IgA Nephropathy

Just over three years ago, I had a cold. It was nothing serious, nothing that left me with much more than a snuffly nose for a few days. About a month following my common, post-Winter cold, I noticed quite an aggressive rash spreading across my thighs, lower legs, feet and palms. My blasé conclusion blamed our new washing powder; an allergic reaction confirmed by a pharmacist.

A month and a half later, and the rash looked fierce. It was clumping together and covering my body with a reddish tinge. I booked an early morning appointment with the nurse and strolled in thinking nothing of it. She would confirm that it was my washing powder and I’d be home in ten minutes for breakfast.

Not the case. One look at my rash, having rolled a glass over it and ruled out Meningitis, and I was sent straight through to the see the doctor. After some tests, I left the doctors waiting for the results that I was facing one of two things. He had told me that I either had cancer or a chronic kidney disease. Fortunately, or unfortunately for those with a half empty glass, it was the latter.

IgA Nephropathy does not affect many, but it is the most common type of glomerulonephritis in the UK. The kidneys are composed of many tiny filters, glomeruli. They work to separate the waste, which passes out your body as urine, with essential proteins and chemicals. For patients with IgA, the glomeruli are inflamed and damaged, so the necessities leak into the urine; resulting in large amounts of blood and protein passing through the body when it should be retained.

We have Berger to thank for the discovery of IgA (unsurprisingly often referred to as Berger’s Disease after the man himself) after he first diagnosed it during the 1960s. Today, it mostly affects younger persons and late teens, with some very obvious symptoms.

When I look back on the first year following my diagnosis, I was very sick. Painful joint and abdominal pains, sickness, swelling and, worst of all, the inability to drink anything fizzy- no bubbly! I spent time feeling run down and sleepy and struggled to keep up with my friends. We were all turning 18, and whilst I desperately tried to maintain the party lifestyle, my body cried for me to slow down.

Fast forward three years and everything is different. I had a routine check up recently with my very lovely, and rigorous, specialist and was very happy to share the news with him that my symptoms are pretty insignificant. Minimal pains, no sickness and a raised glass of Prosecco at my graduation with no negative after-effects.

Where for some, IgA can affect the kidneys dangerously, resulting in dialysis, or occasionally transplant, I touch wood every day that I live a relatively harmonious life despite having a chronic illness. I send medical miracle wishes to those who are worse of than me and although I do not know how my condition will affect me in the future, and I understand that aspects such as pregnancy may be greatly affected, for now, I feel happy and healthy!