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Paul Gillian: My WG Story
I wanted to introduce myself. At 65 years old, I was diagnosed with WG (Wegener's Granulomatosis) in January 2011. The disease first manifested as a persistent ear infection, which unfortunately resulted in significant hearing loss in my right ear. I also experienced night sweats, a dry cough, and a decline in energy, appetite, and weight (I lost 25 lbs initially). Thankfully, my doctors classified my case as "mild WG" since my kidneys were unaffected, and my lungs and sinuses have significantly improved with treatment.
My husband, 77, diagnosed with GPA
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. S