COVID vaccine and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)

I don't blame you for not getting it as suggested by our doctors. Better safe than sorry

I had GB and spinal meningitis. Last month Shingles. Both my doctors warn me about the Covid vaccination. It's not the vaccine, it's what my body will do with it. So hard being isolated. No one tells me what might happen to me if I get vaccinated just that contracting Covid might be worse. Really?

I had Guillain/Barre just over 60 years ago, with total paralysis and lobar pneumonia. I was in a pre-ventilator, old fashioned iron lung for nearly a month, receiving oxygen through nasal tubes, hospitalized for about 2 months. My view is that my auto-immune system tried to kill me, I've been told that I should not risk any vaccine since. Now I am faced with the current vaccine dispute. What do I do now????.

I am 83, and my episode with GBS was more than 60 years ago. I recovered with what I always felt were minimal symptoms. Those symptoms, however, have been greatly exacerbated by age. Balance is shot, significant discomfort at night,etc. I don't want the vaccine, but the ramifications of not having it are intimidating! What to do!!!!!!

@judith1045, I think that @ltf34 is right. It's not that the vaccine is unsafe, but rather that it is difficult to know what your body will do with it. The vaccine is the best way out of this COVID pandemic. But it may not be right for you. Thus, a serious discussion with your specialist is your best next step.

All the more reason that as many people as possible get vaccinated so we can help protect those who can't. I hope that the people around you are able to get the vaccine. What questions will you ask your doctor?

It sounds as though you had a serious case of GPS, as I did. My doctor who has been studying the vaccination a lot, has advised me to not get the vaccine. He said there's not been enough case studies on it

I had a very serious case of Guillain-Barre back in 2008. My doctor advised against having the vaccine as there have not been enough trials with it.

Thanks, Colleen! I appreciate your agreeing with me. This isolation is more & more difficult as time goes on. I don't know who I can be exposed to so I remain alone.

I am happy to have found this site. re...Vaccines and GBS. I'm very fortunate in that my family understands and supports my decision NOT to be vaccinated. Since we live outside of town, on 25 acres of ground, I have minimal outside contacts, such as weekly grocery shopping.. I work at keeping myself as healthy as possible, with the exception of mobility. I wish for the best for those GBS survivors out there, whatever their individual decisions are.

I can relate to how you feel. It's easier to isolate in the winter but not in the summer. I still get out, but very careful and wear a mask, and stay out of large crowds. Also, watch out for who you hug and come in close contact with. If you don't know where they've been, stand back.