Kansas City, MO - In a few serious cases of coronavirus infections people are developing a rare nervous system disorder called Guillain-Barré Syndrome (pron. Gee-own Bah-ray).
Though the disorder is rare, some cases of GBS have been found in those with COVID-19 infections.
Medical experts say GBS can occur in severe cases of several infectious diseases.
Six years ago John Dolen was stricken by a severe case of the flu, while living in Omaha, Nebraska. He says it lasted three days, then he felt suddenly better.
But within days he started feeling acute nerve pain.
"When I say acute, it felt like my body was on fire," says Dolen.
He says the last thing he remembered was being rushed to a hospital and hearing the words 'spinal tap'.
He fell into a two-week long coma.
"I was totally paralized. The only thing I was able to do was just barely move my index fingers," he says after awakening.
Dollen says it took about a year of therapy to regain his strength, and though he still has pain throughout his body daily, he's able to live independently.
He says it's important to get to the hospital as soon as you realize something's not right. The sooner you can receive treatment the better the outcome.
