Neuro Note #6: Marion's Long Journey for a Diagnosis of GBS

    For my final Neuro Note, I decided to choose Miss Marion's story. This short video is posted on the GBS I CIDP Foundation International website, and it shows Marion's personal journey on how she became diagnosed with Guillian-Barre Syndrome (GBS). It is titled, " Marion Oosthuysen - South African Liaison's GBS Story." Marion describes herself as having a great life plentiful with children, grandchildren, and even great grand children, so she has to keep busy to stay engaged with her family in Cape Town, South Africa. It was a couple of days before New Years Eve, and while she was doing house chores, she experienced some tingling sensations in her finger tips. She ignored it at first, but she then expressed concern when he whole body felt as if she was in a "bed full of needles." This is when she believed she might be having a stroke, so she contacted the doctor. The next day she went in, her symptoms intensified, primarily numbness in her hands and feet. The doctor rudely expressed that her concerns of a stroke were out of the question, and prescribed some medication; completely ignoring the main issue of her numbness. She was told, "the scans show negative signs of a stroke, so your numbness might be due to old age or fatigue. Here is some medication, and let's see how the next couple of days go." Marion didn't know any better, so she faithfully followed the doctor's advice. However, on Christmas, she started to experience pain in her trunk, and the numbness began to spread all throughout her body. She even claimed that she was not able to interact in opening gifts, which made her sad. She went to the doctor again the next day, and they started testing her physical capabilities, while looking for any hallmark signs of other disorders. She was recommend a neurologist, but since it was New Years Eve, there were not any neurologists on duty currently. So the doctor took roughly 26 hours to 'search' for a neurologist and came up short. In extreme frustration, she called her daughter to express her concerns, because her current doctor's office were simply ignoring her numbness issue by canceling out possibilities of other disorders, and expressed to her that she was 'fine.' Her daughter googled a neurologist in Cape Town, and she found one in 10 minutes. Marion switched doctors offices, and in under 20 minutes she was diagnosed with GBS.

    To further understand this assignment, I used the video provided on the GBS I CIDP Foundation International website and the lectures provided by Dr. Lancaster. Since we already have discussed GBS, I had a fundamental understanding of the disorder, I still used my notes as a reference to aid in my understanding the video. 

    I chose this video because it was one of the main videos that highlighted the delay process of becoming diagnosed with GBS. Marion's case is considered lucky because it took her under a month to get diagnosed. However, that process was still chaotic having multiple doctors assess and test her, and claim she is just fine; in actuality she was in severe pain. As an aspiring OT, I potentially might have some clients that are experiencing extreme pain and/or going through a tough time getting diagnosed for a potential disorder/disease. Therefore, as an OT, I need to educate myself on any possibilities that my client can become diagnosed with, and to be empathetic of their strenuous diagnostic process. I am a firm believer in the power of physical activity being used to make a positive impact on anyone's life. I know some may have barriers that restrict them from full body physical activities, but any type of movement that can be considered exercise I think will suffice. 

    I recommend this video because it emphasizes the longevity of a diagnostic process for someone with GBS symptoms, and the importance of spreading information regarding the disorder to the public and health care providers. 

Works Cited

        Foundation International, GBS I CIDP. "Marion's Story." GBS/CIDP Foundation International, www.gbs-cidp.org/patient-stories/marions-story/. Accessed 1 Sept. 2022.