Guillain-Barré Syndrome

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Causes

Signs/Symptoms

Care

Risks

IF YOU'RE HEADING FOR THE HOSPITAL...

What to Expect While You're There

• Activity: You may need to rest in bed. Once you are feeling better, you can get up.
• Taking Your Vital Signs: These include taking your temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeats), and respirations (counting your breaths). A stethoscope is used to listen to your heart and lungs. Your blood pressure is taken by wrapping a cuff around your arm.
• Oxygen: Your body may need extra oxygen at this time. It is given either by a mask or through nasal prongs. Tell your doctor if the oxygen is drying out your nose or if the nasal prongs bother you.
• Pulse Oximeter: You may be hooked up to a pulse oximeter (ox-IM-uh-ter). It is placed on your ear, finger, or toe and is connected to a machine that measures the oxygen in your blood.
• Blood: Usually taken from a vein in your hand or from the bend in your elbow and sent to a laboratory for testing.
• Blood Gases: For this test, blood is taken from an artery in your wrist, elbow, or groin and tested to see how much oxygen and carbon dioxide it contains.
• ECG: Also called a heart monitor, an electrocardiograph (e-LEK-tro-CAR-dee-o-graf), or EKG. The patches on your chest are hooked up to a TV-type screen or a small portable box (telemetry unit) that shows a tracing of each heartbeat. Your heart will be watched for signs of injury or damage stemming from your illness.
• IV: A tube placed in your vein for giving medicine or liquids. It will be capped or have tubing connected to it.
• Lumbar Puncture: Also called spinal tap. Fluid is taken from your spine and sent to a laboratory for testing.
• Electromyography (e-LEK-tro-mi-AH-gruh-fee): This test is used to measure the activity of muscles and nerves.
• Coughing and Deep Breathing: Doing this frequently will help prevent lung infections.
• Incentive Spirometer (in-SEN-tive spir-OM-ih-ter): A small plastic device used to encourage you to take deep breaths.
• Chest X-ray: A picture of your lungs and heart that helps your doctor determine how these organs are handling the illness.
• ET Tube: This tube is inserted through the mouth or nose and threaded into the windpipe. It is often hooked up to a breathing machine. While the tube is in place, you will be unable to talk.
• Ventilator: A special machine used to help with breathing.
• Postural Drainage: In this procedure, a nurse will tap briskly on your back with his or her hands. This helps loosen the sputum in your lungs so you can cough it up more easily.
• Foley Catheter: A tube inserted in the bladder to empty urine when you cannot urinate on your own.
• Pressure Stockings: You may need to wear these special stockings to prevent blood from sitting in your legs and causing clots.
• Cold/Heat: A cool towel or a heating pad (set on low) may be used to relieve pain.
• Medicine:
  • Heparin may be given to keep the blood thin and prevent clots from forming. It is given in an IV. Later, blood thinners may be taken by mouth.
  • Laxatives may be needed to keep you from getting constipated.
• Plasmapheresis (PLAZ-muh-fer-E-sis): In this treatment, plasma is taken from the blood and processed to remove the antibodies that may be attacking the nerves. The plasma is then returned to the bloodstream.

After You Leave

• If you are going to a special hospital or ""skilled nursing facility'' before going home, the care givers there will help you dress and feed yourself until you are stronger.
• If you are going home:
  • You may need to install special ramps and side rails to help you get around the house safely.
  • You may need to have physical and occupational therapy when you get home. Your therapy sessions should take place during the time of day when you are least tired.
  • Work closely with the therapists. It is important to do the exercises they teach you.
• Stay as active as your muscle strength allows. Daily exercise helps to keep your muscles in shape, strengthens the heart, lowers blood pressure, and keeps you healthy.
• Do not keep to yourself; try to see your friends and family as much as you can without getting too tired.
• Always take your medicine exactly as directed. If you feel it is not helping, you may call your doctor, but do not stop taking it on your own.
• For a while, you may not have much sensitivity to heat or cold. To keep from burning yourself, test the water carefully before bathing or washing.
• Keep coughing to keep your lungs free of mucous and infection so you can breathe more easily.
• Drink at least 8 glasses (soda-can sized) of liquid every day to prevent constipation.
• Use a heating pad set on low or warm wet towels to ease pain.
• Check with your doctor before you get flu or pneumonia shots.

Call Your Doctor If...

• You develop a high temperature.
• You have trouble breathing, develop sores on your skin, experience vision problems, have swollen or tender calves, or become constipated.
• You develop redness, a rash, or swelling of your skin. This may be caused by the medicine you are taking.