Our GBS/CIDP Story


 


Do you know what GBS or CIDP are?  We didn't know either, until a couple of years ago.


GBS, short for Guillain-Barre Syndrome, is a rare nerve disorder in which your body's immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nervous system, causing weakness, tingling, and paralysis to the extremities.


CIDP, short for Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy, is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attackers the myelin sheath that surrounds nerves and assists in the transmission of signals. 


CIDP is considered the chronic version of GBS.  GBS is 2-3 in 100,000 people.  CIDP is said to occur in 1.9 to 7.7 per 100,000 people. Either one is pretty rare, but my husband had GBS and then CIDP.  So I guess we hit the jackpot!  


This has been quite the learning curve.  The doctors in our area took a while to recognize it because it's so rare.  But we're learning as we go.  That's what this blog is for; to share our experiences and maybe share those of others who are going through it as well.

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