Common Variable Immunodeficiency Support Group
Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a group of 20-30 primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) which have a common set of symptoms but with different underlying causes. CVID's underlying causes are different, but the result of these are that the body doesn't produce sufficient antibodies in response to exposure to pathogens.
Hello,
I was diagnosed with CVID after a couple years of recurrent Pericarditis with no underlying reason. I am relatively symptom free with the CVID. However I do have chronic pain from arthritis.
Anyone with similar symptoms? Other than the pericarditis and the arthritis, I am relatively healthy. My gamaglobulin levels are well below 400 with out the regular IVig treatments. But honestly, if I wasn't monitored, I wouldn't know my levels were low.
Anyone out there like me and not chronically ill?
Tammy
I was diagnosed with CVID after a couple years of recurrent Pericarditis with no underlying reason. I am relatively symptom free with the CVID. However I do have chronic pain from arthritis.
Anyone with similar symptoms? Other than the pericarditis and the arthritis, I am relatively healthy. My gamaglobulin levels are well below 400 with out the regular IVig treatments. But honestly, if I wasn't monitored, I wouldn't know my levels were low.
Anyone out there like me and not chronically ill?
Tammy
It's nice that you're not chronically ill, and there are others here who are doing well. Unfortunately, I'm not one of them yet, but I hope to be in awhile. :)
By the way, what is Pericarditis?
I typed in recurrent pericarditis and your post popped up. I know it's an old one ( in fact, you may or may not still be interested in the topic!)
I have been dealing with recurrent pericarditis since 2004. I was diagnosed at Cleveland Clinic in 2005, where I was put on a protocol of Prednisone and Colchicine to try and take down the inflammation. I have been on Colchicine twice a day every day since then to try and prevent flares. My most recent flare was January through April of this year.
It makes sense that you have arthritis, as most of us with recurrent pericarditis have some type of autoimmune something or other going on. (Interestingly, high doses of gamma are thought to possibly take down inflammation from pericarditis.) Unfortunately, I am someone who all my docs describe as chronically ill. I am very glad that you are not, though.
It is thought that fish oil supplements may act as an anti-inflammatory. I take quite a few supplements, fish oil among them, and all my docs have approved this. ( Maybe this would be helpful for you, I don't know.)
If you are not currently on Colchicine as a preventitive, I would certainly ask whatever doc treats your recurrences of pericarditis. It is considered standard practice by cardiologists for receurrent pericarditis.
Pericarditis is no fun, I know.
Hope you have been recurrence free!
All my best to you,
Heidi