[email protected]'s interview
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How did all start?
Either started by getting a tetanus vaccine or having gastroenteritis 2 weeks previous to having numbness & tingling in feet and legs. Then soon couldn’t bear weight on his legs. 12 hours later, couldn’t raise his arms.
Do you already have a diagnosis? How long did it take you to get it?
Yes, Guillain Barre’ Syndrome which took 24 hours.
For what medical specialties have you been treated? What has been the most useful specialty for your?
Guillain Barre’ Syndrome & diabetes. Neurologist
What has been the most useful thing for you so far?
Physical therapy.
What have been your biggest difficulties?
Learning to feed his self, learning to bathe himself and learning to walk again.
How has your social and family environment reacted? Have your social or family relationships changed?
Positive remarks of encouragement from family & friends. Social & family relationships have not changed.
What things have you stopped doing?
His job of being an over the road truck driver for 40 years.
What do you think about the future?
He stays very positive and makes plans for the future for traveling when I retire.
So far, which years have been the best years in your life? What have you done during them?
No sure.
What would you like to do if you didn’t have your condition?
He would’ve loved to continue working at his job.
If you had to describe your life in a sentence, what would it be?
He used to think he had a hard way in life, but after getting GBS, realizes he didn’t.
Finally, what advice would you give to a person in a similar situation?
Keep pushing yourself everyday a little more with physical therapy. Keep supportive family & friends in your life. Realize that there was not anything that you could’ve done differently from getting the illness & stop feeling as though your life is over.
