Hello all, I have been gone for a while and about to write a long
one.  I just spent 6 days in the hospital.  My creatine was 3.7 and I
was admitted.  I had 5, yes 5, kidney biopsys between Thursday and
Friday last week.  It appears that there is a "fair amount of scaring"
I do not know what my total renal loss is but my Creatine is at 2.3 and
I was told that it would not likely go back to the 1.X area.  I also
had my first Rutuxin treatment this last Tuesday.
    I tolerated the Rutuxin with no infusion reactions at all and I
must say that the joint pain is completely gone.  I know this is only
the short term affect, and the long term goal is to reduce my ANA
tiders.  But this is the first time in 2 years that I am not in
constant pain.  Of course while I was in the hospital they put over
3000mg of Steroids in me and put me back on prednisone but hopefully I
will not be on it that long.
    My point of this post is to tell everyone if you can get the
Rutuxin approved by your insurance I highly recommend it.  There are
risks you need to be aware of but for me there was nothing else since I
failed on all conventional treatment.
    I also found out that I was extremely anemic and I have to get
Epogen shots every two weeks now, but I have energy and the will to do
stuff.  Even if the affects are only short term I am glad I had it
done.  I have 3 more chemo sessions a week apart for the Rutuxin and
then we have to wait for about 8 weeks to see if the tiders go down.
    Never give up hope and take things head on, eventually modern
medicine is going to find us a cure.

   I am one happy person right now, I hope it lasts.

-Steve

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Steve,
I am sorry that you are having these painful problems. I suggest that you
read this book:
"Coping With Kidney Disease--A 12 Step Treatment Program to Help You Avoid
Dialysis" by Mackenzie Walser, M.D. (kidney specialist and college professor)
Jason
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In article <1158941498.027519.200930@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>,

Hi Steve,   So pleased to hear of your good results with Rutoxin.  
Wonderful news.   Thank you for letting us know.  It is this
kind of information that helps all of us.  After taking prednisone
for over a year and not thriving, someone posted that when
you take prednisone you needed to add more calcium and
Vitamin D to your diet..... I did and feel better.  Also advice
on heart failure and swallowing did wonders.  You never
know how many you may help     cheers       ruth