One day I realized at school, that my fingertips were numb. Then it became more
and more difficult to walk and I could hardly lift my legs. They became numb as
well.
We went to GP, who couldn’t find anything in my blood, but sent me to an
orthopaedist. At the examination he found out that I didn’t have reflexes any
more and that I was paralysed. He said I had to go to hospital immediately. Then
I was sent to the Hof Hospital. There they did a spinal tap and found out that I
had GBS (Guillian-Barre-Syndrome). This is a extremely rare neurological disease,
which can affect legs and arms. This disease can damages lung and heart as well.
This isn’t the case with me. But it’s bad enough!!!
Then they treated me with Immunglobulinen and sent me to Erlangen after seven
days. Then I had different examinations and I was allowed to leave the hospital
after 14 days. At home I felt much worse that’s why I was immediately sent to
the hospital Hohe Warte in Bayreuth. When I was there, they did different
examinations, for example a spinal tap or they took blood. Two or three people
out of 100.000 people get this syndrome. I know that there are good chances to
cure this illness and I hope that I will recover soon.
I have been ill for over half a year, but I have been in hospital for four
months. The day in hospital is stressful and dreadful. At seven o’clock they
wake me up. Washing, Tromboseinjection, change into the wheelchair, breakfast in
the dining-room. There I always sit at the same table with four others. As I met
a good friend, who shares my room, my stay in the hospital is less boring.
Unfortunately we don’t have much time to talk, because we must go to therapies.
At first I have occupational therapy. There the therapist moves my hands and I
practise to grasp things by therapeutic games. After a certain treatment of my
spinal cord I could move two fingers a little bit. Now I go to physiotherapy.
Here the legs are stretched which is very painful. Besides I have training on
the running machine, where I’m fastened with belts and I help as much as
possible. Then I go to the classroom. There I learn English, math and German and
I try to keep up with my class. This article I wrote during the lessons, too.
Then I have lunch, which I dislike. (But my parents bring me something from home,
for example spaghetti, wiener schnitzel and speckbrezen.)
Unfortunately I have only an hour to relax, because I must go to other therapies
again: physiotherapy, computer training, power exercise and occupational therapy.
In the computer room I learn to write letters, work with texts and especially to
work with the PC. At the power exercise I work on machines which are used in
gyms, too. And I especially train my week muscles. From the beginning I have
practised how to walk in water three times a week. Last week I could surprise me
and my therapist by suddenly being able to walk a few steps. What a joy! I hope
that this shows that I will get better soon. After the treatments I have
approximately an hour to relax, where I just doze and lay in my bed. At diner I
am hungrier, especially when my parents bring me something delicious. At about
eight my parents go home and I go to bed. I could watch TV, but I’m not
interested in, because I don’t liked most of the programmes anymore since I have
been ill. After this stressful day I often sleep soon.
I wrote this story about my illness that other ill youths can read it and see
possible similarities.
Perhaps I can encourage other ill youths!!!!!!!!!!!