I'm starting two major treatments soon
This week I'm getting a subcutaneous immunoglobulin infusion for the first time in my life. It's a very involved process to have gotten approval to use this and to prepare for the infusion itself. There has been research done that shows that IG infusions have helped a number of long covid patients experiencing neuropathy/neurological related symptoms.
My primary symptoms involve the following:
- Complete loss taste and smell
- Leg tingling/tremors
- Intermittent pin/needles sensations throughout the body (this has recently evolved in my legs to feel like sometimes water is running down my legs, or as though there is a burst of warmth travelling down a leg and into my foot)
- Muscle twitches/spasms
- General numbness throughout the body with a degraded sense of touch and temperature
- Anorgasmia (ability to ejaculate but total loss of orgasm sensation alongside generla genital numbness)
A neurologist recommended this treatment given recent literature on this and I'm hoping it can help as symptoms have only stayed the same or gotten worse over time.
I spent a year and a half searching for answers as to why this was happening, all the tests came back clean: MRIs, Nerve Conductivity Tests, Blood Work, etc. It's only after I met with a long-covid focused neurologist that ran specific tests could I point to anything being wrong. Those tests were for neruofilament light chains and Igg antibodies, both of which were slightly elevated and informed the recommendation in my situation to pursue IG infusions.
I will share my experience with how it goes - I'm quite nervous about it to be honest.
The same neurologist also advised that for my loss of taste and smell I should pursue platelet rich plasma injections in my olfactory cleft - recent research has shown positive results here for patients as well and I will be pursuing this after I get into a rhythm with the IG infusions.
Hoping for the best on both fronts.