All about Guillain-Barré Syndrome - Bill had GBS in 1973 and still suffers from residual symptoms

31-Oct-1973 my left hand went numb, then the right hand, then the legs and rest of body up to my neck. I had weakness and was not paralysed and my sweat glands shut down. Meaning I didn't sweat at all. I had feeling from the neck up.
I became 100% numb/weak within 2 weeks of 31-10-73. From healthy strong 31-year old to a numb, weak confused shadow of myself.

Spinal taps and many trips to the UofR neuro dept in Rochester, NY, proved fruitless and doctors were at a loss.
The doctors thought I had MS and took the 3 spinal taps in Dec of 73. The reason for the 3 spinal taps was: #1 not enough fluid to test with, #2 hit blood vessel and had blood in fluid, #3 got it right. I have a very vivid memory and still cringe at the three spinal taps I had done and the nurses at the UofR checking my numbness on my back and legs with needles and then wiping the blood that they drew with towels that I could not feel the pricks.

I was not hospitalized at any time, received no treatment at anytime, other than the B1 and B12 shots described below.

I could go out in my underwear in zero weather and not feel the cold. My mind had it but body wouldn't cooperate. I fell once on the ice and cut my arm and didn't know it till I saw the blood on floor and checked myself. Any repetitious movement with my hands such as using a screwdriver my hand got slower and slower turning it till it stopped and I rested it. My mind said turn but hands wouldn't respond in like. No tingling/ exhaustion/etc., but when I tried to run I didn't know where my feet were. Really weird!

I'm sure I did put a strain on family members because I got depressed and vegetated 3 months. My family doctor thought it to be mental and called me a kook!
My children were young and my wife at the time distanced herself because she was working and had a full plate herself and I was too proud to burden her.

In Dec. of 1973, less than 2 months after the start of my attack, I read in my Encyclopaedia Britannnica (1968 edition) about neurological diseases that can come on by LOW amounts of Vitamin B1 and B12 in the body. So when I saw Dr Satran at the UofR I mentioned this. He said to have my doctor give me shots of both B1-B12 cause he was clueless to my condition.
My family doctor didn't want to give me the vitamin shots but I insisted. I got my first shots of B1/B12 in Jan of 1974 and within HOURS after the shots I started feeling better and better. I cleaned up the kitchen and made supper for my family!

As time went on, say 4 weeks, my feeling came back and I started sweating again as my sweat glands had shut down during period of attack.

I went back to work Valentines Day of 1974 and performed my normal duties at Farrel Co. 4 months after it all started!
I took the vitamin shots for a good 6-8 months after I went back to work and received my shots there from the nurse. My power came back 85-90% and I was left with supersensitive feeling in my knees, meaning that when they hit something I felt it more than I had before the attack. Super-sensitivity is still in the front of my knees and toes to this day. But in the last 6 months the bottom of my feet have gone numb unless I wear shoes around the house but is noticed in bed most of the time.
I came back 80-90% speed and strength. I didn't like it but it was the hand I was dealt and lived with it. A fellow worker of mine was down and out for 1 year and lost his gas station and repair business. He was left with drop foot and had to work in a factory that hired disabled people of all kinds. The company is General Motors or should I say Generous Motors as we all made a great living there. I believe Roy came down with GBS in 1974-75.

I'm retired now at age of 60 and enjoying it greatly and YES I still take vitamin B1 shots. I gave myself B12 shots 2X a month for the last 15 years because my blood tests showed my B12 low in comparison to my other vitamins/minerals and my history of illness.

A doctor I saw in 1983 felt my attack in 1973 was GBS because he had it also and recovered in 6 weeks and lost little work. He was also interested in the fact I got better from the B1/B12 shots and I myself researched in my Britannica's on neuro diseases and what brings them on with absence of proper nutrients.

It's been 30 years 1973, and I have numbness in my feet and hands but I relate this to heavy SMOKING which I quit Jan 2 of this year. When I say heavy I mean 3+ packs a-day for the last 20+ years. I pray to the Lord my smoking days are behind me because cigarettes were my best friend I thought through all these years but the habit controlled me. As to medication:

My ex-wifes husband 3 years ago at the age of 76 came down with GBS. Was hospitalized and when they found out it was GBS they gave him B12 shots and he recovered for the most part. So why isn't the fact B1 and B12 help this illness that it isn't used more/and people aware of it.

William H Cole
231 Pine Grove Ave.
Rochester NY 14617
03.2003

PS: If you have questions feel free to write cause I went thru HELL 4 months of my life and if this helps another I have contributed to someone else's well being.