Hypogammaglobulinemia
What is hypogammaglobulinemia? I cant tell you much because I have not found much myself on this topic except that my body has quit making antibodies I think. if any one has insight please add to this
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Hello @autumn12575
I am sorry that your appointment did not give you the answers that you were seeking. That is disappointing. Have you "googled" the term "hypogamaglobulinemia"? If not, please try to do that. There are a lot of websites with information about it. They may offer you some insights, although they may be difficult to read because of their technical nature.
Keep trying to research and understand what is going on. If you don't understand something a doctor is telling you, follow up with a message through the patient portal and ask more questions or ask to talk with the doctor's nurse or PA (physician's assistant). Often these medical professionals have more skills in explaining and educating patients than doctors.
I hope to hear from you again. Will you keep posting and providing updates as you search for answers?
Hello @hopeful33250
First thing I did was go to google & start looking at this stuff. I’ve even done that with all the bloodwork I’ve gotten so far. Trying to understand what’s going on. The problems I run into is there is different types of this disease from what I’m reading. Whether generic primary or its secondary to something else. I find a lot of explanations but things that are different so I really have no idea what pertains to me. That’s where I get lost. I know for years I’ve had odd symptoms that I could not get answers too. I haven’t heard anything back from this cancer doc yet. I still have 2 tests yet to do but I’m supposed to be fasting & super calm. Not sure how they expect me to just be calm with so many unanswered questions that I have. I’m going to have to find an immunologist on my own tomorrow.
Sincerely
Autumn
I'm glad that you are continuing to be tested and working through the process, @autumn12575. If you need these two more tests to be done when you are "fasting and super calm." I suggest that you try some deep breathing techniques several days before the day you have scheduled these tests. Here is a website that can give you suggestions for deep breathing/relaxation techniques. Just practice these exercises several times a day for several days before the tests are scheduled.
https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/uz2255
Would you mind sharing the name of the tests you still need to have?
Hey-
Can u maybe give us a past medical history of any pertinent virus or infections in the past or medicines of significant purposes? I know exactly how I got mine, amongst other major illnesses, n it’s from some wicked medicines I took. That would make my gammaglobulemia aka CVID secondary...I was a RN n have a MPH pre-illnesses ie ME/CFS, fibro, 6 sets steel
I know u said that you was an RN in an earlier post. I honestly don’t know what medicine would matter. I wish I could give you these answers I really do. I was completely blind sided when they called to tell me I had a blood disorder that was an autoimmune disease & gave me the name. That is the only thing I’ve been told other than seeing a cancer/hematologist doc who has not told me anything other than he was checking me for the multiple melanoma. I’m not sure I’ve had any one thing specific other than the terrible pneumonia I had twice in one year. Second time hospitalized me badly (which I believe I explained in a different post). I have no idea where any of this has come from. I don’t know what exactly you want me to say. In the last 5 yrs I’ve had a lot of issues with healing. It takes me forever to heal from anything. I slid & scrapped my knee on pavement in the early summer months & that is not completely healed right. If I get cut or burned it takes forever to heal now. When that didn’t happen when I was younger. I’ve had a salt taste in my mouth on & off for over 4 yrs now that’s so bad it burns my lips & still cannot get an explanation for it. I’ve been on steroids a lot for my breathing issues often about 4-6 times in a year. Yet my lung test is normal they say as well as the X-ray. I’ve battled with constant sinus infections about every month to 2 months for the last 4 yrs or longer always being put on antibiotics. My ears hurt with pressure everyday, slight ringing & lymph-nodes are rock hard just under my ears. Had a terrible bout of vertigo & never been the same since. I have terrible balance. I do not sleep good, my eyes have started doing weird things like darting, I have a terrible problem with heat intolerance & cold but the heat is way worse. My cheeks turn red & my ears and I get hot without knowing why (not blood pressure). I sweat from my torso something bad. My head will have sweat just dripping off it. Doesn’t matter if winter or summer. Although summer is worse. (Winter here is very cold) I’ve had constant infections in one side or the other of my bottom back teeth. Bronchitis about 3-4 times a year from about age 16-17 until about age 40. I haven’t had that as much recently. I had a lumbar fusion that never healed right internally with the bone they used off my hip twice that has happened in same spot. Need another surgery but won’t do it. Recent MRI showed white matter that had changed from the year before. I really wish I knew what specific ur looking for. There is a lot more issues I’ve had that I can’t remember off the top of my head right now that’s been on going for years without answers. I know my mother told me when I was little I was sick a lot. I had a lot of high fevers as a child without a cause so they would say it was just viral.
Good morning @autumn12575 . You do sound like you’re on a merry-go-round going nowhere! All the different symptoms and odd occurrences but no answers. My sister and I went thru the same things as you. My sister finally went to Univ of Michigan and was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. She really liked her care at U of M. I, finally, went to U of Colorado and have been happy with my care. You mentioned that you were thinking of U of Michigan. I say, go for it! But, first, do your homework. Write down the issues that bother you the most, how long you’ve had the symptoms, and the doctors you have seen. And go with an open mind. Take a friend or family member with you—to take notes and to be extra ears
Does this sound reasonable? Can you do this and then let me know what happens?
You might want to read this discussion also:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tips-for-getting-a-proper-diagnosis-of-an-autoimmune-disease/
Hello @autumn12575,
I'm sorry to hear that you are still frustrated and not understanding some of the medical terms that are being mentioned. I see that you are thinking of going to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. I go there also and find them very responsive to their patients and they do an excellent job in educating their patients. I hope you are able to get an appointment and get some good information.
@autumn12575 I haven’t heard from you and wondered if you’ve learned anything about what’s going on with your health. If you wish, please check in with us. Becky
Hi hun!! I would love to talk more in person if u can pm me I can give u my ph #, I can roll out more questions as they come to mind! This is a disease that u have to advocate for urself for unfortunately...I just got off of my 105 antibiotics in just 4 yrs! Have an appointment with Ortho surgeon here in an hr but pls get back with me! I will do my best to answer n help u figure this out!! Xo 😘. Lisa
Hello,
Sorry I haven’t replied right away just had other things in life going on. I would be fine with Pm then I would be fine with phone numbers there. It would be nice to pick ur brain as well. I haven’t kept track over the years with antibiotics or anything like that because I didn’t know any of this. When I sit back & think about it I was sick a lot as a kid growing up. I should probably pick my mothers brain a little about how much & often. I’m not sure how Pm works but I did see it here somewhere. It would be great to have instant convo instead of having to wait to get responses to questions or even answer someone’s else’s. I’ll keep an eye out for anything from you. Right now I’m still waiting on one blood test they had me do on Feb 19th. The results still are not back & im very confused on why it’s taking so long. It’s driving me nuts. My doctors appointment has been changed twice now because of. Please let me know what I gotta do to get in touch with you. Thanks