When I had the skin test my Dr. who has terrible bed side manner but gets the job done, said, Oh that is interesting... Never really explained that even when I asked but later found CVID which was not what he was looking for. Weird huh? Anyways, I was right where you are now and I was scared and in denial but since I took the leap, have been feeling great on the IVIg. So maybe ask alot of questions and have a lot of hope. Things will turn around for you...

thanks, carlsonamy. so glad you are feeling good! :-)

I don't recall having had a skin test, but my T-cells were analyzed in a few different ways (including CD4, CD8 ratios, as well as a few blood tests which could only be performed at Sick Kid's hospital in Toronto because general medical labs weren't sufficiently specialized).

While my T-cell system is working fine, the specialize at Sick Kid's mentioned to me that CVID patients tend to have decreased T-cell counts (compared to the average population). I believe that this is because the T-cell-mediated response attempts to compensate for the lack of antibody response, so your T-cells are either being destroyed or are otherwise "preoccupied" trying to combat infection in the body.

Thank you for that excellent explanation, Vortek.

This article mentioned t-cell function a couple of times. Your explanation made a lot more sense to me though :-D

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1299/

I had the candida test, it was supposed to come back all red and festery...we had trouble seeing where in the heck she poked me. It never did a thing, didn't even raise, didn't itch a bit. They (my first sucky...sorry..inexperienced (but I'm not bitter about being left to cry when he told me fatigue had nothing to do with my condition)...where was I? Oh, yeah...they first accused me of taking antihistamines and when I assured them I hadn't they were shocked and said

I guess I need a part two..strange...thanks pesky messaging system:

Where was I?
..and said "Hmmmm" a lot. My new wonderful doc said the tests show how our T-cells are rather inactive. Part of the way of things.

Teal - they told you fatigue had nothing to do with your condition?? Seriously??? (places bulls eye target on the wall with sign that says 'bang head here') The fatigue is overwhelming to me at times.

I thought I was doing good on the skin test since the candida place actually did get a little red...but they told me that this might have been an allergic reaction but not an immune reaction because there was no raised area (like a bump). The other ones though - I couldn't even find the injection point.

I know, Zephewryn...it was incredible. Not only could he not get me approved for treatment (still have no clue why, as my current doc got me approved in 5 days), when I was sitting tearfully in his office he told me that my fatigue had NOTHING to do with my diagnosis, and I needed to see someone else about that. Not good!
Thankfully, IDF was there for me, reassured me through my tears and gave me better recommendations on doctors.

Tomorrow, I go back to Birmingham for blood tests. They are checking titers for pneumonia, diphtheria, and tetanus. (Not sure if they are checking anything else - they took 26 large vials of blood last time) The doctor's office said it would take about a week and a half to get results back.

I am one step closer to treatment! (She says, hopefully). The good news is that I received a letter from my insurance with an approval for 11 IVIg treatments between now and next July.

Even though this process seems to be taking forever....I feel like I am beginning to see progress.

> 26 large vials of blood last time

?!?!?!

Not all at one time I hope!

Yes! At one time. I was a bit light-headed after that. I'm participating in two research studies so I think that is why they needed more than usual.

Just heard from the nurse at the immunologist's office. I flunked the titers test --- I should hear something today or tomorrow about setting up my first IVIg. I am SO ready to feel better!

heh; congrats on failing your test! :)

This means that you are one step closer to joining us. As such, now is the time to mail-in your monthly $10 CVID membership dues to me, for... umm ... safe keeping.... yeaaaaah.

yeah right :-P Hahahahaha

yeah - this is the first time i've been happy about flunking a test...only because it means i am one step closer to treatment.