IMMUNOGLOBULIINIHOITO

[Bb]

Lähettäjä: Soijuv Lähetetty: 11.11.2004 13:38

Kuten tunnettua useilla borrelioosia pitkään sairastaneista esiintyy vastustuskyvyn heikkenemistä. Tämän vuoksi henkilö sairastuu esim. helposti mitä erilaisimpiin infektioihin, joista toipuminen vie usein pitkän ajan. Tilaa voidaan yrittää hoitaa esim iv immunoglobuliinihoidolla. Seuraavassa yhden borrelioosia sairastavan henkilön kokemus immunoglobuliinihoidosta. Hän on hoitojen ansiosta kyennyt menemään ensimmäistä kertaa ulos ja opiskelemaan muutaman kerran viikossa sitten vuoden 1998.


I've been on IV Immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy since early August. The reason we were able to persuade my HMO to cover the therapy is that I met the diagnostic criteria for common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and had a 10-year history of declining immunoglobulin levels. My Lyme doctor thinks that patients like me, with movement disorders that seem immune-mediated, are most likely to benefit from the IVIG. At least in my case he is using IV IG doses that seem higher than those typically used by immunologists treating CVID.

The higher doses are more in line with those used by neurologists when they use IVIG to rein in immune-mediated neurologic problems. We want both to strengthen my immune system to help it fight the Lyme and candida and to rein in the autoimmune disease that he thinks causes the movement disorder and ataxia.

I used to get a big dose of IVIG two days in a row per month. I found the side effects too difficult, so we divided the monthly dose into four days' treatment to try to make it easier. I am also getting a liter of IV saline prior to each infusion of the immunoglobulin, which helps me better tolerate the dehydration which is a side effect.

I find that IVIG is a double-edged sword. I feel much worse because the herxes have been so strong, but my average activity level is higher. I hate the side effects, but it's the first time since 1998 that I have been well enough to leave the house a few times per week and go to school (I'm a college student). So, I am sticking with this, despite the herxes and fatigue. I am so grateful to have the sense that my body is fighting the Lyme again and to be more active, even if it has been very difficult to keep up this treatment schedule while also trying to resume parts of a normal life.