A bit about me

[Alikazam]

I'm newly registered here and wanted to say hello to everyone. I was diagnosed with GPA in August 2019 after a good few years of various problems. It's pretty systemic, with sinus, lung, skin, renal, skin and (newly acquired) heart problems. In clinical remission as of Dec 2019 so moved on to azathioprine but struggling to get BP and heart rate under control.

[Nadine99]

Welcome to the group. Sounds to me as tho you're doing really well. Best wishes

[Alikazam in reply to Nadine99]

Thanks Nadine

[AndrewT]

Dear Alikazam,

Let me 'Echo' Nadine99, in welcoming you, Alikazam. Yes it IS a 'Bit Of A Fight', to get the right Blood Results, sometimes. Glad, to hear, that you are in remission- even if, you DO, feel like erm, well erm, Sh*t sometimes....as I said Welcome😋.

I used to be on Azathioprine, prior to my Kidney Transplant- in July 2013. I am now on Tacrolimus, as well as other drugs, to both combat rejection AND control the Vasculitis- who said 'Men Can't Do Two Things At Once'?

You will, I'm quite sure, 'find us' a friendly Bunch- by and large- with a, very good, 'Collective Knowledge. (We are NOT however 'Healthcare Professionals'- just people actually Suffering from these Conditions!) I know that I speak for us All, when I say, please DO ask us Anything and, I know, that we will try to Help. Be it regarding Your Medication, Doctors/ Consultant(s), what to 'Expect' from certain Procedures (between us we have had Most, if not all, of them.). We, will Try anyway, to assist you with DSS, PIP, Universal Credit etc Claims, and so forth. I Know that the C.A.B., and your own Social Worker, can- and will- help you in these Matters.

Trust me, a lot of us, know about Skin Problems, Tummy Problems and 'Waterworks' Problems...to name but a Few! So, you ARE, in Good company 😃.

Once again Welcome, if it's not too late- Happy New Year. We look forward, to hearing, from you.

Warmest Wishes, from us all.

AndrewT

[Alikazam in reply to AndrewT]

Hello Andrew. Thank you. Certainly not too late to say Happy New Year!

Throughout all of this, I've continued to work (when GPA and treatment permitted). Luckily I have a very understanding boss and I've been able to dip in and out of the business as much or as little as I found necessary. Back full time now and hoping to get a semblance of my life back. The period post-induction is an odd one though...I'm not as seriously ill as before but I could be again, so I'm learning to live with watching my health but trying to not be entirely consumed by GPA.

Very impressed with the multi-tasking. Even if it is juggling drugs!