Inside ‘Bachelorette’ Alum JP Rosenbaum’s Devastating Guillain-Barre Syndrome Diagnosis
The Bachelorette star Ashley Hebert revealed on her Instagram story on Sunday, December 8, that her husband JP Rosenbaum, has been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome.
“JP was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome yesterday,” the former reality star revealed. “He is in treatment and doing well. It may be a long road to full recovery, but we are so grateful to everyone that has helped us get to a speedy diagnosis and treatment.”
JP, 42, posted several videos on his Instagram Stories showing him lying in his hospital bed. The Bachelorette alum described the diagnosis as “very surreal and humbling and crazy, rare.
“Things you do every day, like picking up this phone, or buttoning buttons, tying shoelaces, putting on deodorant, just can’t do it,” the former reality star explained. “Picking up my kids, can’t do it. Wiping your a**, maybe TMI, but might have Ashley assist on the next one. Can’t really believe it.”
Guillain-Barré is a rare neurological disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Weakness and tingling in your extremities are usually the first symptoms. These sensations can quickly spread, eventually paralyzing your whole body. While there is no known cure for the disease, treatments including plasma exchange and immunoglobulin therapy can relieve symptoms and physical therapy is needed. Guillain-Barre affects about one in 100,000 people a year.
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JP also revealed that though his symptoms leveled out and stabilized, he may be spending the next few days in the hospital while doctors monitor him. JP also noted that “there’s lots of physical therapy” in the future.
“I feel pretty much the same as I have all day, which I think is a good sign,” JP explained. “From what I’m told, my symptoms have hopefully plateaued and not gotten any worse, then hopefully I’m on the road to recovery.”
“I’ve heard from a lot of people and I know that things can get a lot, lot worse, and so — knock on wood — hopefully that is not the case for me,” JP continued. “Hopefully I’m fortunate enough where we caught it early enough, to start treatment early enough where we can now start recovery. But I will know more tomorrow once I speak with the doctor.”
Ashley and JPmet on season 7 of The Bachelorette in 2011 and tied the know in December 2012. The couple share two children, son Fordham and daughter Essex.