Your immune system helps to protect you against “invaders” of many kinds. Think of it as your body’s military. There are different branches of the military – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard – that each perform and operate differently but the bottom line is that they defend our country. Part of my immune system, say my “Army”, isn’t functioning properly because the B-cells (a type of white blood cell) that produce antibodies, are not doing so. One (or more) of the chemotherapy agents I received 6 years ago has affected this ability. Once my body is full of invaders – my T-cells (another type of white blood cell) seem to function properly in that they mobilize certain other cells (i.e. macrophages and neutrophils) to attack and get rid of the invading organisms. This is like locking your back door but leaving your front door open. Your house becomes full of invaders who just walk in and stay awhile. Sometimes they invite their “friends”. Once they come in they are there – eventually we hope they can be caught by branches of my “military” other than my “Army” before they do too much damage and destroy the place. This is my body right now.
Normally this isn’t a good scenario for obvious reasons. I am left open to all kinds of infections. If someone has a cold near me – I will catch it. And not only will I catch it but it will take hold and stay awhile – possibly then turning from a cold into a sinus infection, bronchitis or even pneumonia. In my case sinus infections seem to be my thing. But now we have gone from the normal to the abnormal with the pandemic. My inability to produce antibodies has gone from annoying, inconvenient and possibly serious to what could be a death sentence should I catch COVID.
Some of you will say “But now there’s a vaccine!”. Well yes now there are several. Very simply – vaccines stimulate your body’s antibodies to recognize an invader (in this case COVID) and they quickly move to neutralize it. If I don’t make antibodies there is nothing to work with. Vaccines don’t work in people like me. In fact – not only would the COVID vaccine not work in me but ANY vaccine will not work in me right now AND as a bonus – any vaccine I’ve previously had is NULL and VOID. Polio, Smallpox, Measles, Mumps – guess who is not immune to any of these right now???
Over the last 4 years or so I’ve come to realize my immunodeficiency through working with a functional medicine doctor. We tried certain dietary factors and supplements – but they didn’t move the needle on my situation. However – many of these substances did and do help to strengthen other parts of the immune system that finally kick in and go after the invaders so they have their place and have helped me in the past. But nothing is moving the antibodies yet. In fact – my numbers keep going down. My IgG (most plentiful antibody group at 80% of total antibodies) has gone down to its lowest level ever. The normal range for this is 800-1500. Mine is 17.
I’ve been researching and trying different things including colostrum – first from goats, now from cows. This is what seeds a baby’s immune system with these precious antibodies the few days after it’s born until their body can make its own. As someone who doesn’t normally eat animal products this was hard for me to do. But now I have a medical emergency and have to do what I have to do – take this colostrum meant for baby animals and see if it helps me. So far it has not.
I have been doing a battery of tests between my primary care doctor, immunologists and functional medicine doctor to get the most accurate biochemical picture of me and see what my options are. I am still going through testing. I should have a better picture within the next month to month and a half. But I think I know where it’s headed.
It has been suggested to me by now 2 immunologists that I receive infusions of IgG. When I first heard of this, I was very resistant. I would have to have this done once a month or so for a while, could be the rest of my life. When you look up the specifics there are some pretty heavy side effects associated including blood clots, brain swelling and kidney damage. More than a month has gone by since this was first introduced, and I guess I needed some time for this to sink in.
In the meantime, some other things have transpired. The COVID regulations have all but dropped in my state now. This includes wearing masks indoors and few limits on numbers of people. I run a small business and it seems as if some people don’t want to wear a mask, even if they know that I’m immunocompromised and I have few defenses against COVID. That little piece of fabric that they wear and that I wear – is really the only thing protecting me when they are inside my business. Vaccinated people are less of a risk to me, but still a risk. Being vaccinated doesn’t mean you won’t catch COVID. It lessens your chances of having a severe case. And as they are finding out in real time – people with compromised immune systems such as mine are getting vaccinated, it’s not very effective, and they are still dying of COVID.
Another new development is that I had a consult with a second immunologist just yesterday. She confirmed that the IgG infusions were the right answer for me. She said pre-pandemic we would’ve had a different conversation. With COVID – it would surely kill me. I always knew this in the back of my head – but again to hear it from an expert, again, is chilling. But she did something that made me pause. Remember I’ve said previously that words can motivate or demotivate me. How you talk to me makes a big difference as to how I process information and move forward with action. She said that none of her patients have had any kind of significant reaction to the IgG infusions and in fact they can be done at home with a nurse, depending on what insurance will cover. But what she said next made the difference – you have a problem and we have a solution. The solution will take away all of your problems. It’s relatively easy and safe, and you can live your life like a “normal” person again. I’ve spent most of the last year wondering what my “normal” would look like. I just want to be able to get back to some type of life after the pandemic, as others are doing. To be able to run my business, to visit friends, go to concerts, not worry that every person I encounter is a COVID vector. I really didn’t think this was possible for me. Now it might be?
I am going to complete the testing that she and also my functional medicine doctor are requesting. Then have a consult with each. These infusions may be in my future this summer. I’ve given it a good try – to get my antibodies up naturally. Apparently, I need some help. Just as there was chemotherapy as a solution to my lymphoma, there is IgG therapy as a solution to low IgG. It’s obtained from people who donate blood – where the antibodies are extracted and infused into the patient. Ironically – over the last month on the radio I have been hearing commercials asking for people to donate their antibodies, for a fee, for immunocompromised people during this pandemic. Every morning as I drive to work over the last month – I hear this same commercial. Is THIS a sign?
One more thing about this all, and I have to have a further discussion to really understand this – is that since about 50% of the US population is vaccinated, and a decent share have had COVID previously – by getting these infusions – I may get their protection against COVID as well. Maybe I will also get protection against other diseases that they were vaccinated with including those whose immunity I lost such as polio? The immunologist yesterday mentioned this point. I need to clarify this further.
I’m still not 100% on it yet but I’m getting there. The appeal of being “normal” again and not leaving my “house” open to invaders is very appealing. By next month I’ll have a lot more news.
Wishing you good health and a great life.
