Question
I am a 60-year-old woman with relapsing-remitting MS. I was diagnosed in 2016 and started on dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera). I was then switched to ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) in 2021. My MS is now stable. I have a low EDSS score, and I am fully mobile. I was very careful during the pandemic. I received all the vaccines and did not contract COVID-19, influenza, or any other infection until about 3 weeks ago, when I developed severe nausea, and my GP said it was likely a gastrointestinal virus. I have not felt so sick in years. I had terrible foot and leg pain that prevented me from sleeping, and pain in the lower back. As I started to feel better a week after, I was hit with a respiratory virus and a bad cough. I also noticed numbness in what I now know is called the saddle region.
The numbness persisted; I became incontinent with urine and have no sensation in the bowel area - I’m unable to poop. On Saturday, I came to the local hospital ER and was admitted. They did a spine-only MRI with contrast, which showed no activity. I have had a brain MRI with contrast and a lumbar puncture. The current diagnosis is that I have Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS). I tried to search MS-Selfie for any posts you’ve made on the site re GBS. Is GBS common in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS)?
Do you know whether having MS makes it more or less likely for a full recovery from GBS? I have no interest in living with incontinence and significant bowel issues - it’s quite terrible. I am hoping it will eventually resolve. Has that been the case with any of your patients?
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