Medical Experts

Hi Mike: Swelling should not occur as a consequence of GBS with facial paralysis. It is certainly common to have a perception of swelling due to sagging of the facial muscles due to their weakness. If there is objective swelling I would hesitate to attribute it to GBS. Facial swelling can occur with IVIg treatment but it would come on during or very shortly after receiving the treatment. If you are still in the hospital make sure that you point it out to the doctors. If you have already been discharged home, get your GP to have a look at it. Gareth Parry

Hi Mike: Swelling should not occur as a consequence of GBS with facial paralysis. It is certainly common to have a perception of swelling due to sagging of the facial muscles due to their weakness. If there is objective swelling I would hesitate to attribute it to GBS. Facial swelling can occur with IVIg treatment but it would come on during or very shortly after receiving the treatment. If you are still in the hospital make sure that you point it out to the doctors. If you have already been discharged home, get your GP to have a look at it. Gareth Parry

Please let me know where you will be living. Also, how far you would be prepared to travel to see a neurologist and whether you would be willing to see someone privately; i.e. pay for consultation out of pocket.

Please let me know where you will be living. Also, how far you would be prepared to travel to see a neurologist and whether you would be willing to see someone privately; i.e. pay for consultation out of pocket.

It is very unlikely that your GBS has recurred but it is very important to seek medical advice for these symptoms. The most likely explanatrion is that you have a nonspecific recurrence of residual effects of the original episode which will subside as you recover from your recent COVID infection. A much less likely explanation is that you have the related condition, CIDP, that can sometimes closely resemble GBS at outset but go on to run a chronic or recurrent course. Let me reiterate, though, that it is important to get checked medically to ensure that nothing more ominous is going on.