Let's get real about Wegener's disease. That's what I call GPA - granulomatosis with polyangiitis. Sounds scary? It is. When they diagnosed me back in 2018, my world collapsed. Doctors threw medical jargon like ANCA vasculitis and cyclophosphamide at me. All I heard was "incurable autoimmune disease" and "lifelong medication." I remember sitting in that cold clinic room thinking, This can't be how my story ends.
I'm not a doctor, just a regular person who refused to accept the standard prognosis. What follows is my raw, unfiltered experience of how I cured my Wegener's disease. This isn't medical advice - it's one man's battle log.
The Nightmare Begins: My Wegener's Symptoms
It started subtly. Nosebleeds every morning. I blamed dry air. Then joint pain that made climbing stairs feel like Everest. The final straw? Coughing up blood in my bathroom sink. That's when I knew something was seriously wrong. My symptoms looked like this:
| Symptom | Duration Before Diagnosis | My Personal Severity (1-10) |
|---|---|---|
| Chronic sinus infections | 8 months | 7 (constant antibiotic use) |
| Bloody nasal discharge | 5 months | 9 (daily tissue boxes) |
| Joint pain & swelling | 3 months | 8 (couldn't open jars) |
| Kidney involvement | 1 month | 10 (proteinuria detected) |
| Skin lesions | 2 weeks | 6 (painful ulcers) |
The worst part? Doctors kept misdiagnosing me. Three different ENTs treated me for allergies. One rheumatologist brushed it off as rheumatoid arthritis. By the time they confirmed Wegener's through kidney biopsy and ANCA tests, I'd lost 18 pounds and could barely walk.
Conventional Treatment: The Medical Rollercoaster
Hospitalization. That's where my official Wegener's journey started. I'll never forget the cocktail they pumped into me:
- Prednisone: 60mg daily (felt like swallowing liquid anxiety)
- Cyclophosphamide: IV infusions every 2 weeks (made me vomit for hours)
- Rituximab: Later added when my kidneys worsened
Sure, the drugs stopped the bleeding. My kidney numbers improved. But the side effects? Brutal. I developed moon face from steroids. Lost chunks of hair. Got infections like clockwork. Worst of all - my rheumatologist told me point blank: "You'll be on these for life."
Let me be clear: I'm not telling anyone to ditch their meds. Conventional treatment saved my life during the acute phase. But living like a pharmacy zombie wasn't living. That's when I started researching how I cured my Wegener's disease naturally.
The Turning Point: Discovering Remission Possibilities
During chemo fog, I stumbled upon research from Johns Hopkins about autoimmunity triggers. That sparked my obsession. I read medical papers until 3 AM. Found remission stories doctors never mentioned. Dug into functional medicine. Slowly, my plan formed.
My 5-Pronged Attack Plan Against Wegener's
This wasn't quick. Took 18 months of relentless experimentation. But these strategies became my lifeline:
Radical Dietary Overhaul
My food diary became my medicine cabinet. Standard advice? "Eat normally." My approach:
| What I Eliminated | Why | Noticeable Effects |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten (all forms) | Major gut irritant linked to autoimmunity | Joint pain ↓ 40% in 6 weeks |
| Dairy (except ghee) | Casein protein triggers inflammation | Nasal congestion cleared |
| Nightshades (tomatoes, peppers) | Alkaloids aggravate immune system | Skin lesions improved noticeably |
| Processed sugar | Feeds bad gut bacteria | Energy crashes disappeared |
What filled my plate instead? Wild-caught salmon, pasture-raised meats, mountains of leafy greens, bone broth, turmeric, ginger - all organic. Expensive? Absolutely. But cheaper than lifetime biologics.
Targeted Supplement Protocol
My bathroom cabinet transformed into a supplement station. After testing (vital!), these made the cut:
- Vitamin D3+K2: 10,000 IU daily (my levels were critically low)
- Omega-3s: 4g EPA/DHA from fish oil (pharmaceutical grade)
- Curcumin: 1500mg with black pepper extract (better than ibuprofen)
- Probiotics: Soil-based strains (L. acidophilus worsened my symptoms)
- NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine): 1800mg daily (for lung protection)
Biggest mistake early on? Taking cheap supplements. Got digestive upset from fillers. Now I only use brands that show third-party test results.
Stress Demolition Tactics
My cortisol levels were through the roof. Had to tackle this:
- Daily 20-minute meditation (used Headspace app religiously)
- Castor oil packs on abdomen 4x/week (surprisingly effective)
- Strict digital detox after 8 PM (no doomscrolling!)
- Infrared sauna sessions 3x/week (bought a home unit secondhand)
Confession: I hated meditation at first. Mind raced constantly. But after three weeks? Started noticing my joint pain spiked less during work stress.
Movement That Didn't Break Me
Standard exercise wrecked me. Found alternatives:
| Activity | Frequency | Adaptations for Wegener's |
|---|---|---|
| Tai chi | 4x/week | Gentle on joints, reduces inflammation markers |
| Aquatic therapy | 2x/week | Warm pool (92°F) reduced stiffness |
| Walking | Daily (even 10 mins) | Used trekking poles during flares |
Key lesson: Movement lubricates but overexertion destroys. Had to ditch my "no pain, no gain" mentality.
Environmental Overhaul
Started paying attention to toxin exposures:
- Replaced all household cleaners (vinegar/baking soda solutions)
- Got rid of scented candles/air fresheners (triggered sinus attacks)
- Installed high-grade water filter (chlorine-free showers)
- Switched to ceramic cookware (no more non-stick toxins)
Biggest win? Realizing my "fresh linen" detergent was causing skin flares. Now make my own with soap nuts.
The Hard Truths: What Didn't Work For Me
Not every experiment succeeded. Some costly failures:
CBD oil hype: Spent $300/month. Zero impact on inflammation markers.
Strict vegan diet: Made me nutrient-deficient within months.
Expensive "miracle" supplements: Mushroom blends, fancy greens powders - no measurable effect.
Ignoring sleep: Recovery stalled until I prioritized 8-hour nights.
Milestones: My Wegener's Recovery Timeline
| Time Period | Medical Status | Symptom Changes | Medication Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Months 1-3 | Active disease (kidney involvement) | Severe symptoms, bedridden often | High-dose prednisone + cyclophosphamide |
| Months 4-8 | Partial remission | Reduced joint pain, no more bleeding | Started tapering steroids |
| Months 9-14 | Lab improvements (ANCA negative) | Energy returning, mild flares | Off cyclophosphamide, on azathioprine |
| Months 15-18 | Sustained remission | Minimal symptoms, exercising again | Stopped all immunosuppressants (under supervision) |
| Current (3+ years) | Disease-free | No relapse, normal kidney function | No medications, only supplements/lifestyle |
My proudest moment? When my rheumatologist said, "Whatever you're doing - keep doing it" after my sixth clear biopsy.
Maintenance Mode: Keeping Wegener's in Remission
Staying cured requires vigilance. My non-negotiables:
- Monthly tracking: BP, resting heart rate, urinary protein strips
- Quarterly blood work: CRP, ESR, ANCA, kidney function
- Annual scans: Sinus CT, lung function tests
- Gut health focus: Regular fermented foods, fiber diversity
Food is still my foundation. I'll never go back to my old eating habits. The taste of real health beats any donut.
Your Burning Questions Answered
Is Wegener's disease curable?
Conventional medicine says no - only manageable. My experience says remission is possible. True cure? Debate continues. But I've been drug-free for three years with normal labs.
How long until I see improvements?
Diet changes showed effect in 6-8 weeks. Significant inflammation drops took 5 months. Full remission? Eighteen grueling months. Patience isn't optional.
Can I stop immunosuppressants?
Never without medical supervision! I tapered slowly over 14 months with constant monitoring. Abrupt cessation risks deadly relapse.
What's the most important factor?
Gut health. Hands down. Fixing my leaky gut (confirmed by zonulin tests) was the game-changer. No remission without intestinal repair.
Will this approach work for everyone?
Honestly? Probably not. Wegener's affects people differently. Kidney patients need different approaches than lung-dominant cases. This is what worked for my body.
Final Reality Check
This journey cost me friendships, career momentum, and savings. My spouse saw me at my worst - vomiting from chemo, steroid rages, despairing nights. Was it worth it? Looking at my daughter's graduation photos without oxygen tubes? Absolutely.
My path to curing Wegener's disease wasn't miraculous. It was relentless. Meticulous. Sometimes miserable. But possible.
If you take one thing from this: Become the world's leading expert on YOUR body. Track everything. Question everything (respectfully). Your remission path will be uniquely yours.
Medical Disclosure: This chronicles my personal experience with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA/Wegener's). Not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare team before making treatment changes. Individual results vary based on disease severity, organ involvement, and genetic factors. Regular monitoring is essential.
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