Shortness of breath I mo after IVIG

I hope that you were able to figure this out. I haven’t heard of IVIG causing breathing problems, but CIDP/GBS can. For me, my breathing is sometimes affected, but more of a sensation of lack of breath vs. actual lack of breath (pulsox is usually in normal range). I would call your neuro of there is no response to email. Do you have any future IVIG treatments scheduled after the 5-day loading dose? If you’re having trouble breathing and neuro (or PCP) won’t respond, I’d go to ER.

Diagnosis of neuropathies is often difficult. Will you stick with the 2nd neurologist for now?

What’s the phrase I’m looking for? I like GH’s reply, it is concise, succinct and meaningful.

I’m feeling like chatty cathy right now.

Do you have any information on what basis the 2nd neuro made the diagnosis? For example, according to the literature did you have an MRI showing lesions in the spinal cord? In some people a Lumbar Puncture (LP) will have both elevated protein and elevated white blood cells. Sometimes a blood test looking for other diseases and the presence of certain autoantibodies is sampled.

In any event, apparently, the treatment for Transverse mhyelitis and CIDP/GBS are all similar. Specifically, Intravenous corticosteroid drugs, Plasma exchange therapy, Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), Pain medicines. Differing treatments include anti-virals.

Further, it is unlikely that your description of left foot weakness, right foot weakness and left hand weakness matches the 1st neuro’s diagnosis of “bilateral axonal damage of only one nerve” because you’ve reported muscle weakness in these multiple limbs.

As B stated, generally shortness of breath is not a side effect of IVIG. And as B and GH asked- what is your follow up plan?

One 5 day set of treatment is not likely to be productive in the long term for either condition.

I never had the IVIG thing but I had shortness of breath during the GBS attack and after mostly when in a crowd or when a friend was asking me multiple questions for example. Like being severely over whelmed.
I still don’t have full lung strength and I now think it’s another symptom of GBS now that I have the diagnosis a year after it happened because I have read in many sites that some people had to have breathing support during the attack and even others who were in a coma or were put into an induced coma. Turns out this syndrome can hit anyone at any level and I kinda feel lucky it didn’t stop my breathing or affect my head.
I’m tired of trying to recover because a year later I’m still trying to walk the length of a Half block. Not near that yet, my lungs get too tired first and then I feel weaker and as if I could just collapse. Must keep on tho even tho my PT is a nasty old thing with no compassion. She just thinks I shoulda ran a mile way back. She makes my lungs get tight just thinking about her before I go in. I’m hoping soon my lungs recover so I can do a block and at least make it to 7-11 some day, just to be able to do it. Ya,,, haha 7-11 is my goal and has been for a year now. I’ll get there.

Responding to Terry S. I am 14 months in recovery, and my goal is just to be able to drive my truck again. What stops me, is my concern about my general energy level and how far can I walk without getting overwhelmed with foot nerve pain. I was forced to do some back yard weed wacking for my little dogs. I worked for about a 1/2 hour till I was totally exhausted. I was down to just 2 – 25 mil. Lyrica’s a day. The next day my foot pain was so severe I went back up to 150 mil. of Lyrica and even that did not work. This pain has lasted 4 days now. I was wondering if I should “get back on the horse” (former marine) and try it again in a few days, or just stick with the basic treadmill exercising I have been doing for about 6 weeks without any major pain? Its a waste of time talking to a doctor about it, they are clueless.