Recovery ‐ Newsletter of the GBS Association of NSW
June 2016
My Story – Pauline Ralston
of IVIG infusions, 2 days off and then another 5. During
this time my 3 sisters had a roster system going so that
one was with me each day during the week, and my
brother, partner and son at weekends.
I was on holiday sailing the
Greek Islands with my partner,
his sister and her husband,
somewhere along the way I
picked up Hepatitis E. I was not
aware of it until 3 weeks after my return, when I fell
sick. After 3 days (Monday) I went to my GP who did a
blood test. Next day I noticed putting one foot in front
of the other was becoming a little strange. Although it
wasn’t far, going back for the results I wasn't sure how
I was going to get there and back. I managed to walk
there but felt like a drunk person, by the time I got there
I had to hold on to the reception desk and walls.
I was transferred to a rehab facility and thought at the
time that I should be home in a couple of weeks. How
wrong I was. My sisters still had the roster system going
with a little tweaking as they all had jobs. Sandra had
Mondays off and Lyn had most Wednesday off. Both
came down from the central coast, Kerry was there 2
nights. My brother Wayne came by each weekday to
take me to the cafe for coffee and he took me to his
place for dinner Wednesday nights. All this helped keep
me sane. My friend Wynne organised dinner, heavenly
fresh food, a number of times to be brought in. She has
been a regular saviour, calling by and taking me for
coffee. After a month there I had managed to slide out
of bed onto a wheelchair and use a stand up lifter
operated by nurses to take me to the bathroom, but it
was felt I wasn't progressing the way I should be. So
back to North Shore for an overnight stay for tests that
turned out to be a month.
He was mystified by my symptoms, I could squat but
was very weak and definitely had trouble walking, I was
given antibiotics for my hepatitis. I didn't quite make it
back to my apartment. A lovely lady saw I was having
trouble, took my arm and helped me back to my
building. She asked for my phone number so she could
check on me but being independent and proud I said I
was fine and not to worry. Little did I know that was
about to change.
After many tests I had a biopsy, where a nerve was
taken out of my lower leg and found my body was still
under attack, this shattered me at the time as more
than 2 months had gone by and instead of getting
better l was still under attack. Towards the end of the
month back there I was given 3 days of chemo and
steroids and then sent back to rehab. Another month of
exercising and still in a wheelchair I was practising with
a long arm walking frame with supervision, my balance
while improving a little, didn't enable me to be able to
use this on my own. It was felt I still needed care so it
was suggested I go into a nursing home type care, I
had enough of hospitals and that type of care at this
stage, even though the nursing staff were wonderful,
and at the age of 64 told too young for most of the
subsided care which is available. Nice to be told I am
too young, not something I hear too often these days,
but also not very helpful.
I had a call from my sister Sandra the next day. She
didn't like the way I sounded so she and another sister,
Lyn, took the day off work and they drove down from
the Central Coast. Before they arrived Friday morning, I
got out of bed to go to the bathroom. My legs gave way
and I collapsed on the floor where I remained until they
managed to climb my courtyard fence and gained entry
through a sliding door which fortunately I hadn't locked.
An ambulance was called and I was admitted to
hospital. I don't recall much of the weekend. I was on
a drip. No one could work out what was wrong with me.
I was told at one stage I had had a stroke, I kept telling
them I hadn't.
Some days went by and after blood tests, word came
from North Shore Hospital asking for an MRI and a
lumber puncture to be done as they suspected Guillain
Barré. The tests confirmed it. I wasn't able to move and
now there was concern about possible breathing
problems, so I spent the next couple of days in intensive
care until I was transferred to North Shore.
Fortunately for me my son and his wife took me on for
the next month, they have 2 little girls who kept me
entertained and I was very well looked after.
I spent a month there, having to be hoisted out of bed
for showers etc. I couldn't even open packets of cereal
or milk and I wasn't able to brush my hair. I had 5 days
I was desperate to get my life back and went home for
Easter, my sisters all came over the first day and night
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