Age: 61.0
Sex: M
Vaccine: FLU3
Symptoms: Exercise tolerance decreased, Gait disturbance, Grip strength decreased, Guillain-Barre syndrome, Immunoglobulin therapy
Clinical narrative: Currently, IV-IG infusions are being administered every 3 weeks to shutdown / take over my auto immune system from attacking both my nervous system and muscular system(s). Diagnosis is Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS): Due to the administration of the flu shot, I am still partially disabled (i.e. not back to normal): Initial symptoms began in late September / early October and progressively gotten extremely worse by end of October / early November to the point where: 1. I could barely lift either leg 6" off the ground. 2. I could not lift either leg up, while seated (without manual assistance) to cross my legs. 3. Both rear leg muscles (upper and lower) in both legs ached and the muscles were very stiff. 4. Lost flexibility in both legs...could no long bend over and touch my toes (or come within 3") or barely come within 12" of touching my toes. 5. Could not simply bend over or squat down to feed my pet. Had to get down on one knee and required assistance to even do that. 6. EMG tests on both legs revealed that the velocity of electrical signals down the nerves in my legs had decreased 30-40%. The electric signal speed down BOTH my legs has NOT yet come back OR did not even improve whatsoever in either leg. 7. The nerves in both butt cheeks were very active...i.e. could not sit more than 20 or 30 minutes without having to stand up and walk around...the irritated nerves would send very uncomfortable / achy signals down to my top of feet, ankle area, and lower front leg resulting in sharp achiness and discomfort requiring one to move your foot and leg and stand up and walk around. More predominant for the left butt muscle/ left foot and leg. 8. Had to sit on a cushion (particularly in cars with harder foam / leather seats). Could NOT sit on wooden chairs. Even with this, I would have to stop after driving 30 minutes and walk around the car several times to reduce the discomfort to allow me to continue driving. 9. Extreme achiness in the shoulders and extreme weakness in the arm muscles...lost 80%+ muscle strength. Even today can barely press 30 lbs. Extreme loss of shoulder / arm flexibility. 10. In the mornings could not raise either hand / arm without assistance from the other arm. Very difficult to do common tasks with the loss of strength. 11. The achiness in arms, legs, and shoulders would improve ever so slightly during the day, but the achiness level would "reset" itself back to normal prior level of achiness overnight and/or even evoking the reset after sitting still in a recliner too long. 12. Achiness and stiffness spread to the lower head / back of the neck area for a several month period. Loss of flexibility in turning head. Sometimes a lot of 'cracking' / crunching sounds going on when rotating neck sideways and up and down. 13. As a gauge, I was doing at least (15) deep knee bends without holding on to anything, prior to the full onset of symptoms. Eventually, completely lost my ability to do any deep knee bends. Could not get back up without using my arms. 14. As a gauge, I was doing at least (12) - (15) quality push-ups. Now I cannot do any. Can't even do "half body weight" push-ups (i.e. supported on your knees). 15. Cannot fully rotate either arm in a full circle, with my arm straight...either forward or backwards. 16. Lost one nerve in the right leg for several months (5+)...in March / April 2014, the nerve "re-appeared" during an EMG (however, it was NOT back to full strength/ normal). Additionally, a lot of flexibility in legs and arms has been lost. a. Could not / still cannot walk a full stride or walk "quickly". b. Cannot walk on a treadmill for more than 10 minutes, without achiness increasing in upper rear legs. c. Have muscle stiffness in both rear muscles in upper legs and lower leg areas. 17. NO improvement in electrical signal rate down each leg. NO improvement in electrical signal sensitivity in both arms. Electrical signals are not felt / do not make it to the end of any toes or end of any fingers. 18. Lost capability to perform these daily functions: a. Very difficult to sit down and particularly to get up off the toilet. Had to find something to lean on. This lasted for several months; b. Could not lean over and wipe my butt, due to achy shoulders and arms; c. Could NOT put on my belt while my pants were on...had to thread the belt with my pants laying on the bed; d. Extreme difficulty putting on and removing T-shirts due to the shoulder / upper arm achiness; e. Lost my ability to insert and retrieve my wallet in my rear pants pocket, due to shoulder achiness and loss of range of motion of both arms; f. Similar loss of range of motion to retrieve items from my front pants pockets; g. Could not throw a shower towel over the towel bar; h. Could not lift a gallon of milk into or out of the refrigerator...still cannot maneuver the gallon of milk or quart of orange juice within the refrigerator without leaning my elbow on my stomach. 19. In mid February, GBS attacked my carpal tunnel nerve in my right hand, causing muscle stiffness, difficulty in normal full opening and closing of the hand, and tremendous loss of grip strength...minimal improvement since then. 20. In early March, GBS attacked my carpal tunnel nerve in my left hand, with much pain in first two longer fingers (not experienced on the right hand), causing muscle stiffness, difficulty in normal full opening and closing of the hand, and tremendous loss of grip strength...minimal improvement since then. The pain level has decreased in the first two fingers from quite painful to medium achiness. It's like having (4) jammed fingers from not catching a softball correctly. 21. Had some nose bleeds...not typical for me. This has now gone away. 22. Loss of nerve signals going to all toes and to all fingers...has not yet come back. Current symptoms after (6) IV-IG infusions (every 3 weeks since 01/15/14): 1. Still have a lot of muscle stiffness and some achiness in both the upper and lower leg rear muscles...so I still cannot walk normally - i.e. no full stride NOR walking up an incline sidewalk without achiness NOR walking quickly for a very long time (without aggravating the upper leg muscle / butt area nerve / muscle). 2. Nerve areas in butt area are still very sensitive...requiring me to sit on cushions. I have to get up and walk around approximately every 45 minutes or so. While sitting on a cushion, I can now drive OK for approximately 1 1/2 hr. Butt nerves are no longer causing achiness in foot area / front lower leg muscle. 3. There is still much achiness in BOTH shoulder / upper arm areas. Both arm muscles are very weak. Sometimes I still need to assist one arm with the other arm to get it to "raise upward". 4. Still arm / shoulders not very flexible as I still cannot get wallet out of rear pocket, cannot put a belt on without shoulder achiness. 5. Rear neck area still somewhat achy...not as stiff...still some loss in the degree of sideway rotating and still come cracking / crunching noise (although not as lout as before). 6. Hand stiffness and achiness still exists due to 19 and 20 above. Loss of grip strength in both hands. 7. Initial symptoms listed above still exist - items 4, 6, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18(c)(e)(g)(h), 19, 20, and 22.