Please Get All Tests For Gbs

    • Anonymous
      December 10, 2006 at 2:31 pm

      hELLO EVERYONE,
      I was diagnosed with GBS on November 4th 2006. Had 3 neurologists confer and confirm I had GBs. I received IVIG and for 2 weeks my systoms started to reverse. My systoms were difficulty walking, hands tinkling, and tired arms and legs, drop foot, poor reflexs, difficulty chewing and swallowing, difference in eye coronas, one up one down, dizziness, constapation and loss of nerve feelings in bowels, loss of weight because of chewing and swallowing.

      I did not get an MRI, or Lumbar puncture, although my doctors recommended it to me. After 3 weeks my systoms began to reoccur and get worse.
      Went back to my doctors and asked for additional IVIG. Doctor said it would probably not do much good. But aggreed Back in hospital for treatments.
      While there my doctor suggested a Cat Scan of body. I have an annursim of my abdominal aorta. He said we make sure it has not grown larger. also the cat scan included my upper chest.

      Well, with the cat scan we found a very large tumor of the thorax. Not in the lungs but in the center of chest. Putting pressure on my lungs, larnx, and aorta.
      After a biops it was found to be soft cell cancer, but could not be operated on as it was to involved with other organs. I was given emergency radation, 8 double doses, to releave the pressures, which it did.
      The doctors grew a culture to get the exact type of cancer. It took 7 days and they found out the exact type of cancer, oat cell, or soft cell and type of chemo to treat me with.
      I was told I would have chemo for 6 months, 3 days of IV and 3 weeks off, repeated for 6 months,will be finished in April, at which time if successful, the tumor will be gone.
      After which time they will give me 85% survival for 3 to 5 years of life with regular checkups.
      My point is this, I was given exrays, ekg, MRI body, MRI brain, Nuclear bone scan, extensive blood work, tests of lymth nodes, plasma wash with artifical plasma, they found no other cancer in my body, and 21/2 weeks in clinic.
      My nerologist in clinic told me the tumor was emitiing toxins which affected the nerves which in turn made my systoms appear as GBS.
      I had from start to finish, including surgery for bioops, 9 doctors, 6 of them specialists, and I credit all of them with saving my life.

      The total cost for the orginal GBS treatments 14,000 dollars.
      The total cost for the treatments and chemo as explained above
      48,000 dollars. I had no insurance.
      Where was this treatment IN CARACAS VENEZUELA.
      From diagnoses on Nov 6th until Nov 24th all of the above took place.

      Please make sure you get as many tests conducted and as quickly as possible before the Doctors decide it is GBS.
      It may be the difference between life and death.:D

    • Anonymous
      December 10, 2006 at 4:02 pm

      Jersey Jim,

      I’m so sorry about the ordeal you had to go through and how frightening everything must be for you. Thank God it was only a matter of weeks and not months or years for them to realize what you had. Best wishes to you as you go through chemo and begin to recover. I’ll keep you in my prayers.

      As for the medical bills, it might not hurt to contact the billing department at the hospital and find out if they have a charity assistance program to help cover the cost. They may have you send in copies of your recent bank statements and a letter explaining why you need assistance, but it’s definitely worth the time and effort it takes to get those things together.

      Good luck!

      Shannon

    • Anonymous
      December 10, 2006 at 10:50 pm

      JJ, You are in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep us updated on your progress. Good Luck and keep a positive attitude!:)

    • Anonymous
      December 13, 2006 at 10:22 am

      just testing

    • Anonymous
      December 15, 2006 at 8:45 am

      Hello and thank you for your prayers and thoughts.

      I posted the article to make everyone at least aware of some other villians hiding in our bodies. I do not wish either cancer or any form of GBS on anyone young or old.
      I have very fortunate in a quick dx. and quick response from some of the best caring doctors I have ever incountered. They literally saved my life.
      I hope to write and article about Gbs syndrome, its diagnose and also the tumor, and the mimicing of sytoms.
      Also how there is a vast difference in response between here in Venezuela and the U.S.
      I see this as my daughters mother is going through cancer and we have seen the difference between insurance and no insurance and the problems getting rapid treatment for either. $$ and approvals.
      Again thank you for your prayers,
      I am American living here on retirment.
      Jersey Jim

    • Anonymous
      December 20, 2006 at 1:10 pm

      To add to this, I was watching a show on Discovery Health and they had a guy who had symtoms that sounded like GBS and he died and on his death certificate they wrote that cause of death was GBS. A friend of his was hospitalized a year or so later with GBS like symptoms but they checked for arsenic and it turned out to be arsenic poisining. They exhumed the body of his friend and found out he didnt die of GBS but he had arsenic poisning and wasnt treated for that.

      Now I understand why I was tested for arsenic and various metal poisonings but just another thing that may have been missed in some people if they didnt have thorough testing.

    • Anonymous
      December 20, 2006 at 2:27 pm

      Jersey Jim you are in my thoughts and prayers.

      Jerimy