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This blog is another opportunity to feel grateful. Thank you, dear Universe, you continue to bless me with recovery and health.
Can you imagine being on a diet plan with almost no salt and proteins for almost a year?
I experienced it post getting diagnosed with Membranous Glomerulonephritis. It is a progressive kidney disease.
With Membranous Glomerulonephritis the filters of the kidneys get affected. Generally, the filters are responsible for cleaning waste products from the blood. However, with the onset of this disease, they are attacked by the body’s immune system. It causes inflammation, and swelling and affects functionality.
In 2016, I was diagnosed with a rare disease called Isaacs’ Syndrome. Isaacs’ is a neuromuscular health condition that stems from muscle hyperactivity. In the process, I also discovered that I had Lyme disease. Lyme is a bacterial illness that gets transmitted through ticks.
Glaucoma also accompanied me. Glaucoma is an eye-related disease that damages the optic nerves. I faced tremendous issues with my gut, stomach acid, and digestive enzymes. During my journey, I also developed Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Diabetes, Frozen Shoulder, Eczema and Blood Pressure.
In this blog post, I will share my key learnings and experiences after being diagnosed with Membranous Glomerulonephritis.
Understanding Membranous Glomerulonephritis:
Typically, we take a lot many things for granted, don’t we?
In my understanding, kidneys are a pair of organs located somewhere toward the lower back that function to filter blood and remove toxins.
Is that it? Was my experience that simple?
It was not an easy diagnosis as the symptoms were quite silent in their appearance for a long time. Busy with the hustle and bustle of life, I kept taking symptomatic treatments here and there. It came under the scanner post thorough clinical tests were conducted.
Symptoms of Membranous Glomerulonephritis and its effect on my life:
Most people might understand kidney infections and stones easily as they are among the most common diseases. However, only a few might know about certain chronic kidney-related ailments.
These ailments could add further body-function complexities. It includes fluctuations of water and acid balance in the body, blood pressure, and Vit D levels.
The story doesn’t end there.
I even had frothy urine, loss of appetite, and continuous fatigue. I woke up more often to urinate during nighttime. The symptoms added further complications as they intermingled with my other diagnosis.
Navigating my diagnosis process:
I underwent the following clinical tests to confirm the diagnosis:
- Urine Albumin
- Lipid panel
- Blood Protein
- Urine Protein
- Kidney Biopsy: this was the last resort. The sample of kidney tissues was taken and tested in two different labs before the diagnosis was confirmed.
The cause:
The diverse symptoms intermingled with each other and were associated with my Neurological condition. Yet the doctors concluded the cause to be:
- It developed due to the presence of other underlying health issues. An autoimmune disorder like Isaacs’ Syndrome could be the cause.
- History of consuming certain high-potency medicines. The preparation of those medicines used heavy metals which caused kidney damage.
- My associated history of immune system infections.
The most difficult part post-diagnosis:
- Was prescribed almost a no Salt diet.
- Let go of all my favourite food.
- The chronic ailment was filtering the limited protein from the blood into urine. This added further to my body’s weakness, weight, and muscle loss.
Digesting the news of my diagnosis wasn’t easy at all. It brought a flood of emotions. I experienced grief including a sense of denial, anger, and sadness. It was those moments in life when I felt helpless.
My Treatment:
The presence of protein levels in my urine sample was very high. Even the kidney biopsy reports mentioned the progression of the disease. Therefore, the treatment focused on controlling the symptoms and stopping further damage.
I was prescribed Blood-thinning medicines for blood clots and immunosuppressants. Also, the list included medicines for lowering cholesterol levels and blood pressure pills.
Changes were more specific to following a rigid diet plan. It focused on reducing the intake of protein and salt.
Further treatments that proved helpful:
The oppressive nature of allopathic treatment led me to try a holistic approach. Several alternative therapies, including Naturopath, Ayurveda, and Homeopath.
Ayurvedic medicines are known to be useful in treating various health conditions. They emphasize the importance of harmony within the body.
Kidneys are seen as an essential organ responsible for a lot of functions. They play a crucial role in their interconnection with other organs. The doctors prescribed a set of medicines to improve kidney health. For weeks together I was under strict vigilance.
Also, the following therapies as a part of holistic healing played their silent role:
Naturopathy:
The following home remedies were a part of my daily menu. They were loaded with properties to help reduce inflammation and urinary infections. These remedies contain antioxidant and antibacterial properties and are rich in minerals.
- Turmeric
- Coconut Water
- Avocados
- Ginger
- Vegetable juice
Lifestyle changes including diet:
This was the most important aspect of all. I was asked to follow a strict diet and lifestyle disciplinary regime to see results.
- Lower my Blood Pressure.
- Fluid control.
- Keep a check on the Sodium levels, have least salt.
- Say no to junk food and sugar.
- Moderate protein intake.
Chiropractic Care:
It helped improve kidney function. The treatment included spinal manipulations and nerve organizing. It was helpful on the entire nervous system to reduce inflammation.
Iyengar Yoga:
It is a side-effect-free technique that is known to fix many issues silently. I was introduced to various asanas that strengthen the kidneys. Though it is difficult to measure and confirm the intensity.
However, after starting Iyengar Yoga I noticed a change in my wellbeing. It proved effective.
Coping with Isaacs’ Syndrome, Lyme disease, Glaucoma, and MGN Together:
Where do I start from? It was unimaginable.
The rarity of Isaacs’ Syndrome presented significant challenges in managing it. Accompanying by Membranous Glomerulonephritis, Glaucoma, and Lyme disease gave some unique challenges.
From pre-post diagnosis to appropriate treatments, the illnesses stemmed from countless limitations.
- Lack of awareness among healthcare professionals and doctors.
- The intermingling of the wide variety of symptoms.
- Clinical testing and interpretations were limited.
- Limited Therapeutic options
- High treatment costs involved.
- A lifelong struggle with complications until a solution is seen in the future.
To Conclude:
My Nephrologist suggested me to be careful throughout life. It is important to take limited salt, proper medicines, and get timely clinical tests. The lack of warning in Membranous Glomerulonephritis means regular monitoring of the lipid profile to prevent further damage.
I must follow a routine until the disease and related symptoms are over.
I encourage my readers to agree with the multidisciplinary approach toward the role of support networks. Hope you find your strength and resilience in the face of managing health. Together we can help each other and raise awareness about rare and chronic diseases like MGN.
Please stay positive, seek proper medical care, and never lose hope. I have learned the hard way to manage these sets of diseases and live well.
DISCLAIMER
The views expressed above in this article are the author’s own and do not represent any kind of medical advice.
REFERENCES
Membranous Nephropathy: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Recovery (clevelandclinic.org)
