Did FDR have Polio or not ?
Dr. Bruno’s Original Post: I was interviewed about “researchers” saying FDR had, not polio, but Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) because he was an adult, had facial paralysis, "skin pain" in his legs, bowel and bladder problems – symptoms that are “statistically more common” in GBS. I reviewed FDR’s medical records from before and during his time at Warm Springs:
Facial Paralysis:
•Many polio survivors had some damage to the facial nerve, especially “bulbar" polio survivors
•FDR’s facial paralysis resolved.
Bowel and Bladder Problems:
A 1949 study found that 2% of polio survivors had urinary retention - were unable to urinate - right after they had polio. But anecdotal reports from the 1940's indicated that 65% of patients in some epidemics couldn't empty their bladders:
• A 1988 survey found that 11% of 203 polio survivors remembered having retention during the polio attack.
• In "bulbar" polio survivors who needed respirators retention was even more common.
• Constipation wasn't unusual in polio patients (nor is it unusual today in polio survivors).
Additional Observations:
• FDR had a high fever which is not a GBS symptom.
• FDR's leg paralysis wasn't symmetrical, as paralysis usually is in GBS. His one leg was
affected before the other.
• 70% of GBS patients recover completely. FDR? Not so much.
Could FDR have had GBS? Sure.
Did he? I think it was highly unlikely.
These researchers’ “GBS diagnosis” just shows you shouldn't use "statistics" to diagnose a patient dead for more than 76 years. Oh, and it also shows that you should know something about polio before you write an article saying FDR didn't have it.