Discharge Instructions for Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Activity

Do's and don'ts:

• Stay active, but don’t overdo it. Get advice from your healthcare provider or physical or occupational therapist on what your activity should be.

• Be patient. Recovery from nerve damage is a slow process, and each person’s recovery is unique. You may recover in as little as 3 weeks, or it could take as long as 3 years.

• Be careful. If you still have numbness and weakness, limit activities in which you could fall or hurt yourself. Use temporary assistive devices (walker, cane) as needed until your strength returns.

• Set priorities. Decide which tasks you need to do on a given day. Save the others for another time.

• Talk with your healthcare provider about physical therapy and occupational therapy. These can help you get your strength back.

• Don’t drive until your healthcare provider says it’s OK.

Getting support

• Work closely with your healthcare provider and rehab (rehabilitation) team to ensure the best possible recovery.

• Ask your healthcare providers to work with your employer so that appropriate accommodations can be made.

• Seek emotional and physical support when you need it; then accept it. This isn’t a sign of weakness.

• You may find it helpful to talk with a counselor or therapist in addition to your primary care provider.

• Some people find support groups helpful. The GBS/CIDP Foundation can identify both local and online resources for patients and caregivers. They can also be reached at 610-667-0131 or 866-224-3301.

• Get out of the house. Ask a friend to visit or to take you on short errands.

Follow-up

Make a follow-up appointment with your healthcare provider as advised. Keep all recommended referrals and follow-up appointments. Rarely, GBS can sometimes get worse.

When to call your healthcare provider

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following:

• Numbness or tingling in your legs, hands, or feet that gets worse

• Weakness that gets worse

• Dizziness

• Loss of movement or feeling in your legs, hands, arms, or feet

• New nervous system symptoms, such as double vision, slurred speech, or trouble swallowing

• Shortness of breath

• New bladder or bowel symptoms

• Fever of  100.4° F ( 38°C) or higher, or as advised by your healthcare provider

• Chills

• Symptoms get worse or you have new symptoms