My Nephrotic Syndrome
I was first diagnosed with Nephrotic syndrome when I was five years old. From that point on, I was frequently relapsing with protein in my urine. It would take me about two weeks to respond to the steroid medications only to relapse again in a matter of another two to three more weeks. Finally, after about four years of this constant struggle, my doctor, Dr. Kaplan, from the children's hospital in Philadelphia, recommended that I try a new medication called cytoxan in order to buy myself some growth time for I had been on the steroids for four years nonstop. After I had completed my cytoxan dosage I experienced my longest remission, six months. Of course though, one morning I woke up finding myself with four plus protein in my urine. The next medication that was thrown at me was cyclosporin. This drug was a newer drug that not many people had taken in the past. The cyclosporin gave me a year of remission before I had the worst summer vacation of my life. My family's trip to Hilton Head Island was totally ruined when I began spilling four plus protein once again. It was my longest relapse up to date lasting about six weeks with relentless four plus protein. My doctor was worried that maybe the cyclosporin had damaged my kidney, therefore he recommended a kidney biopsy. Luckily my kidney was not damaged and eventually I would respond to the prednisone. Next I would try MMF (cellcept), an experimental drug, but that never kept me in a stable remission. Finally I tried cytoxan again last year, but that ceased when my white count level dropped dramatically. After stopping the cytoxan for the second time, I have not had a relapse since. These past two years have been spectacular, providing me with a great school years, outstanding tennis seasons, and eight inches height wise (I am now 5'8", haha). Nephrotic syndrome gave me ten years of anguish, powerful medications with side effects, and a biopsy, but I truly believe it has made me a stronger and more determined person.
