It all began with COVID in January 2022. Right after COVID, I experienced nasal bleeding and hearing loss. The ENT specialist prescribed antibiotics for a week, then another week, but there was no improvement. Soon, I started feeling pain on the left side of my head, extending to my jawline. Despite more antibiotics, my symptoms worsened, including nasal bleed, hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing sound in ear), and severe sinusitis (nose block). I also had a mild fever. Basic blood tests showed elevated TLC, so more antibiotics followed.
Over a month passed with no improvement, despite scans of my jaw and head. In May, my fever intensified, and tests showed my TLC fluctuating while CRP/ESR increased. Reputed specialists couldn’t diagnose the problem, even after multiple ultrasounds, scans, and blood tests. Then, a lump was found in my left kidney, initially suspected to be a tumor but turned out to be a massive abscess (pus). I was put on high-dose antibiotics, usually for ICU patients. Shockingly, the abscess size increased, and a mild lung infection was detected.
Doctors decided on aspiration (removing pus with a syringe), but to our surprise, the pus had dried up. Relieved, we thought it was a miracle. However, that evening, I developed a high fever of 103. My wife, sensing something was wrong, decided we’d go to a major hospital the next morning for a full body checkup.
But that night, at 2:30 am, I experienced excruciating stomach pain. Rushed to the hospital, an X-ray revealed fecal matter stuck in my intestine. This was due to the high dose of antibiotics and insufficient food and water. Once again, a round of tests, scans, and ultrasounds began. Rare tests for autoimmune disorders were conducted, and the diagnosis came back positive for ANCA profile, indicating Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA), a form of Vasculitis.
Specialists disagreed on treatment, with the nephrologist opting for a kidney biopsy and the rheumatologist advocating for immediate treatment. My wife, a medical student, researched vasculitis and reached out to experts in America, who recommended a doctor in India.
On June 6th, after a month in the hospital, I was discharged and on June 7th, we went to PGI, Chandigarh. They quickly confirmed GPA through a biopsy, which explained how my immune cells were attacking my blood vessels, causing inflammation and organ damage. Steroids and immunosuppressants were prescribed, the only treatment to save my life.
It’s been about two years of treatment at PGI, with regular checkups. Life has its ups and downs, and some days are tough, but I’m grateful to be alive. My wife is shocked by how many lives are lost due to undiagnosed diseases like this. She believes it all started with COVID, as the stress from my job during elections in February may have triggered my immune system. The exact reason remains unknown, but I’m thankful for the chance to have received a timely diagnosis before organ failure.
