RudiK
05-26-2011, 11:07 AM
Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum. I was diagnosed with WG about seven weeks ago after spending nine months going from doctor to doctor with various illnesses.
First my left ear was "plugged" up - nothing physically wrong - ENT didn't know what to do. Then severe pain in my right shoulder - MRI showed nothing physically wrong - Orthopedic prescribed taking two Aleve, which didn't help, the pain went away after about a week. Then total numbness in my left arm, which lasted abou 10 hours and went away. Then loss of energy - doctor prescribed vitamin B12, which didn't help. Then a persistent dry cough, sometimes accompanied by blood-laced phlegm - doctor prescribed cough medicine and had no answer for the blood-laced phlegm since the xray was clean. Then a loss of all feeling in both of my feet, they are still totally numb, neurologist diagnosed it as the result of a mild case of epilepsi. Then the weight loss, in three weeks I lost 19 pounds. Looked for and found a different internist. This proved to be a challenge, since the first seven or eight doctors we contacted would not accept new medicare patients. March 31st was my "lucky" day. We found a doctor who accepted me as a new patient and had seen these symptoms before. She ordered a full blood panel (8 or 9 blood samples, 19 different tests) and brought in a nephrologist. They recognized the illness. I spent four days in a hospital, and received three blood transfusions. I was prescribed Cyclophosphamine, Prednisone, Sulfameth, and several other medication to counteract any side affects.
Besides both feet being numb, I do have some kidney damage, and a partial loss of feelings in my right hand. The bad cell count has gone down to about 30% of what it was at the beginning. The doctors are now trying to stop any further deterioration of my kidneys.
After reading the many posts in this forum I consider myself lucky that I don't suffer any more ailments besides the ones I have.
Rudi Kuehne, El Paso/Tx
First my left ear was "plugged" up - nothing physically wrong - ENT didn't know what to do. Then severe pain in my right shoulder - MRI showed nothing physically wrong - Orthopedic prescribed taking two Aleve, which didn't help, the pain went away after about a week. Then total numbness in my left arm, which lasted abou 10 hours and went away. Then loss of energy - doctor prescribed vitamin B12, which didn't help. Then a persistent dry cough, sometimes accompanied by blood-laced phlegm - doctor prescribed cough medicine and had no answer for the blood-laced phlegm since the xray was clean. Then a loss of all feeling in both of my feet, they are still totally numb, neurologist diagnosed it as the result of a mild case of epilepsi. Then the weight loss, in three weeks I lost 19 pounds. Looked for and found a different internist. This proved to be a challenge, since the first seven or eight doctors we contacted would not accept new medicare patients. March 31st was my "lucky" day. We found a doctor who accepted me as a new patient and had seen these symptoms before. She ordered a full blood panel (8 or 9 blood samples, 19 different tests) and brought in a nephrologist. They recognized the illness. I spent four days in a hospital, and received three blood transfusions. I was prescribed Cyclophosphamine, Prednisone, Sulfameth, and several other medication to counteract any side affects.
Besides both feet being numb, I do have some kidney damage, and a partial loss of feelings in my right hand. The bad cell count has gone down to about 30% of what it was at the beginning. The doctors are now trying to stop any further deterioration of my kidneys.
After reading the many posts in this forum I consider myself lucky that I don't suffer any more ailments besides the ones I have.
Rudi Kuehne, El Paso/Tx