FSGS?

It turns out that, because I am not responding to therapy that minimal change disease usually responds to, and my symptoms have never quite fit with the pathology diagnosis, my doctor thinks that I may have been misdiagnosed, and may have a significantly more dangerous and potentially much deadlier kidney disease, FSGS.
I may have to have another biopsy, and I'll probably have to be on much more dangerous and aggressive drugs. I may, someday, have to have a kidney transplant.
It was heartening, on casual perusal of FSGS, to discover that these guys ( guy 1, guy 2), also had FSGS, and even after kidney transplants, they still kicked six kinds of ass.
This disease is more commonly found in african american people, less commonly in white americans. I always knew I had more soul than the typical white guy. Further evidence.


So I'm kind of struggling with this, and casting a net for kidney donors. If you are interested, give me a call at 1 800-GIVEMEAKIDNEYORIWILLDIE.

Just kidding! I'll make it through, or I won't, and it's nice that my physician is paying this much attention. Ever since I didn't get any images or rationale behind the diagnosis from the biopsy, I've been suspicious. My demographic didn't fit the epidimiology, nor did the fact that crazy heavy prednisone didn't work after three months. The side effects sure did work, however! HA on me, apparently!

This guy, the guy who did the Council of Dads thing (book, TED talk), Bruce Feiler, was speaking on NPR today about 'what not to say to someone who is sick'. It was often pretty funny. Some of it resonated, although 1) I'm not pointing fingers, 2) I have a short memory, and 3) I want to be clear that I always appreciate the effort. Thank you for all the support.

In other news, finals in less than a week. Looking forward to the end of the school year. I'm still training for time in the tetons, but I've also been thinking about maybe doing a couple of things in the Sierras, like on the Hulk or something. I think my finger is going to be better by August, and I've been throwing around the idea of maybe going to Wild Iris for a bit, as well.