Bucky,
 
Thanks for your message.
Wegerner's Granular Myatosis is  in the arthiritis family and is a disease of 
the immune system.
There are many symptoms, any one of which could seem like the flu, or a 
common cold. In the early stages, it can maifest itself as a horseness, which 
can come and go. It can also be a muscle soreness, either general or specific 
- up to and including severe pain. Later on, symptoms may include blood in 
the urine, difficulty in breathing. Once diagnosed, the final symptoms 
include breakdown of the immune system, hemmorages theoughout the body, 
especially in the lung linings - filling the lungs with blood and disabling 
pain. Eyes can turn in various directions, sometimes resulting in surgery to 
remove one eye so some semblence of visual function remains. A practically 
total change in personality is common. (This can show up in the early stages, 
as an unease or mild distress psychologically.)
In the majority of cases, death follows within five years of diagnosis.In 
retrospect, I think that we were blessed that Diane passed away in only six 
weeks after hospitalization. 
e final result is that all organs are attacked by white blood cells, trying 
to fight a phantom invader. When they can't find one, they turn on the bodies 
own organs. The doctor at thr Maryland U. hospital told us that virtually all 
of her organs were destroyed and it was only her strong heart and will that 
kept her going as long as she did.
It's my understanding that, as of two years ago, the only way to make a 
poitive diagnosis was with an "ANKA" test, performed through a biopsy of 
muscle tissue, or, as is preferable, lung tissue.
I'd love to see no other family ever to have to face this monster again. It 
seems to me that immune system diseases are increasing rapidly - or are 
getting a lot more publicity lately.
Thanks for your interest.
Dick
--- Maximus/2 3.01
---------------