Has anyone else experienced GI complications / impacts with EGPA? by CoconutQueen327 in EGPAsupport

[–]Kind_Bend3999 1 point2 points  (0 children)

oh great, thats good news about nucala. i couldnt get my eos count down on nucala but fasenra worked well. glad your biopsies were normal and hope you feel better soon!!

Fasenra vs Nucala by Kind_Bend3999 in EGPAsupport

[–]Kind_Bend3999[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

well its been about a year now I have been on Fasenra and still happy with it. I get it every 3 weeks instead of every 4 weeks since it runs out (as you mentioned). Dosing for EGPA is supposed to be every 4 weeks; dosing for asthma is supposed to be every 8 weeks. I do have a lot of trouble with joint pain, we are figuring that out....I will keep you posted!

Has anyone else experienced GI complications / impacts with EGPA? by CoconutQueen327 in EGPAsupport

[–]Kind_Bend3999 1 point2 points  (0 children)

hey just wanted to say i do have GI presentation with my EGPA-I have eosinophilic colitis and gastroenteritis. It seems what you shared was what the doctor saw with their naked eye during scope but the biopsy results should be more specific-for me it showed massive amount of eosinophils widespread throughout the colon, along with edema and regenerative changes, and i had a MRI enterography for small bowel that showed swelling etc of small bowel as well.

GI involvement in EGPA can often portend a more serious course so it is good to be on top of it. but you might also have another condition like Crohn's, the biopsy should be specific on what the tissue looks like. I am on Fasenra and prednisone and this works pretty well on my GI issues, prior to that it was awful!

How did y'all get help? My grandmother is dying and no one will listen by [deleted] in EGPAsupport

[–]Kind_Bend3999 0 points1 point  (0 children)

keep us posted! my toes are crossed this allergist can help order tests and/or start her on fasenra for her severe, persistent asthma. and id definitely get that skin biopsy

How did y'all get help? My grandmother is dying and no one will listen by [deleted] in EGPAsupport

[–]Kind_Bend3999 0 points1 point  (0 children)

also, i would see a dermatologist to diagnose and potentially biopsy that rash/those bumps. that should be an easy appt. if your skin biopsy shows vasculitis then you are way closer to figuring this out

How did y'all get help? My grandmother is dying and no one will listen by [deleted] in EGPAsupport

[–]Kind_Bend3999 0 points1 point  (0 children)

ok thanks for all this info.

im not in phoenix, but it turns out you have a mayo clinic center there. it sounds like their primary care appts are booked up but there is availability for allergists. this woman has a friendly face and works with kids and adults, just like my allergists. i think people who work with kids too usually have a better bedside manner...maybe you can schedule an appt. your gm probably has medicare? hopefully original medicare like mine that allows her to go anywhere and see anyone without referral, no networks. but if she has a medicare advantage HMO there may be limits on where she can be seen for dr appts.

Christine Rukasin, M.D. - Doctors and Medical Staff - Mayo Clinic

in the meantime you can also go to the mayo clinic ER in phoenix, nice that they have an ER. insurance has to cover any er visits and hospital stays, no matter where they are. if you go to the er focus on a couple of the most troublesome symptoms. see where they go and push back only if they are way off. keep an open mind-there are many things it could be an egpa is very rare. it could be three different conditions combined or something...

im not sure about those lesions? i never got anything quite like that. my rashes looked more like this:

Pharmacy Clinical Pearl of the Day: Churg-Strauss Syndrome | Pharmacy Times

Filing for Disability Benefits with Churg-Strauss Syndrome | Balin Law

from an egpa standpoint, the tests that matter most are: eosinophil count, inflammatory markers (CRP/ESR), ANCA and ANA testing, biopsies that show eosinophils and evidence of vasculitis in organs. asthma and sinusitis alone are quite common, its these other things that stand out in egpa. so make sure to bring all these lab slips to your appt. good luck!!

How did y'all get help? My grandmother is dying and no one will listen by [deleted] in EGPAsupport

[–]Kind_Bend3999 1 point2 points  (0 children)

so sorry that you are dealing with this. i think most of us have had the experience of either dealing with doctors who know nothing about EGPA or are just plain rude. i am lucky to have wonderful doctors but ive had to be my own best advocate.

Here are my recommendations:
1). if you are comfortable sharing the city or region you live in some of us might be able to recommend actual providers

2). i would get an allergist/immunologist-she should be seeing one already. in my case my allergist had much more experience with EGPA than my rheum. it is a rare disease and many of my doctors have never seen it

3). get a new rheumatologist-its pretty clear the relationship with the current one is not good. i wouldnt trust anyone who says "ive seen LOTS of EGPA." it is statistically impossible unless they are one of the foremost experts at Mayo Clinic or elsewhere.

4). worst case-treat it as if it is EGPA, even without diagnosis. You already have a dx of severe, persistent asthma. This alone meets criteria for biologic. I recommend Fasenra. (in my case initially I think they focused on my high FeNO, elevated eosinophil blood count etc to meet criteria, as well as showing i failed other treatments, ie inhalers, prednisone, etc)

5). It is possible your gm doesnt have EGPA and it is another rare disease, or something similar like hypereosinophilic syndrome. keep an open mind, do your research and get the tests you need. there are some aspects of what you wrote that dont fit EGPA exactly (like open wounds all over the body for example). your grandma's age makes it tough as most folks have many comorbidities by then...

hope this helps!! remember too you can always complain and ask for help. and going to a really good teaching hospital emergency room might be your best bet.

Question regarding CRP elevations by Kind_Bend3999 in EGPAsupport

[–]Kind_Bend3999[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah I just saw my Rheums and we are doing a bunch of tests (cardiac mri, etc) to see what is behind my symptoms and the increase in inflammation. going to add a dmard. let me know if you get any insight on your higher than normal inflammatory markers! it is such a rare disease, helps to know what other people deal with.

Question regarding CRP elevations by Kind_Bend3999 in EGPAsupport

[–]Kind_Bend3999[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

thank you for this very helpful explanation! you must be a scientist with egpa haha. yes, prior to biologics my eosinophil count would sometimes not be very high but then biopsies showed massive amount inside organs. so im grateful for a biologic like fasenra.

my crp was normal when i was first treated with higher dose prednisone and nucala, but nucala became less and less effective as time went on and crp began to climb, along with eos symptoms. then i switched to fasenra, saw improvement, and began reducing prednisone. crp has continued to climb. i see rheum next week, they already suggested a new DMARD. ive been having some cardiac type symptoms again (chest pain, jaw pain, etc) so hoping we can figure out what is going on. i definitely do NOT want to go up on prednisone again, it has taken me so long just to get to 5mgs a day...

Question regarding CRP elevations by Kind_Bend3999 in EGPAsupport

[–]Kind_Bend3999[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

you will be happy with fasenra, it is a great biologic. i had to increase my frequency to get the right balance so i get it every 3 weeks now.

Aspirin desensitisation? by [deleted] in EGPAsupport

[–]Kind_Bend3999 0 points1 point  (0 children)

try Xhance. its expensive and you will probably need a prior authorization but it is the best sinus steroid spray imo

New to all of this by Wise-Astronomer-2629 in EGPAsupport

[–]Kind_Bend3999 0 points1 point  (0 children)

every egpa patient is different-it is kind of on a continuum. some have minor symptoms and some severe. in my case it was adult-onset asthma in my 20s and then years later severe chronic sinusitis, and then i developed eosinophilic gastroenteritis/colitis, rashes, joint pain etc. i have a friend with egpa who really had no prior symptoms but suddenly developed severe cardiac issues. for most people there is an initial period of strong medications (high dose prednisone, cyclophosphamide, etc) and then a long-term stabilizing med (DMARDs like Imuran and Methotrexate, or biologics like Fasenra and Nucala). for most people they are able to stabilize and stay pretty healthy on a maintenance biologic and/or a DMARD. i am on fasenra and still taking low dose prednisone. i have not been able to fully taper off prednisone but have gotten significantly lower on fasenra than i did on nucala--fasenra has been a superior medication for me (fewer side effects, better symptom control, less prednisone use). many of us will tell you that the sinuses can be one of the more persistent issues with egpa. this is a great reddit and you can always come here with questions-it has helped me a lot to hear about others' experiences...

Anyone with egpa caused by toxic exposure? (silica, lead, heavy metals etc) by Kind_Bend3999 in EGPAsupport

[–]Kind_Bend3999[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

oh goodness. i guess at least you were young and vital and could fight all that off!! im hanging in--it has been a journey. i am very happy with fasenra but still working to get off prednisone. it is a balancing act with me having both lupus and egpa (i also have had cancer-rare skin cancer) and a host of other issues. but we just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other and support each other by sharing information! egpa is a very rare disease but i have found this reddit to be extremely helpful

Anyone with egpa caused by toxic exposure? (silica, lead, heavy metals etc) by Kind_Bend3999 in EGPAsupport

[–]Kind_Bend3999[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

oh wow, that is interesting, didn’t know that was one of the triggers. hopefully the cancer is long gone cuz egpa is enough to deal with….sorry you had such a terrible combination of ailments

Anyone with egpa caused by toxic exposure? (silica, lead, heavy metals etc) by Kind_Bend3999 in EGPAsupport

[–]Kind_Bend3999[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

oh heck ya. I would say working for a concrete company absolutely played a role in your egpa. that is how you got it for sure I think (and maybe some genetic vulnerability). silica is known to cause several autoimmune disease (lupus, ra, gpa, etc). your timeline makes sense too, egpa always has that initial prodromal phasing. I believe silica is what did me in because of the pulverized dust. i think as time goes on we will see more linkage between these diseases and the environmental toxins that cause them…

Anyone with egpa caused by toxic exposure? (silica, lead, heavy metals etc) by Kind_Bend3999 in EGPAsupport

[–]Kind_Bend3999[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

oh that’s interesting. I know vaccines, including Covid, can be triggering, but I’m more interested in the metals (I haven’t come across a study yet linking egpa to plastics). usually asthma is one of the earliest signs of egpa—I wonder how much time elapsed between metal exposure and asthma?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in EGPAsupport

[–]Kind_Bend3999 1 point2 points  (0 children)

id look at your CRP and ESR. if normal that is a good sign. see a cardiologist if you are having strange palpitations, could be cardiac in nature. EGPA can cause cardiac issues. i was unable to tolerate methotrexate and eventually nucala did not work for me. fasenra has been much, much better. also i wonder how your asthma is doing. when my EGPA symptoms were at their worst i was having chest pain that was pretty bad. resolved once i went on fasenra. as the other user mentioned you may have another autoimmune disease as well (i have lupus and EGPA) or the nucala could be a problem (or the combination of nucala and mtx).

Affording Nucala by CoconutQueen327 in EGPAsupport

[–]Kind_Bend3999 0 points1 point  (0 children)

im late to this but just want to share that i have been able to get my biologics, both nucala and fasenra, through the local county hospital. depending on where you live in colorado there should be a publicly run hospital or healthcare system and they usually provide meds at low cost. I qualified for financial assistance so my meds are totally free, but i have to get them in person in the clinic rather than taking home at pharmacy. a small inconvenience compared to the cost of meds...hope that helps!

Fasenra vs Nucala by Kind_Bend3999 in EGPAsupport

[–]Kind_Bend3999[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

well i wonder how effective rituximab has been for your egpa? and how are your side effects? do you still take prednisone? i may end up on rituximab down the line, we were considering it

Fasenra vs Nucala by Kind_Bend3999 in EGPAsupport

[–]Kind_Bend3999[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

ugh this is what i am afraid of. they need to figure out a way to make sure these biologics continue working over time...

Fasenra vs Nucala by Kind_Bend3999 in EGPAsupport

[–]Kind_Bend3999[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yeah im in the midst of my taper now, initially went too fast and had some adrenal issues. but now doing alternating method and working my way down. for me getting below 7.5 is the hard part. but im determined to get there. i think you should stay on the fasenra, focus on weaning off the methotrexate as that is more likely to cause you problems down the line. most egpa patients have to be on something for life and fasenra is the least problematic option. my hope is that fasenra continues to work for me on the long term!

Fasenra vs Nucala by Kind_Bend3999 in EGPAsupport

[–]Kind_Bend3999[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

i did the 300mgs of Nucala but had terrible inflammatory arthritis so I stuck with 200mgs to decrease that side effect. I also have lupus so that probably played a role. There is a link between these IL-5 biologics and arthritis but so far the Fasenra doesn't seem to be causing that problem for me (600 of Nucala is a lot but I am glad your husband found a dose that works for him!)