Sex: M
Vaccine: COVID19
Symptoms: Rehabilitation therapy
Clinical narrative: GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME; ANGRY; ANGUISH; DISBELIEF; FEELING BEATEN UP; BREAK DOWN IN TEARS; MENTAL CHALLENGE; REHABILITATION; COLLAPSE FROM EXHAUSTION; WEAK; This spontaneous report received from a patient via a company representative concerned a male of unspecified age, race and ethnic origin. The patient's height, and weight were not reported. No past medical history or concurrent conditions were reported. The patient received covid-19 vaccine ad26.cov2.s (suspension for injection, route of administration, batch number: unknown, expiry: unknown) dose was not reported, 1 total administered on 03-APR-2021 for prophylactic vaccination. The batch number was not reported. The Company is unable to perform follow-up to request batch/lot numbers. The patient's concomitant medications included nightly unspecified blood-thinning injection. It was reported that the patient felt the onset of symptoms two weeks later vaccination. He experienced strange pangs first struck after a mere 20-minute ride on the stationary bike at the gym. Then he could not sleep through the night, with a fiery, tingly feeling under the skin. His midsection and fingertips grew numb. One morning he woke up slurring with words out the left side of the mouth. Three visits to the emergency room and one spinal tap later, an astute doctor scribbled the diagnosis on the whiteboard of the hospital room as Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). He was in for several more days of anguish, while fresh antibodies injected intravenously tried to call off the friendly fire. And then months of rehabilitation, taking baby steps with a walker, and otherwise spending long hours flat on the back. While at first he was pretty angry. His immune system rigorously executed what it thought were orders to take the hill. Before he was completely in tatters left unchecked, the doctors administered three treatments for what turned out to be the stubborn case. The first was the infusion of fresh antibodies through immunoglobulin therapy, known as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg); the second was plasmapheresis, a more-thorough oil change where all the rogue antibodies were sucked out through a tube in the neck and replaced with synthetic plasma. Finally, he was given steroids to tamp down the inflammation that lingered like smoldering fires after the initial bomb blast. Much damage was done, however not only to those myelin sheaths but some of the underlying nerves themselves. He was discharged to rehabilitation hospital, where he spent hours in the gym overlooking harbor, feeling like a toddler and learning to walk all over again. He was outfitted with a walker just like the 90-year-old mother used. Impossibly fit trainers guided him through a rigorous physical and occupational therapy program: up and down practice stairs, in and out of a practice car, exercises on mats, timed tests adorning racks with spring-loaded clips, to help bring back sensory function and fine motor skills, as part of the exercise he picked up small objects in a special machine that whirled shredded corn husks around inside a clear box. He would get back to the room and collapse from exhaustion and disbelief. After weeks at hospital and rehabilitation, it left him with feeling beaten up and weak. The mental challenge has been formidable. He celebrated triumphs like graduating from a walker to a cane, but also he periodically break down in tears. His hands and feet remain numb and tingly. Number of days hospitalized and discharge information was not reported The action taken with covid-19 vaccine ad26.cov2.s was not applicable. The outcome of the guillain-barre syndrome, anguish, angry, collapse from exhaustion, disbelief, feeling beaten up, weak, break down in tears, mental challenge and rehabilitation was not reported. This report was serious (Hospitalization Caused / Prolonged, and Other Medically Important Condition). This case, from the same reporter is linked to 20211039528.; Sender's Comments: V0: 20211041278- COVID-19 VACCINE AD26.COV2.S- Guillain-Barre syndrome. This event is labeled per RSI and is therefore considered potentially related.