How to Live With Guillain-Barre Syndrome

You can live well with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder, with the help of a regular exercise program, good nutrition and medication to manage residual pain. After the initial two-week period, during which symptoms of muscle weakness or paralysis worsen, symptoms stabilize for two to four weeks. You can expect to begin to recover after that. Read on to learn how to live with Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Find a good physical therapy program from which you can learn specific isometric, isotonic and resistance exercises to rebuild weakened muscles. You may do these exercises on an outpatient basis and continue them at home. Remember to pace yourself and get adequate rest, as fatigue is to be expected with Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
2. Explore occupational therapy options. Changes in your home environment can aid in your recovery by making it easier for you to bathe, dress and prepare meals while your muscles return to normal levels of strength.
3. Manage residual pain in the back, legs and feet with medication as needed. Gabapentin and carbamazepine are often prescribed to relieve Guillain-Barre Syndrome related pain. Both of these medications are anticonvulsants and may cause fatigue and dizziness in some people.
4. Wear comfortable shoes and socks to help soothe pain and burning from neuropathy in the feet. Inspect your feet often to be sure there are no cuts or blisters that you may not have noticed.
5. Follow a healthy eating plan with fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables, lean meat and fish, whole grains and plenty of colorful salads. Eating well may help you to sustain your energy and can boost your mood.
6. Seek emotional support to cope with feelings of depression and anxiety that are part of living with Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Discuss antidepressant medication with your doctor if you are having trouble with activities necessary for daily living.
7. Connect with others who are learning to live with Guillain-Barre Syndrome in forums online. See the Resources section below for links.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask for and accept help from family and friends. Recovery may be slow in the beginning, so take all the assistance you can get with household chores and childcare.
• Understand that approximately 10 percent of people with GBS experience a relapse with recurrence of symptoms. While this is discouraging when it occurs, most people have good outcomes when they repeat plasmapheresis or intravenous immunoglobulin treatment.