Sunday, April 3, 2011
You Decide
After talking to some about a disorder called Guillain-Barre Syndrome. It's a disorder that affect the PNS and causes the body to become paralyzed. You still have the function of the CNS, but you can't talk, breath on your own, eat, or move. We started wondering how bored and frustrated one might be with their cognitive function working properly, but unable to communicate with others. This lead to the question of "Would you rather have some cognitive impairment with this disorder or not?" Also note that GBS is a temporary condition where the prognosis is over time the person will get well. What are your thoughts? I know this seems like an easy question to answer, but your in the hospital all day looking at the ceiling with all these thoughts going through your head and can't express yourself. Having all these treatments done and not knowing how long you are going to be there can be difficult for some.
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I'm researching ALS which also traps people in their bodies much like GBS while leaving the mind intact. Unlike GBS, ALS is a progressive disease and leads to death. With ALS, I think I would rather have cognitive impairments and not know what was in store for me in the future. Many ALS patients have severe anxiety and depression and suicide attempts are not uncommon. With GBS, perhaps I would prefer to keep my mind. Where there is a will and a good OT, alternative ways to communicate can be found and knowing that i'll get better, I think I could stand just listening to friends and family talk to me for the time being.
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