I’m new!

I read some posts on this forum about a year ago, but then lost the website. Somehow I found it again last night!

I am about 18 months out from GBS. Mine began in Nov 05 after a flu shot and (in hindsight) about the same time as my 2nd knee replacement surgery. The first knee replacement was 2 months earlier. The day I came home from rehab for my new knee, the weakness became so pronounced I had to go back to the hospital. I was transferred to a regional medical center, received IVIG, spent 6 days in ICU for wildly fluctuating blood pressures–but no ventilator–and then spent 3-4 more weeks in another rehab learning how to walk, etc. again. I came home just before Christmas 2005–the best present! I was in a wheelchair but progressed to a walker over the next month and was able to drive again in about 6 more weeks. I went back to work part-time after about 5 months (I’m an RN with a desk job who had only “heard” of Guillian Barre before having it myself.) I was back to work full-time about 7 months after “it all” began although I’ve opted to get out of management due to the stress involved. I married off 2 children and became a grandmother for the first time during that 6 months too–thanks to a wonderful, supportive family–and the fact that those things were all planned before my GBS. I continue to improve. The fatigue continues to get better–meaning I have less of it, but the foot pain/numbness seems to be increasing–or maybe it’s just when I get too tired. It was great reading some of your comments about those things last night.

I’m so glad to have found this site again. Reading your experiences makes me realize everything I’ve gone through has been done before. Very comforting to know I’m not alone. Thanks to you all.