Relapse is a word that every vasculitis patient fears. Those are unfortunately the words that my Rheumatologist uttered to me on Feb. 6. After three years and eight months in remission, my immune system has again decided to go haywire again. For those are unfamiliar with vasculitis, vasculitis is inflammation of the small blood vessels the body. My specific vasculitis, Granulomatosis with Polyangitis (aka GPA or Wegener's) affects my sinuses, ears, lungs, and kidneys.
This diagnosis confirms something I had unfortunately suspected for well over a month. As a professional distance runner and vasculitis patient, I am used to all sorts of weird things happening, but the last six weeks have been plagued by just too many to ignore.
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