Guillain Barre Syndrome

Batam, 6 October 2007

Last three weeks were the most horrible moment in my life. I’ve never imagined before that this worst thing would happen to me. It was so scary when in a morning three weeks ago, I found that I couldn’t move my hands and my legs, I couldn’t feel any sensation when I hardly touch my own body, I didn’t know whether my finger was straightened or bended, and even my mouth couldn’t hold any food in it.

This horror was started four weeks ago when I began to feel sore throat. First doctor who examined me diagnosed this sore as laryngitis and gave me several antibiotics and other medicines. I drank the medicines but it wasn’t getting better. Second opinion from other doctor was the same, this sore was laryngitis. He gave me other different medicines. I drank the medicines too, but still, it wasn’t getting better. A week after, I felt that the sore throat was getting worse and my body started to lose its sensitivity of touching feeling. I could hardly move my body as I loose the energy in it. My hand was so heavy when I tried to lift it up. My body coordination was so bad I couldn’t even put the meal into my mouth perfectly. I was panic and asked my friend to take me to the hospital as soon as possible. Unfortunately, it took a week when finally the doctor could figure out the disease correctly. I had to suffer during first week hospitalized to know that it was Guillain Barre Syndrome instead of neuropathy as mentioned by other neurologist.
I haven’t read any article of this syndrome. But from the doctor who handled my case, I know that this syndrome is myelin destruction as it attacked by my own antibody. The syndrome can be caused by virus or bacteria and in a worst case it can cause a respiration system failure. It happens so rarely in Indonesia. One doctor told me that he found only four cases during his 30 years experience. Statically, he said, most of it can be cured and the patient can back to normal condition even though it takes a quite long recovery time, three months to a year with an intensive therapy.
Now, after three weeks being hospitalized, six days in ICU, consume 50 bottles of immunoglobulin which is priced two millions each, and several days attending routine therapy, I feel much better. I feel that my energy is increasing a bit. I can walk now, slowly and step by step. I can close my eye and my mouth perfectly. And I can move my fingers to write this email, even it took a very long time and lots of energy. I hope in the next twenty days of given recovery time, I can gain lots of improvement and can do my daily activity normally. Amin.
I would like to thanks to all my families and friends who gave me help and support to past this horrible moment. I would never be cured as fast as it should and probably would end up in a different way without your encouragements. May Allah gives you back with a lot of goodness and salvation. Thank you, thank you, thank you………………