First published on March 20, 2010 at 9:40 p.m.
I have officially been diagnosed with Guillain–Barré Syndrome! Basically, it is a very rare condition where your own body starts attacking the protective covering around your nerves. This is why my hands and feet have gone numb and why I've been losing my ability to walk over the past two weeks. It is not hereditary, it is not contagious, they don't really know WHY people get it, and only 2 out of 100,000 people might get it. The neurologist himself said it's nothing I did wrong and that basically it is just plain BAD LUCK that this happened. My dad always said I was one in a million... turns out I'm also 2 in 100,000 ♥. Treatment started today - for the next five days I will be receiving an IVIg treatment which is a 4-5 hour IV drip of basically stuff that comes from plasma donors. I've also started working with Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists, who have been evaluating my ability to walk stairs, dress myself, get on/off the bed/toilet/chair, etc. I am now the proud owner of a super-sweet cane! The good news is that this damage is NOT permanent. The bad news is that it could take me anywhere from several weeks to 6 months before I am walking/functioning normally again. The IVIg is stopping the Guillain–Barré from getting worse, but it does not really cure it. Guillain–Barré usually runs its course on its own, and thusly my body will re-grow that protective nerve coating on its own, but the doctors told me that the nerves heal themselves on their own time, and there's really nothing we can do to speed up that re-growth process. Here's hoping that I'm good to go in a few weeks and that this numbness/weakness/pain doesn't last another half a year! :) The other good news is that I should still be able to go to South America with Wolf in October! YAY! The other bad news is that I will most likely have to cancel the epic Midwest + East Coast Tour De Force I had planned out for the next two months. And I also had a little cry this morning when the neurologist told me I would probably not be running Grandma's Half Marathon this year. He said "it is not an impossible possibility" that I could maybe possibly walk it. So for now I am just going to try to heal heal heal and hope for the best. Even in the face of some of these disappointments, overall I am SO glad I have finally been diagnosed! No more blood draws, no more MRIs, NO MORE SPINAL TAPS, and most importantly, in place of all of those things, I now have Knowledge and Hope ♥. My spirits are a millions times higher just knowing that treatment has started and that someday I will be able to put a canoe on my shoulders again. Even if it takes me a long time to get back to that point, I am SO grateful that I CAN get back to that point. This whole thing has been incredibly frustrating and scary, but now at least I KNOW. And you guys have made this whole Impromptu Medical Adventure so much better with an astonishing amount of prayers, calls, texts, messages, visits, and deliveries from the Gift Shop :) Today I was so lucky to spend time cuddling a bunch of cute babies (thank you Kristin and Anne and Josh Gorham!) which cheered me up SO MUCH. My Renegade Running Family has come out in DROVES, armed with silly gifts, love, and knowledge of Hospital Financing (thank you Robin, Shannon, Lindsey, Patricia, Alicia, and Chief Financial Adviser Tina!). AND COTTEY GIRLS! I am blown away by the unending line of flowers, fruit baskets, CATERED FOOD TRAYS, ducks and daisies that were brought to me today via Erin Kathleen McCann Heintz and an entire ARMY of Cottey girls! Erin is going to send me a list of all of you amazing beautiful ladies so that I can thank you all personally. You guys made my dad cry a little (and me) ♥. I am so relieved that the Mystery Illness has been revealed, and that from here on out, I can focus on healing. Thank you to each and every one of you for being there with me, every painful, wobbly step of the way ♥.
P.S. Chris Dj-Chavo Ayala, you made laugh out loud SO HARD when you wrote that you were going to punch my Mystery Illness right in the dick. And I'm not the only one who laughed - several people have mentioned your punching prowess to me, and they are all now waiting with baited breath for you to take action. So without further ado, Chris Ayala, meet Guillain–Barré. Let the punching begin ♥.
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