← Return to Anyone been diagnosed with CIDP? It's very rare

Discussion

Anyone been diagnosed with CIDP? It's very rare

Autoimmune Diseases | Last Active: May 22 1:57am | Replies (152)

Comment receiving replies
@church5x

I know i'm responding to an old post, but am looking for fellow CIDP'ers. I have recently been diagnosed and going through IVIG treatments. I have had 3 so far (first one being a double does over 2 days). I have not seen many support groups around this disease.
I was diagnosed in March 2024, and although through out the fall I had minor symtoms, I had no idea what was going on. Just slowly started to lose strength. I couldn't life baking pans, legs started getting shaky, writing was difficult. By February, I was unable to climb stairs, stand up from a sitting position, use my hands in any useful way, and very very unsteady on my feet. It progressed so rapidly I spent about a month needing a wheelchair for any outside walking or activities.
Luckily I was hospitalized and the neurologist who saw me was able to easily diagnose me. I feel very fortunate for this as no other doctor could figure out what was wrong with me. All of my tests came back normal! I have read it could take years to be diangosed, so I am so thankful that this neurologist crossed paths with me.
The treatsments seem to be working in that I can walk much steadier, and able to climb stairs with the help of a handrail. I do get headaches on a regular basis following my infusions, and try to drink a ton of water to combat this.
Not to be dramatic, but this is life changing. All plans work around 3 week infusions, side effects, and feeling yucky after them. I know I should be thankful that I can function independenly once again, but sometimes just get caught up in the "sorry me" state. I would love to hear from others, and how you handle the physical and emotional/mental part of this disease.

Jump to this post


Replies to "I know i'm responding to an old post, but am looking for fellow CIDP'ers. I have..."

@church5x Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I’m so glad you found us! Some autoimmune diseases are much more difficult to diagnose than others, CIDP being one. Luckily, yours has been diagnosed and now you’re getting treatment, I’m not sure if you saw this discussion:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/cidp-chronic-inflammatory-demylinating-polyneuropathy/
When you complain about your ‘sorry state,’ you’re just like everyone else with an autoimmune disease. I was diagnosed 6 years ago with a different AD and I still have ‘woe is me” days. I worked with a therapist for awhile and am looking for a new one. It’s like you’ve suffered trauma—you’re healthy one day, and the next, you can barely walk. You are doing better now and hopefully, will continue to do so. But remember, you’ve had a major shock and the disease will always be with you. So, find a therapist, and don’t think you have to explain all the details to others!
Can I ask how you found Connect?

I’m in the same boat as you are, with many of same symptoms.