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View Full Version : immune deficiency treatments and causes (probably caused by GPA treatments)



little sister
05-16-2023, 02:13 AM
I relapsed with renal failure May 2022 and had 7 courses of plasmapheresis along with prednisone, Cytoxin and Tavneos. Hematologist tested my IgA, IgG and IgM, and resistance to pneumonia and other illnesses I've been vaccinated for in the past. Results were all negative so referred me to immunologist. I was diagnosed with Hypogammaglobulinemia (immune deficiency). Immunologist thought that the further out we got from the plasma pharesis treatments the better my results would be. At the end of august I got revaccinated for everything and retested and results were even worse. It's a year later, repeated testing is still all negative or very low, and he is firmly advising that I get subcutaneous immunology therapy. (I rarely get ill even though I'm weekly exposed to my preschool grandchildren who are germ incubators.) But he has scared me enough that I've agreed.
My question is if anyone else has experienced this?
I'm really dreading doing this every week for the rest of my life. I don't know why this is bothering me so much when getting RTX every 6 months and all the specialists I see, and medicines I take don't faze me.
So, anyway, I guess I'm looking for support. Wondering if anyone else here is dealing with this particular issue.
Thanks!

drz
05-16-2023, 08:27 AM
i just started getting monthly IVIG infusions. The hope is that this might help me avoid the frequent infections I get from having a suppressed immune system. At present we have to suppress our immune system to avoid dangerous flares of GPA or the old Weg's dog biting us. And that puts us at risk for more and/or serious infections that can kill us just as quickly as the GPA.