Genes

[Sangye]

Same here. No AI diseases on either side of my family.

[DEE]

My daughter was diagnoised with Crohns six months after I was dxt with WG . At one time we were on almost the same drugs !! .

[marta]

Another reason to hope that WG has a genetic component.... if it does, maybe one day they can do some creative genetic slight of hand on us....

Gene Therapy May Help Muscular Dystrophy Patients

[RCOSSIO]

Maria this is a topic that had been brought to this forum several times...and I do agree that 1/2 have AI and the other half no AI. As for my case my uncle had WG and we think my grandfather, his father has WG as well.

Its a Caribbean thing...brought it over from the island 90 miles away!

[Sangye]

Maybe Wegs came here via a Cuban bunny rabbit?

[RCOSSIO]

Hahaha..on a raft

[Chris G]

We spent several days in the hospital last week with my 11 year old son, who has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (an AI disease). It's been the longest, most difficult week of my life. The doctors all repeated that we did nothing to cause it, and could have done nothing to prevent it. I of course sat there wondering whether I HAD actually caused it. But I couldn't bring myself to ask the question without crying. I've finally gotten hold of my emotions, and so I'm gonna pose the question to all of you.

We have no other type 1 diabetics in the family that I'm aware of. I don't have it myself. Since my WG diagnosis, I've always feared that I could pass something on to my boys. And now I'm afraid that I have.

[Sangye]

Oh Chris, I'm so sorry. That's a difficult diagnosis for a child to get.

There is NO way you passed that on to your son. If the tendency toward AI diseases were genetic every family on earth would be filled with them. I think you're going through what every parent naturally goes through when a child gets dx'ed with something serious--wondering if it was something you did or genes, etc.... Hugs to you, dear.

[Chris G]

Thanks Sangye. I hope that you are right, but I'm not sure I'll ever fully believe that I didn't have anything to do with it.

While I was wallowing in guilt, I failed to mention how amazing he's doing. We were released from the hospital last Tuesday. Since Tuesday afternoon, he has been doing all of his own testing, and since Thursday, he's been doing all of his own shots too! We help him figure out the carb count, and then he does the insulin calculations himself too. Did I mention he's 11???? Yes I did. We're so proud of him.

So far his attitude has been pretty good, but he's already sick of all of this crap. Imagine being hungry and not being able to simply put food in your mouth without testing, counting, calculating, and giving a shot. It absolutely SUCKS. I wish I had a stronger word for it.

[Brooke]

So sorry to hear about your son having this. Hugs to all of you