Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) Support Group
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), is an acquired immune-mediated inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nervous system (i.e. not the brain or spinal cord). It is suggested that it is an autoimmune disease, in which the sufferer's immune system is triggered into damaging the nerve covering. Many cases developed in people who received the 1976 swine flu vaccine.
I was diagnosed with GBS approximately 1.5 years ago. I understand there are a wide variety of symptoms, however......I experience body jerks, usually lower body, whenever I am in a sleep/wake mode. Has anyone experienced this? My neurologists thinks it is just anxiety.
Thank you for your reply. I actually saw my physician today, and he is referring me to a neurologists that specializes in GBS. It is comforting to hear that other people have experienced same issues. The other symptom that makes me crazy, is I occasionally have a "twitch" in my jaw.
Thanks for the reply. I think it is a combination of both nerve regeneration and anxiety. Things were MUCH better for a while, but the last couple of days, the jerks have returned. It will be two years in April since I was diagnosed with GBS.......when will this virus ever leave my body.
My reflexes have been restored, but I am still dealing with minor effects of the GBS. My neurologist told me the reflexes would be the last thing to come back. My heart goes out to you and your husband...........I am sorry he suffered a setback. I too occasionally experience slurred speech, body jerks and decreased balance. Exercise seems to help me with not only my physical but psychological symptoms.
my brother was diagnosed 2 months ago with GBS, after the 1st month he began to twitch a lot during his sleep we were really concerned we asked the doctor at the hospital and he said it was maybe because he was stressed out or anxiety. A few days later my brother was transferred to Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Hospital and one of our first questions was about his twitching and the doctors their said that it was actually a good thing that he was twitching because that meant that his nerves were repairing themselves. They said that the damage outer coating of the nerves was actually growing back. I hope this info helps a little bit.
I had GBS a long time ago and mostly recovered. Enough so that I was able to work and raise a family. My legs always did what several of you described. The leg jerking at night was annoying and I always hoped it was not anything to do with the GBS. As a nurse, I think that when doctors do not know what is going on, stress and anxiety are something they fall back on. I don't think that was/is the cause but it is an easy response. Glad to hear some of you say you were taken seriously enough to be referred to a neurologist.