Friday, September 11, 2020

Stigma and Mental Illness

 A few years ago I had developed a rare disease called Gillian Barre Syndrome.  It came on slowly.  Gradually I was loosing the use of  my legs and arms.  One night I fell to the floor and couldn't move my arms and legs.  The paramedics were called and they took me up to the hospital.  They didn't even examine me.  They kept me overnight and sent me home in the morning telling me my problem was caused by my obsessive compulsive disorder.  When I got home They took me to my wife's doctor.  She told me it was caused by some kind of virus.  I then went home.

The next morning I fell again and could not get up.  The paramedics were called again.  When I got up there my psychiatrist was there and he knew what was going on.  He told them to take this man seriously.  He very seldom complains about medical problems and very seldom has medical problems.  Take this man seriously.  They decided to do that.

A specialist came in to see me.  She examined me and left.  She came back with another specialist and he examined me.  They both left.  She  came back later and examined me again.  She then told  me that they suspect something and they are going to do a spinal tap.  They did the spinal tap.

She came  back again and told me that I had Gillian Barre Syndrome.  She told me it attacks the immune system and the muscles.  I makes a person paralyzed and it eventually  kills a person.  It did not take them very long to rush me to ICU.  When I got there they hooked me up to some machines.  They started my treatment that night.  I was treated with a blood by product.  I forget the name of it because it is long and complicated.  I received it by IV.  I was given it once a day for seven days.  

After a few days when I was out of danger I was placed in a regular ward.  Then they started my physio therapy to help me learn  to walk normal again.  I was gradually getting the use of my arms and legs back.  Because it was close to X-mas I was sent home earlier than usual.  Dad came down and took my wife and I home for X-mas.  I found things difficult but I was gradually getting better.  The doctor told me it was because of my attitude. The second day in ICU I was laying in bed I was an emotional wreck.  I made a decision that I am going to use sheer determination, motivation, and hard work to beat this thing.  I did just that.

Today I am almost completely recovered.  I am doing quite well in life.

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