Dan Stachel

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It all started on Halloween. Dan had tingly toes and fingers, but didn't think too much of it. The next day he woke up and felt weak, but powered through in hopes of the weakness being just a fluke. He dropped Owen off at school and headed to work. As the day progressed he felt weaker and as this wasn't something he'd previously experienced he decided to visit urgent care. After less than four minutes of chatting with Dan, the urgent care doctor told him to head to the hospital ASAP (and not drive himself). After five hours of hanging out in the Methodist ER, and several tests (including brain MRI) complete, all results came back normal. The doctors decided to discharge Dan as he could still get around independently. They asked him to come back the next day for an MRI of the spine at 4:30pm. 

Friday night came and went. Saturday morning when Dan woke up, he went to take a step out of bed and collapsed. After an ambulance ride back to Methodist ER around 8am, a spine MRI more blood tests, urine tests, and a spinal tap, around 8pm that night it was confirmed that Dan had Guillain-Barré syndrome.  The doctors started Dan on Immunoglobulin treatment almost immediately and  had him start physical therapy the very next day.

For those who haven't heard (or Googled it) Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare disorder in which your body's immune system attacks your nerves. There is no cure for this syndrome, however there is treatment and physical therapy to help patients get back to their everyday lives.  We (doctors included) have every belief that Dan will make a full recovery!

**Dan will have 3+ hours a day of PT/OT and will need to rest in between.  He would like to see everyone, however given his condition and schedule, please reach out to us prior to visiting.**