Part of my "And More"

Part of my "And More" is a messed up immune system. I have what is called PIDD (Primary Immunodeficiency Disease) and I need to support my immune system by doing weekly infusions of a serum made from the plasma donated by healthy individuals. 

If you donate plasma, thank you. People like me depend on these serums to survive. You are a hero.

My infusion supplies.

My infusion is my least favorite part of the week. It is done subcutaneously - inserted into the fatty layers under the skin - and takes a bit over an hour. Basically I put 4 1/2-inch needles into my abdomen or thighs and push the fluid in using a pump. It doesn't really hurt, but it stings. It is unpleasant, but not horrible. But I still strongly dislike the experience.

This past week I had my 3-month follow-up with my immunologist and I learned something pretty awesome. I knew the infusions helped support my immune system so I can better fight off infections. But I learned that the serum not only has healthy immune cells but it also carries the vaccinations that the plasma donors has received. So if the donors got the Covid vaccines, a tetanus shot, a measles vaccine, and a pneumonia vaccine, I am covered. Which is awesome because my body doesn't hold on to antibodies like it is supposed to. The only thing I don't get is the seasonal antibodies like the flu vaccine because the process of making the serum takes up to a year. But I am still well covered. 

Yay!!

It is nice to get some good news for a change.

Oh, and some interesting info: Several studies in Europe have indicated that brain disorders such as Schizophrenia might have a causal link to immune disorders. Something to do with the inflammation the immune disorders cause in areas of the spinal cord and brain. I'll see if I can find the paper I read on it. I didn't understand it all because Dammit, Jim, I am a geologist, not a neuroscientist, but I got the gist of it.