Suspected Guillain-Barre case

[mcphilbrick]

Our local radio station, KMZA FM, just reported a suspected case of Guillain-Barre Syndrome as a result of the H1N1 vaccine. The report included an interview with the daughter of the victim. The victim is from Atchison, Kansas and she referenced doctors at KU Med.

The radio station usually posts text of their news articles on their web sites, kmzafm.com and knzafm.com within a day or two of the broadcast. Thus, it will probably be later today or tomorrow before this story appears on their web site.

I just did a quick check of Google news and could not find another source. This evening, I will check the area newspapers and television stations to see if they have picked up the story. I'll post verifying links as soon as I can.

[mcphilbrick]

Re: Suspected Guillain-Barre case

Kansas Man Contracts GBS after H1N1 shot

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- A Kansas man's effort to protect himself against the H1N1 virus has landed him in the hospital with a debilitating disorder.

Gerald Kuckelman requires 24-hour medical care. The husband, father and grandfather has watched his life come to a paralyzing halt and he attributes it to the shot he got a few days before Thanksgiving.

Days after getting the H1N1 vaccine, Kuckelman's doctors diagnosed him with Guillain-Barr? Syndrome. It's a rare disorder in which a person's own immune system damages the nerves, causing muscle weakness including paralysis.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention said on very rare occasions people might develop GBS in the days or weeks after receiving a vaccination. But of the 76 million doses given out, they have investigated 21 possible cases.

"We are not seeing anything to lead us to believe that the H1N1 vaccine is associated with GBS," said Abbigail Tumpey, a spokeswoman for the CDC.

"My gut says it was the H1N1 shot, but the doctors are not confirming that," said Kuckelman's daughter, Theresa McDermed. "No one in our family wants to scare anyone from receiving the vaccination."

So far the Atchison man said his faith is helping him through the many tough moments associated with the disorder.

"If I didn't have faith in God, it would be too bad," he said

[mcphilbrick]

Re: Suspected Guillain-Barre case

Atchison Man Believes H1N1 Shot Left Him Struggling to ...

Gerry Kuckelman is fighting to find the words to speak.

It's not his brain looking for the words, but his body leaving him struggling to answer.

Kuckelman's life changed overnight.

Two weeks ago the healthy 73-year-old woke up unable to move his arms and legs.

"I thought I was having a stroke," Kuckelman said.

But doctors say it's something else.

Kuckelman's battling Guillian Berre syndrome.

A disease his family believes is linked to his recent H1N1 flu shot.

It's a rare side effect to the vaccine.

The are only 13 reports of GBS out of the 64-million doses given out.

"The past two weeks have been quite wild," said Kuckelman's daughter Theresa McDermed.

Doctor's haven't confirmed it's the shot that triggered Kuckelman's paralysis, but McDermed says they've ruled out all other options.

She pushed her dad to get the shot about a month ago.

Now she says seeing her father struggle has her thinking twice about getting the popular vaccine.

"His speech is slurred, his eyes are droopy, he doesn't look like the same dad," she said.

Despite the hours of physical therapy that lie ahead and learning to use his body all over again, Kuckelman doesn't regret getting the shot.

He's still encouraging others to get the vaccine.