Thanks for checking in on me. I've been pretty ill since I began the Rituxan. I've had so many doctor visits - gastroenterologist, rheumy, primary care doc, urologist, infectious disease specialist, OB/GYN, cardiologist, and I'm going to see a neuromuscular specialist in a couple weeks. The Wegs has attacked a lot of my organ systems, and it doesn't seem like the Rituxan has done diddly squat for me so far. For most of this year, I've had a UTI that my doctors have not been able to get rid of, even after rounds and rounds of different antibiotics. The urine cultures have shown I have a colonization of E.coli in my urinary tract, so I'm going to get 10 days of an IV antibiotic, then the urologist will do a cystoscopy to check out my bladder. I've also had a flare-up of my gastroparesis, which has now caused severe food aversion (I'm only eating fruit juice popsicles, graham crackers, and rice - been this way for most of the year), nausea, vomiting, plus blood and mucus in my stool and massive constipation. I'm having a colonoscopy on November 4th. Also, my rheumy referred me to a neuromuscular specialist, as the Wegs has attacked my nervous system. My grip strength, tremors, control, and numbness have gotten worse in my left arm/hand, and has now started on the right side, too, plus numbness in my feet now. I know my rheumy has mentioned in the past that she is concerned about my nerves being attacked by Wegs, as it could possibly lead to paralysis. I'm also experiencing issues with my heart, and the cardiac ECHO I had done showed some heart damage and mild murmurs. Both my parents died of heart disease (plus smoking destroyed their lungs), so this does concern me.
Sheesh, it sounds like I'm complaining and whining a lot! I'm so sorry - it has just been overwhelming the past few months. I really had high hopes for the Rituxan. I'm still praying that it can kick my Wegs into remission, so we'll see. My last CRP wasn't positive, as it was up to 114.7 mg/L (the reference range showed that the highest "normal" number it should be is 4.9 mg/L, so mine is WAY over). For the time being, my PR3 in my ANCA panel was finally in the normal range for the first time in years (my C-ANCA and P-ANCA have always been normal except for 1 time my C-ANCA was positive), but because my symptoms are still so prevalent, my rheumy says I'm not in remission yet.
I just hold onto this: "Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." Luke 8:48
Originally Posted by
Gab122
How's it going @
txrepub4God ? Is ritux still making you sick?
Have they texted crp or sed rate or ANCA score to see if you are improving? Just thought I'd check in.
God bless!
Gab
Teri from Texas
Diagnosed w/WG March 2015
"Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me." - Psalm 30:2
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