May class ako, ikaw meron?

Originally posted on
25 September 2007


Yesterday, I was again at NKI, my favorite tambayan. I had more lab tests in the morning, and I had the doctor interpret the result of the renal biopsy in the afternoon. According to the results, I have Class 4 Global-Active Lupus Nephritis.

May class ang lupus ko! And it’s the most active kind. Talaga naman, kahit lupus ko, phenomenal! It’s considered in the advanced stage, and is the kind which is organ-threatening.

This also means that I will be needing BOTH steroids and immuno-supressive (chemo) drugs. Currently, I am taking Cellcept, a chemo drug which is taken orally. I need to go back to my Nephrologist after 2 weeks, to check if the medicine is working, and if I still need to have it through the IV. Sana naman hindi.

She also gave me 3 more additional medicines for my kidneys, and also for my heart. She is concerned that my kidneys are not responding too well to the medications, that's why she prescribed additional meds. Now, she is more confident of the medicines she is prescribing since the biopsy showed the exact condition of my kidneys, and which areas to treat. Grabe, sari-saring colors and medicine ko – white, green, pink, yellow. And different sizes and shapes too.

She also asked me to maintain my medicines for my cholesterol. It has gone down (from 555 to 200++), but she wants to bring it down some more. The normal is 120++, I think.

Now for the good news…

The results are fairly positive. Wala pa naman masyado damage sa kidneys. This just means that I will not be needing dialysis. YEBAH! My doctor hopes that my body will respond to the medicines, and that the damage can be managed and reversed. As of today, I am still dependent on steroids and the chemotherapy drug. Let’s hope and pray that it works and that I’ll be on remission the soonest.

Tomorrow, I will go to a Rheumatologist, since I'm experiencing arthritis. Really painful at the knees and joints! And sometimes, I also have leg cramps on both legs – another effect of lupus.

Let's hope that after 2 weeks, my body will cooperate so that some meds will be taken off the list. I'm so confused now with all the medicines I'm taking.

Mahaba na to. I will email you again for additional updates.