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March 28, 2005 - 10:38 p.m.

Updated 3-29, 10:20 am

Where to begin...

I don't know if it started with his back ache or with the loss of feeling in his feet. Mike thought he might be having some of the same back problems as foxphotog and went to see a chiropractor. But things got worse. His feet were numb. His hands were numb. And then the right side of his face paralyzed. We spent Thursday night in the INOVA ER. He spent two hours in a closed MRI. They diagnosed him with Bells Palsy, gave him several prescriptions (including a cortosteriod) and suggested he see a neurologist.

He got worse over the weekend. His legs were weak. Going up and down stairs became more difficult as well as walking at a fast pace.

The neurologist saw him this afternoon and gave him a letter of introduction to the Reston Hospital where he will be the rest of the week.

Mike has been diagnosed with acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy aka Guillain-Barre syndrome, an inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nerves. From what I've been reading tonight, this means his immune system is attacking his nervous system. Steriod treatment also makes it worse, which explains the decline over the weekend. He is in a standard hospital room, not ICU, but is under observation while he's being treated. I am still unsure of a lot of details right now but will pass information along as I get it.

Foxphotog called earlier with some information from his brother, who is an md. He says that GBS is like meningitis - you don't want to get it but if you do it's very treatable. That, at least, is encouraging.

Mike's guest book is here if you would like to send him well wishes.


Update
Several people have asked if there's anything we need. I relayed this to Mike this morning and he had two words: black jellybeans...

 

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