IgA does protect your digestive tract, sinuses, and being deficient in IgA can contribute to bowel problems.

My IgA is listed as less than 7 and I have horrible reactions if my rate is too high and mild reactions when my rate is lower. I even use the low IgA IVIG and still have some problems.

i have low IgA (all my Igs are very low)
i dont have problems with my infusions...other than flu like symptoms the day and night of....which can be better controlled IF i slow down the rate..if it gets bad i do if not too bad i just get it over and know the day of is a lost day the next day i am usually fine at times some fatigue but it is a necessary evil so i just do it and try not to complain too much...
no clue if there is a connection
i have had gi issues in the past i had colitis for over 1 yr
i have also always battled nausea off and on since childhood...
i know someone that had gastric surgery and she now has low iron to the point if now having iron infusions...i know docs claim there is no connection....but any time one system in the body is off i think it affects other areas.....so whether they say it is related or not....i just wonder.....it is like any complex machine it may run with a faulty part...but i think it causes stress on other parts that will lead to problems down the rd...
nothing but my observations and thoughts take it for what it is worth....

Well I just looked up my records from Jan. 06 and it states my IgG was less than 34: Iga less than 7 and IgM 8. I honestly have really never had problems with infusions, I am done in 4 hours, and I never get flu-like symptoms, or riggors or backaches or symptoms I hear about alot of the people on this site go through this, god, miserable. So either I am extremely lucky or maybe its because I have no IgA. I infuse with Gammaguard, and have been for 16 years. But I hear people say that you pick up other things as time goes on. But yeah your right, I think it really could be gastric bypass related. God and my doctor, ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY! First thing he askes me is do I want a tummy tuck! Only 5,000 dollars, Really? Id rather donate it to the humane society! And he just skirted the issue about my diarrhea, poo-pooed it. (excuse the pun) and than ran off to find a patient with low-self esteem and money. Anyways I have a colonoscopy set for the 16th. I am kinda scared. I cannot do the liquid only diet, I get SO WEAK AND SICK, like I am going to pass out. They might have to admit me. and PCON I always get nauseated when I dont eat. I get people telling me EAT EAT. Then they tell me DIET DIET. Its enough to make you insane. Thanks though, its helpful to know if this disorder is gastro-intestinal related. I know alot of the patients on this site have gastro problems.

Hey, Stimpy. Good to hear from you again. I may be off-base but I think that reacting to IVIG might have something to do with the brand of IG you are receiving and the speed at which you receive it. I was told that we can have low IgA because our bodies either no longer make it or because our bodies actively destroy it. If we create antibodies that destroy IgA, then it is possible that we can feel bad after an infusion that has a significant amount of IgA in it.

As far as gut issues are concerned, I think I read that 50% of people with CVID have gut issues. And it can be IBD, IBS, bacterial or protozoan infection--or a combination of all the above. I have had radical gut issues since 1998. I regularly poop black water and i have trouble absorbing nutrients. My gut issues are in my small intestines: jejunum and ileum. I regularly have polyps removed. I certainly hope that your doctor is able to pinpoint what is causing the problem and treat it effectively.

Good luck, dear one!!

I had a horrific reaction to IVIG that lasted 2 days and my IGA is undetectable. I think Tina is right on the ball. Possibly having anti IGA made me feel so bad and not the number of IGA I have or dont have. I am switching to SCIG this week.
Also your GI issues could very well be your CVID as TIna said again I think she is right. Last year, before I was diagnosed, I had six months of diarrhea about 7-8 times per day. I was not loosing alot of weight (10 lb total...) so I never even went to the doctor, thinking maybe my patients had given me some illness and I was having post infectious diarrhea or C.dificile. It went away with time and dietary changes. It was possibly my CVID and it may possibly come back. If you are having a horrific amount of weight loss or having diarrhea that wakes you up at night I think you should seek treatment sooner than later. (Nighttime diarrhea is always a sign of something to worry about).

HI there! Ok from what I understand if we have anti-IgA antibodies thats when we would have anaphylactic shock (sorry for the spelling). Its a very specific test that most docs have never heard and nor do they know how to do (unfortunately). I too have

@Tina: Good of you to reply. I should have gone to you first, being that I know that you have a long battle with these issues. First of all with IBS or IBD do you have PAIN with it? Also (gawd, I dont want to gross anyone out) I was scared as get out to ask the (really good-looking young doctor this) I know, immature, but he was really a plastic surgeon. Anyway my question is this: Does having REALLY FOUL SMELLING GAS CONSTANTLY AND DIARRHEA CONSTANTLY mean anything? Infection? bacterial? No pain, just really bad gas CONSTANTLY and REALLY FOUL. My husband is going to make me sleep in the backyard! And he is constantly burning incense and febrezing! At first it was funny, but now, NOT SO MUCH! And with IBS can you just have diarrhea in the middle of nowhere at any time? I feel like I'm scared to leave the house, and I am a dogwalker/petsitter, and I literally am looking for bushes when I am walking dogs! LOL, miserable.

Also to everybody else: I think I just dont produce IgA, I must not have the anti-IgA that is destroying, because I don't go through all the misery most of you do before and after IVIG. I am so sorry for everyone dealing with that. If it turns out to be something serious, I hope its something I can live with, not cancer or anything.

Thanks for everyone's feedback!

@ stimpy
i hope i didnt imply i have infusion problems i dont consider them to be a problem. i am very lucky...so i am not sure why some do and some dont...
also i am not implying the surgery is all at fault...i think often cvid'ers have GI problems....my cousin with cvid has gi only. i have had gi issues (colitis) my daughter with cvid has had gi issues also...we (my daughter and i) have had gi flare ups since birth...so i am sure your problems stem from cvid but may be compounded by the gastric surgery....who knows....i dont think i made myself clear hopefully i cleared up my confusion....
or muddled it up one or the other..... :0)
my rhuemo recently told me so much immune stuff is based in the gut so for me that would explain why immune compromised people have gi issues....

Pcon: No I know exactly what you mean. You wouldnt believe this but I went out and bought depends! I am terrified of crappin my pants out in public. Like I said, I am a dog walker and sometimes when I am walking dogs the urge comes on so strong and fast and I have ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL!!!! Went to gastric bypass doctor, he said the diarrhea has NOTHING TO DO WITH GASTRIC BYPASS!! So he said to get bloodwork and a colonoscopy, could be polyps or bacteria. Who knows? I am so HAPPY for you that you dont have infusion difficulties, Gawd, how miserable, its bad enough to have to do this once a month, but that on top of it. You really have to psych yourself up and prepare for everything. I hope my results come back negative for anything. Thanks. Stay healthy!

remember if you cant find a doc that can help peter mannon here in bham at kirklin clinic is a gi doc that specializes in cvid tina has an appt with him so keep him in mind if you cant find someone where you are....i know that harry schroeder the immune doc i see at kirklin would be worth the travel to see so i am thinking mannon may also be in that category....will see what tima thinks of him...and if you can handle 3 kids (6,8,and and soon to be 10) you are welcome to stay here if you decide to make the trip....i will warn you they do bring stuff home from school to me but we are as careful as possible when they are sick they have grown up with an aunt and cousin they live with that have cvid so they are very good kids when it comes to germs....

Wow Pcon, thanks for the referrall and the offer, I have an appointment tomorrow with GI to get labs done. Gawd, thank god I didn't have any accidents today! LOL, my sister is getting the biggest "kick" outta the fact that I am so scared I am wearing depends! Kids, animals, the more the merrier! I'll keep you posted on the results. Hopefully its nothing and I can control it by diet, and probiotics. Deb

Stimpy, I know of three people who have had gastric bypasses. All of them--to a person--have heinous gas. As a person with IBD, trust me: I know heinous gas. (laughter) They also have loose stools. Suzanne was told that her horrible gas was from a bacterial overgrowth in her gut and it was treated with antibiotics. It came back, though, as soon as she finished the prescription.

The challenge is identifying the cause and in your case, it could be any number of things or because of CVID a combination of things. Unfortunately, a GI doc would be the person to figure it out. I say unfortunately because few of them are familiar with all of the possibilities you present. Not that many people have had gastric bypass surgery. Fewer have CVID. (sigh)

Yes Tina, Like EVERYBODY ELSE on here, I too, DREAD going to a new doctor with symptoms that could be related to CVIDS. Honestly, to tell you the truth, I am the one that first put the post out about MEDICAL ALERT BRACELETS. The reason being is that you then have PROOF of a disorder. But again, most doctors dont want to explore the realm. They just treat it as just head on to whatever. Which is o.k., as long as it works. I had to cancel my appointment because I am house/animal sitting and I am committed to that first. But made a new appointment. Been going to Trader Joe's and getting liquid probiotics and yogurt and cottage cheese. It has helped. Man I can truly empathize with what your dealing with! A true pain in the arse! You dont realize how much it puts your life off balance. Trust me the heinous gas is enough to put me out in the pasture with the cows! LOL, I am lucky enough to have a husband and a family that all have a sense of humor about it. But......man I cant imagine having a job in a office or something. OMG that would be the death of me! LOL Hope your doing well, oen day at a time, you know, one day at a time. A lot of the human race is dealing with some ailment or other. I get my strength from hearing other peoples stories. Talk to you later. Deb

Thanks for bringing this up, I was wondering if I was the only one. I never had problems before starting treatment (I do subQ) but I have had diarrhea since the first treatment. My IgA is undetectable on the tests. I started off with 45ml/week, and couldn't stand it, so they lowered it to 25ml/week and my symptoms got better but I was still taking immodium a few times a week. Last week I must have had a bad batch or something because I couldn't even work 3 days later and had to be on the liquid diet for a day or so just to get my system to calm down.

I called my immuno doc and he blamed it on something that was "going around." Well, 4 days later the test comes back and I don't have what is going around. That really bothers me, now that I have CVID, everything gets blamed on an infection even when it is a real side effect of the IGG. Even though it started 2 hours after the infusion and I haven't been around any children, who mostly are getting that infection. (This is the complaining section. :)

Anyway, it could be related to the treatment itself and not necessarily the CVID. I am still trying to figure it out myself. I am wondering if there is some kind of additive in the solution or something.