In June of 2020, I began to have vertigo when I would turn over to my left side in bed. It would last for thirty minutes before I went to work as a C.N.A. I begin to feel fatigued, weak and my blood pressure went up. After work. I went to see my doctor and she sent me to the E.R. she thought I was having a stroke. 

At the hospital they discovered I had an old stroke but no new strokes. I could not hardly stand or walk. My speech was slurred, vision blurred, and my legs and arms were weak and heavy. They preformed all the tests (bloodwork, c-scan, MRI, speech therapy, etc.) I was released put in a wheelchair by the techs (CNAs) and pushed out into a parking lot to wait on my husband to get the vehicle.

I was referred by my doctor to a neurologist, cardiologist, ENT, pain doctor, eye doctor, and physical therapy. I was told I was having tias (mini strokes) by the ENT, stroke by physical therapy & another doctor, neurological disorder by 3 different E.R doctors, migraines by first neurologist.

My first neurologist diagnosed me with migraines. He said I would be fine and in 2 weeks I would be back to work. He offered me BOTOX which would be 31 shots every ten (10) weeks. I declined. He then put me on a shot once a month. I only lasted two months on this because it was causing my scalp to become very dry & losing my hair. 

I asked my doctor for a second opinion and she was referred to a second neurologist who ordered a test for a EEG and MRI of my neck. It was discovered I had a herniated disk in my neck. 

My first neurologist insisted I was only having migraines and I did not know I was having them. He said I would be fine in 2 weeks and offered me BOTOX which would be 31 shots every ten (10) weeks. I said no. 

My health was declining fast. I became diabetic, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, vertigo, falling, numbness, weakness, fatigue, could swallow cause my right side of face would go numb. I developed reflex, gained over 60lbs., tingling and numbness in my feet and hands, episodes where I could not move my entire body (paralysis). I begin to experiencing memory loss, confusion, blurred visions, doubled vision, hearing problems, ringing & popping in ears.

Before all of this I was only on vitamins and allergy pill when needed (PRN). I had lost almost 70lbs and I  thought I was getting healthier. I would do twenty thousand steps a day. I loved my job and also volunteered there every week.

I became very weak and could not hardly walk. The pain became unbearable. I became unable to dress, bath, cook, clean my house, and needed help to get in and out of a vehicle. I had to use a cane or walker and even that became difficult for me. I developed a frozen shoulder with a tear and a drop foot.

I lost my job because I became disabled. It has not been easy. But after going through this for nine (9) months bloodwork showed strong positive for Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) and I was admitted to the hospital and placed in down step of I.C.U. to receive IVig treatments and in a medical rehab a total of 22 days. 

Then I found out that I have CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory  Demyelinating Polyneuropathy) because the GBS was not treated early and went on for nine (9) months. In treatment I was given physical therapy, speech therapy and orthopedic therapy. 

I am home now but I am still having GBS/CIDP attacks. I was approved for home health, a brace and a scooter so I can get around. If I try to push myself to walk further or do too much, I have an attack and will go into paralysis. The shortest attack I have had was 30 minutes and the longest attack was 5 days.

Since hospital and rehab, I now have them every other day and they can last all day. I have been referred to another place to a neurologist that I pray knows about GBS/CIDP and can help me on my journey to get better. I may need more treatments or even plasma. 

The only thing that has helped me to get through all of this is my faith in Jesus Christ and my fight the good fight of faith. 

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.