Guillain-Barre Syndrome

[leejay]

My wife was laid up with GBS in 2005. She has had what appears to be a nearly complete recovery. We love to travel but are concerned about which immunizations required for certain travel areas may be a danger to her. Will malaria medicine have an effect? How about a tetanus shot? Anyone out there have any experience with ANY medication conflicts? Our e-mail is [moderator note: e-mail address has been removed] and we promise to reply to any e-mails on this topic.

[mariono]

I am recovering from GBS, I also had a mild form - took ill on Christmas Day 2008 was in hospital for a month and am now recovering at home - I am about 85% recovered. Today I had a check up with my neurologist who explained the cause of the disease in more detail than I have been able to find on the Net. Yes, most cases can be linked to a mild infection, or vaccination - the body's immune system sets about destroying that virus, but then goes on and attacks the myelin on your nerves. But what he goes on to say (in a simple way) is: this only happens if that particular virus and your myelin have the same protein in their DNA. This is what confuses your immune system, as it has set up an Army to destroy a particular protein, then finds that same protein in your myelin, so carries on destroying. This explains why it is rare - other people will have the same virus as you had, but not develop the disease as their DNA is different. He also says this is why the chances of getting at again are extremely rare. Viruses are constantly mutating and the likelihood of getting another one which has the same DNA is very unlikely. I personally don't think a vaccination will cause another episode of GBS.