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My Story: Life With IgAN, From First Symptom to Now
The story of my kidney journey really starts in July 2011, I just didn’t know it at the time. I was 18, freshly graduated from high school, and was busy hanging out with friends and working my summer job as a lifeguard at the local community center. One day, as I was biking home after…
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My Kidney Biopsy Experience
When I was preparing for my kidney biopsy, I couldn’t find many stories from patients about their personal experience. I want to share the details about my experience to help ease the minds of patients who are facing their first biopsy. I’ll go over everything from my first consultation to receiving the results. First, I…
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Preparing For a Kidney Biopsy: What You Need to Know as a Patient
I had my kidney biopsy in August of 2022. The days leading up to the procedure were some of the most stressful moments of my life. Preparing for the biopsy both mentally and logistically is important, and helps alleviate some of the anxiety. In case you feel unsure of what to do, I’ve prepared a…
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What I Wish I Knew When I Got Diagnosed With IgAN
Finding out you have chronic kidney disease, IgA nephropathy, autoimmune disease, or really any chronic condition is never welcome news. Not only is it overwhelming and scary, but it also forces immediate change in your life. Suddenly, you’re facing diet changes, tracking symptoms, and learning all kinds of new terms and information. Hopefully, this list…
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What Does it Take to Get Diagnosed? Why Getting Diagnosed Is the Hardest Part (So Far).
Many of us start our chronic kidney disease journey in a very dramatic way. Crazy symptoms, a whirlwind of appointments and referrals, reading contradicting information online, but worst of all, the lengthy process of receiving a formal diagnosis. There are so many things that have to fall into place in order to be able to…
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Understanding IgA Nephropathy
Disclaimer: The information on this site is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Only a licensed medical professional can diagnose any illness. Please talk to your doctor before stopping or starting any treatments or making changes in your diet or exercise. One of the most important factors when…
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Welcome, sorry you’re here.
I hope this blog post finds you well. Unfortunately, I know that if you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that either you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with or is suspected to have IgA Nephropathy. That’s a huge bummer. The good news is you’re not alone. My name is Ariana, but…
Life With IgAN 