Hey everyone,

Just wanted to reach out and connect with this community in the hopes of sharing experiences related to GPA, medications, and the challenges we face while fighting this awful illness, (Wegener's).

Last September, my husband, who is 76 years old, started experiencing sniffles and congestion, which eventually led to a confirmed diagnosis of GPA in January, primarily based on sinus issues. As his wife and advocate, I've had my own battle with MS since my 20s, along with several other immune system-related diseases. So, I'm no stranger to dealing with a variety of specialists, medications, and constant testing.

Until GPA came along, my husband was a very healthy individual, with his only concern being high blood pressure. One thing I'm incredibly grateful for is the fact that all of our doctors and specialists have wholeheartedly jumped in to help my husband, treating him with the same level of care and attention as they would for a younger patient. Sadly, there are cases where some patients are not treated properly or ignored due to their age, so it's a relief to have excellent specialists and research hospitals here in Little Rock.

My husband has already received a 1 gram infusion of Rituxin, and he's due for his second one at the end of this month. So far, he's been doing quite well with the treatment, experiencing only a slight sense of feeling odd but no significant side effects.

Given my own experience with immune system diseases for almost 30 years, I naturally started looking into which foods, vitamins, minerals, and herbs should be avoided by GPA patients, especially those on Rituxan.

I would love to connect with anyone who can provide links to pages offering dietary and supplement lists specifying vitamins, herbs, and foods to avoid for those with GPA. Or perhaps you have your own experiences and insights to share. I'm really looking forward to hearing from you all and hopefully making some friends along the way. Having someone to talk to and support each other would mean the world to me as I strive to provide the best possible care for my husband.

Oh, and just a little tidbit about me - I've been a professional singer, songwriter, and guitarist since the age of 15. Despite life's challenges, I still maintain a great sense of humor and love meeting new people.

Sincerely,

Emily Dixie