What the Hell is FSGS???
We picked up the Prednisone on the way home from Dr. Asshole’s office. I started taking it that night. I didn’t want to wait another minute. Hind sight is 20/20. Had I known that I’d never get a good nights sleep again, I probably would have postponed that dose one more day so I could enjoy that final night restfull bliss.
But to quote Morgan Freeman in the Shawshank Redemption, “Get busy living or get busy dying.”
I know that sounds melodramatic, but think about it. People die every day from Kidney Failure. As a matter of fact, in my online sleuthing, I found out that FSGS progresses to End Stage Renal Disease or ESRD which requires dialysis and transplantation.
Statistically 19 people die every day in the US waiting for a kidney. People can wait years for a viable kidney unless they know someone willing to donate. And here’s the real kicker, even if I am lucky enough to get a kidney, FSGS can rebound and attack the new kidney. The disease is in my body. It kills the kidney. The kidney is not the problem.
So… how did I get this disease? Don’t know. I’m idopathic. That means there’s no rhymn or reason for me to have it. No family history. No prior kidney issues. No other diseases. And to really put a perspective on things, demographically, African American females are more typical to have this disease than me, a middle aged caucasian female.
To make matters even worse for me, patients with Nephrotic Syndrome progress faster to ESRD because Nephrotic Syndrome is, I guess, more severe in its make up than if I were to just have FSGS.
Why did I get this disease? Again, I don’t know. I’m not, nor have I ever been a drug abuser. I don’t have AIDS. And I don’t have any other diseases that would precipitate the disease.
It reminds me a friend of mine. Right after I was diagnosed, she called me on the phone and proceeded to ask me questions. At the time, I actually got a little bit offended, but after thinking on it a while, I finally found down right hilarious.
Here are some of her questions”
- Did you get this disease from a certain lifestyle?
- How did you contract it?
- Is it contagious? (My favorite)
First off, what lifestyle would I be participating in that would give me a terminal kidney disease? Huh? Like applying body paint and running nude through downtown Key West is going to give me a disease. Or skinny dipping. Or bungee jumping. If I knew, Lord knows, I would have avoided that activity. I promise.
Second, how can a kidney disease be contagious? Really???? Did she even have to go there?
Oh, I almost for the best part, the name of the disease. I actually had to practice saying it….. Focal Segmental Glomulerosclerosis. Yeah, FSGS.
Statistically, a patient who has Nephrotic Syndrome Primary FSGS who goes into remission within the first six months and relapses will progress to ESRD or Kidney Failure within 3 to 5 years.
I hope I can beat that prediction.