Guillain-Barre Syndrome

I have no background in Medicine but since I was misdiagnosed of Amoebiasis for what was supposedly Hyperacidity only when I was in Dubai, my curiosity on medical stuff began.

"Guillain-Barre (ghee-YA-buh-RAY) syndrome is a disorder in which your body's immune system attacks your nerves. This disorder was a stranger to me until my dad was hit by this disease, and our lives had changed." (definition and picture below were taken from http://www.mayoclinic.com)

Guillain-Barre syndrome destroys the protective covering of the peripheral nerves (myelin sheath), preventing the nerves from transmitting signals to the brain.-

 Late 2012, around October or November, he began complaining about the tingling sensation in his hands, sometimes feeling stiff. We thought it was just a simple arthritis. On January 31, he felt pain on his back and was so weak, so my parents went to the nearest clinic. He was even referred to a Cardiologist but he was okay except for a mild Urinary Tract Infection and an elevated SGPT level.

The following day, February 1, 2013, my dad started vomitting, complaining headache. Anything he takes in, he vomits. He did not want to be brought to the hospital. I told my mom to call me immediately even in the middle of the night if the vommitting persists. Saturday morning, February 2, 2013, I received a text message for my mom saying that they would bring my dad to the hospital cause he never stopped vomitting the whole night.

The next was Medical Center Imus Horror...

My dad was admitted in Philippine General Hospital at 11pm of February 3, 2013, Sunday. "They rarely admit patients on weekend except you are showering in your own blood", said my tita. His former Gastro-Enterologist attended him the following morning, Monday. My dad has a history of ulcerative colitis that's why we requested for his GI to check on him. However, the doctor said that his symptoms of body pain, back pain is extra-colonic. 

Medical Center Imus HORROR

**What you will read here is from my personal experience in the hospital.

 February 2, 2013, Saturday, my brother and mom brought my dad to the emergency section of Medical Center Imus (MCI) because he's been vomiting the whole night and he's already so weak. They told my mom that he needs to be admitted, so we had him confined there though we're quite doubtful about it. He was roomed-in at 2pm. An IV Antibiotic was given to him, plus a dextrose to keep him hydrated. He continued vomiting. I asked the nurse why does he still continue to vomit, she said "Okay lang po yun ma'am". I kept on following up on the nurse station regarding my dad's attending physician who's still not around at 6pm. My dad was complaining of headache already. They just keep on saying that the doctor is coming. I went home and told my mom to update me.

The following day, Sunday, February 3, 2013, I came back to the hospital. There I learned from my mom that the attending physician of my dad arrived at 12midnight. What? Whole day, my father was there, they did nothing but just inject dextrose, antibiotics, check his temperature. I was asking for a resident physician cause I know there should be someone looking after him in case the fellow is not present. But they don't have, the doctor was just texting the nurses for instructions. I was shocked with their kind of system there. I have been hospitalized before so I know how a patient should be taken care of.

What Did You Say, Doctor?
My mom told me that when the doctor came he told her "Ang pagsusuka, galing yan sa tiyan, hindi yan galing dito (pointing to his neck) o dito (pointing to his head)." When I heard of it, I was surprised cause that was the stupidest explanation I have heard from someone who should be knowledgeable of his field. I have spoken to that doctor also on Sunday afternoon before my dad was discharged from the hospital, I asked him what does it mean if the SGPT is elevated? He told me "Hindi natin masabi, kaya nga ni-refer ko siya sa GI, oo, Gastro yun di ba?" I was not convinced by his answer, and the more I became convinced that I should really transfer my dad to a better hospital.