I had Guillain Barre Syndrome

[samplegirl]

When I was young at age 20 and was on a vent. So I was cautious about the vaccine. Talked with my Dr. today and I can now schedule to get the vaccine.
This was good news for me.
I cried.

[leftieNanner]

1. A friend of mine had that a few years ago

Good news to hear that she will be able to be vaccinated.

[Irish_Dem]

2. I am so happy for you! Great news.

Get on the schedule!!

Hope you feel as relieved as I did right after the first shot.

[samplegirl]

20. Thank you

Hope it goes well.

[Hortensis]

3. Terrific. Schedule!

[Karadeniz]

4. Good to hear!

[Just_Vote_Dem]

5. Good news!

Very happy for you

[Diamond_Dog]

6. Yay!!

I totally get how relieved you must feel! I’d cry, too!

[samplegirl]

21. I will finally

get to be with my grands at some point!
I told my Dr. that I just can’t do this much longer.

[spanone]

7. ♥️

?️

[samplegirl]

22. Thank you

from everyone.

[dlk]

8. Congratulations!

I hope you can schedule your vaccination very soon.

[samplegirl]

23. Thanks

[dlk]

29. I hope the vaccination goes really well for you!

Everyone I know who’s been vaccinated, with both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, hasn’t had any reaction or symptoms, other than a little discomfort at the injection site for some.

[Mr. Evil]

9. Way cool samplegirl!

I got notified as I was walking out the door to work to schedule my appointment for my first shot (unless it's J&J one shot vac). Monday at 1:15. Finally! Beer tomorrow night will taste extra refreshing.

[samplegirl]

24. Thanks my best

friend another D.U.er looking forward to having him over for dinner.

[pnwmom]

10. I remember when the 1976 Swine flu vaccine came out and a number of people

developed that syndrome. I'd just had the vaccine, so it was scary.

But that problem was discovered in the first week of administering that 1976 vaccine. With the Covid vaccines, 100,000,000 doses have already been given out, and no serious problems have emerged. So I'm glad your doctor convinced you it's a good idea.

[marble falls]

11. Good for you, you'll be glad you did. I felt it took some weight of my shoulders.

[samplegirl]

25. Thank you

I hope I feel lots lifted as I sure have cried and stressed all year long.

[marble falls]

36. Got #2 shot today ...

[Texas Blue]

12. I also had GBS in my mid 20's

I've been lurking around DU for quite awhile, but thought this was an appropriate first post. I was completely paralyzed for many weeks and on a ventilator. Made a full recovery, but was terrified about getting the covid vaccine and actually contacted the CDC. They were great with an almost instant response and assured me that it would be safe. Last month I got both shots (Pfizer) and had zero side effects. I'm glad you're getting the vaccine - so many fools out there won't - not because of valid medical concerns, but because of all the misinformation floating around.

[murielm99]

14. Welcome to DU.

This is indeed an appropriate first post.

[flibbitygiblets]

15. Great first post, Texas Blue! Welcome to DU.

Thanks for sharing your story, and glad it worked out for you.

[KPN]

18. What a great reason for a first post. My son had

GBS many years ago at 10. So I fully understand your concern about the vaccine. It strikes me that most people here may not understand the relationship about having had GBS and reluctance about the Covid vaccine. My son’s GBS came on after a flu—like illness. But as you undoubtedly know, it sometimes also presents following a flu shot. Oddly, since my son had GBS, I have personally known 3 people who acquired it after a flu shot.

Back to my original purpose for responding. I am going to pass your post on to my son. He is 39 now, but nevertheless reluctant to get the vaccine given his history. Thank you for sharing.

[wnylib]

31. mRNA vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna

should be ok since they don't use an actual virus. Might want to be more cautious about the J&J which does use a virus.

[KPN]

34. Thanks for sharing that. Yeah, that's a critical difference. My son's aware of that and beginning

to lean toward vaccinating with that in mind.

[wnylib]

35. After my post, I read another one that

reported someone with a history of Gillain-Barre getting the J&J vaccine with no side effects, so it might be safe. Probably best to check with a doctor first.

[samplegirl]

26. I was in my 20's as well

I don’t have to tell you. What a horrifying experience that was. 3 months in ICU on a vent and then to a rehab for another 11 weeks.
Glad your a survivor as well. Thank you for posting.

[gopiscrap]

37. welcome to DU

[wnylib]

13. I don't understand how having had

Guillain-Barre might affect getting the covid vaccine. Can someone explain?

[KPN]

19. See my post 18.

[samplegirl]

28. In the beginning of this

Fauci was telling people to refrain from getting it if you had Guillain Barre but found it was safe to get it as it did not work like the flu vaccine.

[wnylib]

32. OK. I just looked Guillain-Barre because

I knew nothing about it except the name. According to the Mayo site, some people get it as a result of covid infections. So as long as the shot is safe, it seems important for people who have had Gillain-Barre in the past to get the shot.

[Fla Dem]

16. Big sigh of relief for you I bet. Go get 'em!!

[Cousin Dupree]

17. A friend of mine had GBS, has had the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, and is doing well!

[samplegirl]

27. Thank you

For the reassurance!

[wnylib]

33. That's good to know. Of the 3 shots

available in the US, the J&J is the one I would have wondered about since it uses an actual virus.

Viruses can have some long term after effects. A few years ago, I had a really bad bout of viral bronchitis that took months to get rid of. i kept getting reinfected from a coworker who had a milder csse that she didn't get treated until told to by HR.

Within a few months after getting over it, I started losing range of motion in my arms, followed by body aches and pains. It became debilitating. I could not step up on a curb. Had trouble dressing. Literally cried before standing up from a sitting position because I knew how much it would hurt. It was finally diagnosed as polymyalgia rheumatica, which is NOT related at all to rheumatic arthritis or to fibromyalgia. It follows viral infections and is believed to be caused by them. More common in women than men, only those over 60, and more often in women of northern European heritage.

The only treatment is Prednisone, gradually reducing the dose to get weaned from it. It took me 2 years of Prednisone to eliminate the muscle inflammation enough to walk and move freely without medication. It's not cured, just in remission. Excess use of muscles causes the pain to return, but I've built up some muscle strength gradually without a relapse.

Consequently, I fear any viral infections now, whether covid or the flu.

Viruses are nasty little microbes.