Age: 69.0
Sex: F
Vaccine: FLU3
Symptoms: Weight decreased, Wheelchair user, X-ray limb normal
Clinical narrative: I had the flu shot on 11-29-11. I came down with pneumonia on 12-5-11. On the morning of 12-15-11, I woke up with tingling and numbness in both of my hands. That afternoon at work I got up from my desk and on my way back, my right leg gave out from under me. I fell hard on my right knee and it hurt and I couldn't walk on it and went and had it X-rayed. It was just bruised badly and sore. That evening at home I went to bed early and got up at 9 PM to go to the bathroom and on my way back to bed, my right leg gave out from under me again and had to call my husband to help me get back to bed. At 4 AM on 12-16-11 got up again to go to the bathroom and on the way out my right leg gave out from under me again and my husband saw me and tried to help me and then both legs wouldn't work. We had to call 911 and go to the ER. At the ER they did all kind of tests, lab work and X-rays and determined I didn't have any stroke or anything like that. They tried to give me a "road test" to see if I could walk out of there and I went down again as I had no legs to hold me up. They did different MRIs of all of me and lab work etc. Finally the neurologist did a spinal tap and that showed the Guillain Barre syndrome. They then had to find a hospital that had room to take me and then they transported me to another hospital on 12-21-11. There I was in ICU and was given the immunoglobulin IV therapy. I had that IV for 5 days. Also had a neurology test done by the neurologist. I had trouble with my left arm, couldn't even raise it up on its own, my left eye wouldn't close or blink, had trouble with my speech, chewing and swallowing and facial movement and pain in the lower back. I was paralyzed from the waist down, had no feeling at all. They gave me breathing therapy 2 times a day and was on oxygen at all times. Was released from hospital and transported to another hospital on 12-26-11 to the acute rehabilitation and was there until 1-10-12. I had physical therapy and occupational therapy and social therapy while in the acute care every day, 6 days a week. I started physical therapy and occupational therapy on 1-24-12 and had therapy 2 days a week until 6-25-12. Insurance wouldn't cover any more therapy sessions. I then joined the fitness center associated with the hospital and my physical therapist gave the trainer there what machines I should be working on and for how long for cardio and to strengthen my legs so I can someday walk on my own without the use of the cane. The doctor today extended my disability until October 1, 2012. Hopefully by then my legs should be better and if not I will have to continue with disability and doing fitness training. Will have to see how everything goes. The therapist said that with Guillain Barre you never know how long it takes for the nerves to regenerate and my left side was my weaker side with this Guillain Barre syndrome. I am taking NEURONTIN 3 times a day for the neuropathy in my hand and feet and most likely will be on that for the rest of my life per the doctor. I lost 40 pounds also. I still have the back pain and I have massages once or twice a month also. I also had tendonitis in both shoulders from the use of transferring from the bed to the wheelchair and rolling the chair to where I had to go. Then the doctor gave me cortisone injections in both shoulders as they were so sore. They got better and then the shoulders got bad again from the therapy and my family physician in June 2012 had to inject each shoulder again. They are better now, but not completely. I can't lift anything up with my left arm, need to help it with my right arm so I don't drop whatever I have in my hand. I had to learn how to do everything all over again, walking therapy, showering, dressing, etc. It was very hard on me and I have been to hell and back with what I have been through. It was also very hard on my husband and family as we didn't know what the prognosis was going to be and if I would ever walk again or what was going to happen down the road.