Latest news with #GuillainBarreSyndrome
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Boonville woman raises awareness of GBS
BOONVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) — After 89 days in the hospital and being taken off a ventilator not once but twice, one woman is opening up about her battle with GBS and how it gave her a brand new outlook on life. Lindsey Patton is 38, married and has two young children. But in April, her legs completely gave out. 'It's absolutely terrifying,' Patton said. 'Like I had said earlier, it's the only way that I could describe it is literally being locked inside of your own body.' Patton went to the hospital and was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a condition where the immune system attacks the nerves resulting in Patton not being able to walk. 'It was kind of disheartening having to go through all of that because in the back of my mind, I was like, this is just my new normal,' Patton said. 'This is the way it's going to be now. Like, I'm not going to be able to walk. I'm not going to be able to go play with my kids. I'm not going to be able to. I love horseback riding and kayaking. I was like, I'm never going to do this stuff again.' Patton says it's amazing to walk on her own again after going from intensive care to outpatient therapy all after being on a ventilator twice. She's emphasizing how her support system of her family and mother helped motivate her to get better including her seven-year-old son. 'He had seen me because I had started doing like transfers from my wheelchair to like to the bed or to the recliner or whatever,' Patton said. 'I started doing that on me own and he was sitting in my bedroom with me that way and he said mom, he said, I just want to let you know you're making really good progress, and I'm so proud of you.' Patton is now reaching out wanting to connect others who are battling the same condition knowing first-hand how isolating it can be for the person fighting and the ones who are helping give care. 'Unless you have been through it as a patient or you've been through as a mother, watching your child go through it, I couldn't imagine watching my own kids go through it and have to I mean, it's just really hard to understand unless you've been there,' Patton said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
The Independent
07-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Regulator warns of small risk of serious condition in people having RSV jab
The medicines regulator has issued a warning to NHS health staff about a small increased risk of a rare condition affecting the nerves in people vaccinated against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare but serious condition which needs urgent treatment in hospital to prevent it progressing. It can affect people's senses, movement, breathing and heartbeat – usually starting in the arms and legs before spreading to other areas. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a drug alert for the Abrysvo (made by Pfizer) and Arexvy (GSK) vaccines for RSV after they were linked to 21 suspected cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults aged 60 and over. However, the Commission on Human Medicines still advises that 'the benefits of vaccination against RSV outweigh the small risk of developing Guillain-Barre syndrome in older adults'. In its alert, the MHRA said: 'Healthcare professionals should advise all recipients of Abrysvo and Arexvy that they should be alert to signs and symptoms of Guillain-Barre syndrome and, if they occur, to seek immediate medical attention as it requires urgent treatment in hospital.' It warned staff to be alert to the signs and symptoms of the syndrome. It added that there is currently no evidence of an increased risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome in pregnant women following vaccination with Abrysvo, the only RSV vaccine approved for use during pregnancy. The RSV vaccine helps protect against respiratory syncytial virus, which can make older adults and babies seriously ill. RSV can cause bronchiolitis in babies which can cause breathing problems, while it can cause pneumonia in older people, both of which may require hospital stays. The Pfizer RSV vaccine Abrysvo is currently offered on the NHS to adults aged 75 to 79 and to pregnant women. The GSK RSV vaccine Arexvy is not currently available on the NHS but may be available privately in the UK. Symptoms of Guillain-Barre syndrome can include tingling, numbness or pins and needles in feet and hands, muscle weakness and difficulty moving joints. There may also be problems breathing and drooping face muscles or trouble swallowing or speaking. Up to June 2, the MHRA has received 21 Yellow Card reports of suspected Guillain-Barre syndrome in older adults (aged 75-79 where known) following Abrysvo. This is in the context of over 1.9 million doses of Abrysvo administered, it said. Over the same time period, the MHRA has not received any Yellow Card reports of suspected Guillain-Barre syndrome following Arexvy, however there has been very limited use of this vaccine in the UK to date. In the US, one study suggested Abrysvo and Arexvy were associated with nine and seven excess Guillain-Barre syndrome cases per million vaccine doses administered, respectively.
The Citizen
05-07-2025
- The Citizen
Polokwane mourns respected attorney Morris Pogrund (64)
Quick read Morris Pogrund (64), a well-known attorney in Polokwane, passed away on Sunday after a prolonged illness. He had battled Guillain Barre Syndrome for three years and died at Wilgers Hospital in Pretoria. Pogrund grew up in Pietersburg, matriculated as head boy at Capricorn High School, and became a public prosecutor before joining private practice. He was a partner at Kampherbeek Twine and Pogrund and known for his legal acumen, eloquence, and integrity. He actively served the community through various boards and organisations. Full story below Full story POLOKWANE – The community of Polokwane mourns the passing of Morris Pogrund (64), a well-known local attorney who passed away on Sunday in the Wilgers Hospital in Pretoria after a long illness. After contracting Guillain Barre Syndrome three years ago, his health deteriorated and he became gravely ill. He grew up in Pietersburg and matriculated at Capricorn High School of which he was the head boy. He joined the Department of Justice and became a public prosecutor during which time he obtained his B Proc degree. In the early 90's he joined the law firm Jansen, Kampherbeek and Twine, which later became the firm Kampherbeek Twine and Pogrund. According to his former partner in the legal practice, Jan Kampherbeek, he was an excellent attorney and litigator who walked the extra mile to obtain the best possible results for his clients. He was an active member of the community where he served on the board of a number of clubs, charitable institutions and schools. 'Morris had a wide circle of friends who always appreciated his integrity, loyalty and honesty – he was a man who always called a spade a spade! Many of his colleagues remarked that they always knew that they were up against a formidable opponent, eloquent speaker and a person of integrity who was true to his word,' Kampherbeek relates. He will be missed by his family, friends, staff, his partners, colleagues and clients. Kampherbeek also conveyed his heartfelt condolences to Pogrund's wife Shelley who nursed him with love and patience and to his daughter, Sarah. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at Pietersburg Club on July 11 from 11:00. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Newcastle teen fell through every care loophole, says mum
A mother who says her disabled child "fell through every care loophole" is trying to give her daughter the dignity in death she did not have in Williams said her daughter Amira, from Newcastle, faced delays to her education for 10 years and was effectively "trapped in her room" waiting for home adaptations, which only began a month before she died, aged is now raising funds for Amira's headstone, as a "lasting tribute to a precious life".Newcastle City Council said: "We will learn from the delays in providing Amira with the support she deserved and want to say sorry that home improvements weren't complete earlier." Amira had complex learning and physical disabilities and failings in her hospital, educational and social care had been a "perfect storm", Ms Williams said."Every single one of them thought someone else would deal with it. Every one of them passed the buck on to someone else."I wish her life could have been happier, because she didn't have very long." 'Where's the dignity?' Ms Williams said Amira loved anything alternative and groups where she would not be seen as different."If she'd seen anyone that was dressed even just slightly alternatively, she made a beeline to stop to them and say 'you look beautiful, I love the way you look'."She had learning difficulties, autism and ADHD and then in 2019 she developed Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare nerve condition which paralysed the bottom half of her body. A delay in home adaptations meant Amira was forced to stay in nappies for five years, despite being continent, Ms Williams would throw herself on the ground and crawl using her elbows because they could not get the wheelchair through the Williams said: "Where's the dignity doing that to a 17-year-old girl?" The local authority said works were delayed "because of processes based on national guidance". The council's director of children and families Cath McEvoy Carr said: "We regret that home improvements weren't made earlier, as we know the positive impact it would have had on Amira's quality of life." From the age of seven, Amira was meant to be home-schooled after she experienced difficulties with mainstream and special needs schools, but delayed council arrangements fell through multiple times, Ms Williams was out of education for the best part of 10 Williams questioned why attempting to get basic provision had been a fight."Unfortunately, when you talk to other parents with special needs, they often feel the same way," she said."There's no one to guide you through it. There's no one to help you," Ms Williams said of Amira's special needs provision. Hospital investigation In 2024, Amira was admitted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary initially for a B12 deficiency, and then for subsequent had to be sedated for days for her hours after she was brought back round, she was sent a few hours after that, she inquest into Amira's death concluded it was due to "natural causes contributed to by premature discharge from ICU", following a medical episode of organ support in intensive upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: "All staff were focused on trying to do what they felt was right at the time for her but with review and hindsight, there are things we could have done differently."It said an investigation had been carried out and actions put in place, including developing new discharge protocols. Helping grieving families Ms Williams said this "can't happen to someone else".She is now hoping to start a charity providing headstones for grieving families after she was quoted between £12,000 and £16,000 for one.A phrase her grandmother had used - "you don't want a pauper's grave" - had stuck with her through her grief, Ms Williams said: "It's an awful thought, and it's an awful feeling to think how will I pay for my child's headstone?"It's not something any parent should have to think of, but it's a reality for some of us."Ms Williams had to quit work to care for Amira, and does not have the funds to pay for one herself."I can't live in grief," she said."And the only way I can think to get through it is to help other people." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
CBS News
05-06-2025
- Health
- CBS News
After recovering from a life-threatening disease, a Minnesota veteran aims to cycle in 50-mile ride
After recovering from a life-threatening disease, a Minnesota veteran aims to cycle in 50-mile ride After recovering from a life-threatening disease, a Minnesota veteran aims to cycle in 50-mile ride After recovering from a life-threatening disease, a Minnesota veteran aims to cycle in 50-mile ride A Minnesota veteran, recovering from a life-threatening disease, is ready to show his fellow soldiers just how much he's come back. With his dog Surrey by his side, Drew Carpenter is getting a workout in. It involves a lot of stretching and cycling. "I've been missing out on just the personal goals, kind of achieving of just moving the needle," said Carpenter. Carpenter joined the military after 9/11. He was on active duty in Iraq and in the Middle East and returned home after serving his country. But a few years ago, he contracted Guillain-Barre Syndrome which attacked his nervous system and began shutting down his organs. "They put me into a coma, an induced intubation for about a week which is a crazy nightmare," said Carpenter. "I spent six months in the VA just learning how to do everything again — walk, breathe, chew, think." After spending three years in a wheelchair, Carpenter is back on his feet. And if there's a silver lining, it's that he's discovered a love for adaptive cycling. Next week, Carpenter will take his recovery one step further. With help from the Wounded Warrior Project, he'll take part in a 50-mile soldier ride through Chicago. "I'm a bit, I wouldn't say nervous, I'm excited," said Carpenter. "That's the feeling I have. I would say my nerves are all burned off at this point. I can't get nervous anymore, I only get excited." It's a opportunity to show his fellow veterans his progress. And a chance to rediscover the camaraderie he's been missing. "I've missed training early in the morning and doing physical therapy with your buddies. It's not always but man you can make some good memories. This is just a new version to make those awesome memories," said Carpenter. The Wounded Warrior Project's Soldier Ride begins a week from Thursday in Chicago and will go through next weekend.
