Jean Hoeck of Clermont works with her physical therapist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., to relearn how to get into a car after she was paralyzed by Guillain-Barré Syndrome in August.
Guardian angel helps Hoeck through tough diagnosis
By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com
People say that miracles happen every day.
Jean (Schott) Hoeck of Clermont believes she is a testament to that belief and is lucky to be alive after being diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome this fall.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Hoeck — who works as a nurse for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and had worked as a neurological nurse in the past — noted that doctors aren’t completely sure what sets the sudden appearance of Guillain-Barré Syndrome in motion.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Guillain-Barré is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks “the myelin sheath that surrounds the axons of many peripheral nerves, or even the axons themselves (axons are long, thin extensions of the nerve cells; they carry nerve signals). The myelin sheath surrounding the axon speeds up the transmission of nerve signals and allows the transmission of signals over long distances.”
Because Guillain-Barré damages the myelin sheath, the nerves can’t transmit signals efficiently, which causes muscle weakness and could lead to eventual paralysis because the muscles can’t effectively respond to the brain’s commands.
“The first symptoms of this disorder include varying degrees of weakness or tingling sensations in the legs,” stated National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke’s website. “In many instances, the symmetrical weakness and abnormal sensations spread to the arms and upper body. These symptoms can increase in intensity until certain muscles cannot be used at all and, when severe, the person is almost totally paralyzed.
“In these cases the disorder is life-threatening, potentially interfering with breathing and, at times, with blood pressure or the heart rate and is considered a medical emergency,” the website added. “Such an individual is often put on a ventilator to assist with breathing and is watched closely for problems such as an abnormal heartbeat, infections, blood clots, and high or low blood pressure.”
Hoeck’s symptoms
Hoeck believes that the syndrome suddenly appeared because hydrosteroids she was taking to help recover from a poison-ivy rash weakened her immune system and caused fatigue.
“The whole month she was on steroids she would only go outside long enough to look at her flowers and get a couple things out of the vegetable garden, which isn’t normal for her,” said Ralph Hoeck, Jean’s husband. “Usually, she will spend hours in the garden, but the heat made the poison ivy itch so bad, and the steroids made her tired.”
On Saturday, Aug. 19, the day after she stopped taking the steroids, Hoeck was feeling well for the first time since she started the medication, so she decided to spend the day in her garden. At approximately 4 p.m., Hoeck noted to Ralph that she was going to pick a few flowers for church and go in and rest. She also told him that her lips and tongue were tingling, which was her first symptom. Ralph asked if she was having a stroke.