, there was better science that indicated the source of GBS.

      I know I am totally vain for even having considered Botox, but I have got to say, the stuff is amazing. I have several friends who have proven the point. I admit I’m envious. But on the other hand, I’m happy to be healthy – wrinkles and all.