ICYMI: 'It was scary': Cape Breton woman with 'brain on fire' disease makes full recovery | SaltWire
| Posted: April 21, 2023, 5:15 p.m. | Updated: April 21, 2023, 5:15 p.m. | 9 Min Read
Even after coming out of the coma, finding herself attached to machines that were keeping her alive and intravenous medicine drips, Barrett wasn't able to remember much.Barret had anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, which is commonly called the"brain on fire" disease. It causes symptoms that present like organic mental health disorders like schizophrenia and depression as well as neurological issues such as slurred speech, chaotic arms and body movement and seizures.
Amber Barrett, now 30, enjoying a ride on her horse Maggie, in October 2022 - her first ride after recovering from anti-NMDA encephalitis, a rare disease that is often misdiagnosed because it presents like a mental health disorder. CONTRIBUTED - ContributedAs reported in the Cape Breton Post in 2021, anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is an autoimmune encephalitis often triggered by a viral infection or, as in Barrett's case, ovarian teratoma .
Along with short-term memory loss, Barrett also experiences episodes of psychosis and agitation. On March 13, 2021, Barrett was sent home from her job as a continuing care assistant. She was doing patient rounds and then returned to see patients she already visited when managers realized Barrett wasn't well.
Her speech was starting to slur and she was losing the ability to control her movement. A spinal fluid tap was ordered to test for the antibodies that prove an anti-NMDA receptor diagnosis. Amber Barrett in hospital in 2021, then 28 years old, hooked up to the machines that helped her breath and eat while battling severe symptoms from anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. CONTRIBUTED - ContributedAfter her symptoms improved, Barrett was released from hospital in June 2021 to begin months-long recovery. She spent from June until mid-August 2021 at the Sydney Mines rehabilitation centre. Then was transferred to a rehabilitation centre in Halifax until Sept. 10, 2021.
When she was cleared to drive again, Barrett really began to feel she was close to recovering. In September 2022, she was able to return to work and the following month allowed to ride her horse Maggie again. The Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis Foundation in Canada told the Post there is a new drug for the illness in clinical trials in the United States which started in March 2022.
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