Guillain Barre Syndrome – my experiences.

By

David Russell

Page 9

I had got so used to the small observation ward that it came as a shock to be told that I was being moved on. Where was I going? I found the thought of moving into a ward with lots of strangers unsettling. I need not have worried. I was moved to the next room. It was a men only room with eight beds in it. Mine was on the right by the window. Brilliant! I could look out and see the world, or at least Cork city. The other guys seemed friendly enough and I soon settled in.

Another day marked off the calendar, eight days to go, before the Christening. The day started routinely. I was getting used to the routine! Then, just before lunch, I had the ENG tube removed. It was amazing. It was just pulled out. This was a major psychological boost to me. All my time in hospital had been spent being tethered in some way. Now the ENG tube was out I was no longer connected and could go where I pleased without people looking curiously at me. Freedom at last.

I spent the next three days practising walking and getting around the hospital. I visited the shop. I walked outside for a short way, and I climbed stairs as often as I could. I was getting stronger and more adventurous each day. The christening was in my sights and the day was getting nearer.

My daughter-in-law, Marion, Mark, and grandchildren, had flown over to make final arrangements for the Christening. I knew they were coming to visit me and I was determined they would not see me in the ward I wanted to impress them with my progress, so I walked down to the foyer and waited. The sun was streaming through the windows and it was quite warm, inside. I saw their car and went outside to greet them. Marions’ surprise and hug, at seeing me up and outside was a real tonic. We chatted and swapped news. I again vowed that I would be out for the christening. Marion was a bit sceptical, but that’s her nature. I just knew I would make it.

The next day I got a bombshell. Marion and Mark had been to the Priest and due to some mix up over the date the christening had to be brought forward one day. I already knew I was pushing the limit for the 17^th,, now I had the convince the doctors that I would be OK a day earlier.  I resolved to mention it to doctor Sweeney at the first opportunity. I saw him the next morning. He was non-committal, slightly negative. ‘We’ll see’ he said. His attitude simply strengthened my resolve. I think he knew me. I spent the next three days walking and doing the exercises as much as I could. Before I knew it, Friday 15^th was here. It felt like judgement day. I waited for the doctors’ rounds on tenterhooks. They usually came to see me some time between 08:00 and 09:00. This morning they were late. The doctors and students were discussing something out in the corridor. I made myself conspicuous by walking past them, out into the corridor. I walked to the end, turned and walked back. I was concentrating like mad to look steady and confident. I hoped that I would be noticed. When, eventually, Dr Sweeney and his entourage came to me, I was sitting on the bed, listening to the radio through headphones. He first asked me how I felt. ‘Fine’ was the reply. I then reminded him that tomorrow was the day of the christening. He spoke to the other doctors and then asked me: ‘on a scale of 100 where do you think you are towards being fully recovered?’  I sensed that this was my opening. I exaggerated and said ‘ 80%’ He spoke with his colleagues for a short while, then turned to me and said ‘if you go out tomorrow will you stay in Ireland or go back to the UK?’ It was obvious to me that the question was loaded, so I told him I intended to stay in Ireland for at least two weeks before going back to the UK. This was a small price to pay. He pondered for a second or two and then said to his colleagues; ‘I don’t see any reason why Mr Russell shouldn’t go out tomorrow. Do you?’  They murmured their agreement and this seemed to satisfy him because he then gave me the news that I had been waiting for. He spoke to me and said ‘ If you agree to the local Community Nurse keeping you under observation whilst you are in Ireland, then there is no reason why you cannot  go out tomorrow’ I could have jumped up and hugged him right then, though that would not have been in character. I just said ‘ thank you very much’