GBS/CIDP Article from Cooma Victoria Australia!

There are some typo errors and some innocent mistakes but you will get the message. It's an Article that showed up on my face book profile from a good friend "Kim". Mark your calenders for June 1st GBS/CIDP day and in some areas it's GBS/CIDP week. I'll check into it but in the mean time I wanted to get this out asap! Enjoy!

A deceptive disorder
JOHN BANNON
26/05/2009 12:34:00 PM
June 1 marks Guillain-Bare Syndrome (GPS) and Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPD) Awareness Day.
The purpose of the day is to educate the public and health care professionals to the plight of patients with these disorders.
GBS is a rare paralysing and potentially catastrophic disorder of the peripheral nerves. Many patients with GBS find themselves in an intensive care unit unable to walk or talk and although most recover many are left with residual physical deficits.
GBS comes on quickly and can fully paralyse a person and some may become totally dependant on life support for their breathing. GBS attacks the myelin coating of the nerves and so sufferers become so paralysed they are unable to blink.
People can be struck down with GBS from six months to 98 years of age and is just as common in males as it is in females. GBS can affect anyone regardless of nationality or race.
CIDP is a similar but chronic form of GBS that slowly destroys the nerves.
The nerves are healed by receiving injections of intragram that is an extract a bi-product of blood and plasma.
Long time sufferer of CIDP Cooma local Gayle Harding said it is a very scary time for people who have the disease.
“It is a frustrating disease to have because you look normal but you have no strength in your arms and your legs don’t work,” she said.
She said to watch out for the warning signs and in some respects it is like having chronic fatigue syndrome.
“You have weakness in your hands and feet and pins and needles so doing things like picking up paper, sewing, cross stitch and playing tennis become almost impossible,” she said.
Ms Harding said one of the worst parts about CIDP is that it can re-occur.
“I have had one bad relapse during the nine years of having the disorder which made me housebound and unable to drive,” she said.
The key to preventing GPS and CIDP is early detection. There are support groups within Australia from all states and territories including Cooma. For more information call the inflammatory neuropathy support group of Victoria on 97073278 or 9802 5313.