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This is what it took to lift me out of an autoimmune encephalitis relapse

This is what it took to lift me out of an autoimmune encephalitis relapse

May 12, 2021 | By WhereAreMyPillows.com  

 Message from the IAES blog staff:

We’re pleased to share this long-awaited update from an IAES community member, whose story we first brought to you last year! This post is part of the #WhereAreMyPillows blog column for the International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society and has been republished from www.wherearemypillows.com.

—–

 

Lemme tell ya: this ain’t for the fun of it.

The plane lifts. Like many traveling for the first time since the pandemic began, anxious feelings churn beneath my calm exterior.

Is it safe to fly? Will I regret this later?

At the very least, the destination promises to deliver on novelty, excitement, and energy—qualities that had been missing from much of the past year. As we reach cruising altitude, my nerves are gradually dampened by daydreams of stepping inside iconic landmarks, taking in a show, and sating my photographer heart with vistas of an expansive skyline. Soon, my imagination is running wild with all the things to experience as a first-time visitor to the City That Never Sleeps.

Turbulence. The plane shutters, jolting me back to reality.

Right. This isn’t a vacation; this is a do-or-die effort to receive critical medical care.

#HospitalLife

The next thing I know, I’m being jabbed in the lower back with needles. I’m feeling electrodes placed across my skull. I’m having a catheter placed in my jugular vein. I’m seeing my plasma collect in a bag.

And suddenly, the answer is clear: the risk paid off.

I’m left with medical trauma to disentangle, a giant headache of ongoing maintenance treatment to coordinate, local doctors to answer to, and thousands of dollars of medical bills to pay; but it bears repeating: THE! RISK!! PAID!!! OFF!!!!

It was distressing, it was lonely, and it was painful; yet I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. There’s nothing like having your cognitive faculties restored after suffering months in a dementia-like state.

plasmapheresis 1 500x375 - This is what it took to lift me out of an autoimmune encephalitis relapse

AUTOANTIBODIES BE GONEEEEEE!!!

Wait… what?

If you’re thinking “what the heck did I just read,” good—then I’ve managed to capture a sliver of the “what the heck did I just live?” feeling that I have yet to shake since walking out of the hospital in January.  I’ve just retold the story with a veneer of fiction; but in fact, this is real life with an autoimmune encephalitis (AE) diagnosis.

More specifically, when you’re claiming to be in a relapse (and seronegative to boot), your prospects are grim. You’re trapped in a grey no man’s land where few doctors are willing to provide rescue. Through 2020, from 5 different neurologists, I heard everything from “I can sympathize but have nothing else to offer you,” to “you’re just dealing with sequelae,” to “this might all just be adult ADHD.” This, after being diagnosed and fully recovering in 2019—back when I was hospitalized 3 times and went through more than enough, but still had little idea of how much more complex the nightmare could get.

In this floundering state, the onslaught of failed doctor’s appointments threatens to turn your self-assured core upside down. Clearly you’re capable of holding a conversation; there’s nothing wrong with your brain, right? The semblance of basic medical knowledge and verbal coherence draws suspicion; are you just looking for attention? A convenient way to justify a malingering state during a difficult pandemic year? As the slammed doors of doctor’s offices pile up, the doubt creeps in.

Whose voice do you listen to, when you’re increasingly aware that your own is marred with symptoms of cognitive decline?

As the year drew to a close, I was hit by a ton of bricks. Then, finally, my mind registered: this situation is so simple, it’s ridiculous. I’m a shadow of my former self, and I need aggressive medical attention STAT.

And as it turns out, my instincts were right. It took getting the attention of a top expert in the field, traveling thousands of miles, and enduring a challenging hospital stay during a pandemic; but I not only proved I was in a genuine relapse, I experienced remarkable recovery as well.

Getting down to the nitty-gritty…

What happens when your doctor orders 5 cycles of plasmapheresis, 5 infusions of Solu-Medrol (methylprednisolone/high dose steroids), and 1 infusion of Actemra (tocilizumab)?

In my case: a brand-new person.

In total, I spent 13 days in the hospital and endured a barrage of daily discomforts I’ll spare you from having to read here. The important part is that the treatments worked wonders. Halfway through the stay, on the morning of my third plasmapheresis cycle, I felt as if a light switch was flipped in my head.

Suddenly, I was alive.

Once-dormant neurons began rumbling awake, with electricity freshly flowing through brain regions that had spent the past 10 months offline. The normally reticent resident perceived the transformation too, remarking “there’s something very different about your energy,” during his early morning rounds.  Words like that feed the soul when you’re used to a default of medical dismissal.

The remainder of the stay was a breeze. Relatively speaking, at least—never mind the ongoing challenge to find good veins, power struggles with a certain nurse, and mild autonomic issues. Each day was better than the last, with the capacity for higher level cognitive processes returning, more of my personality coming back, and improved emotional regulation (I hadn’t even realized how haywire my emotions had become until the autoantibodies were removed from my system). Solu-Medrol helped fortify the early gains from the plasmapheresis, and Actemra was provided to prevent any rogue autoantibodies from returning.

I cannot overstate the night and day difference between pre- and post-hospital me. When you go from ruminating about a potential future in a dementia care home, to experiencing the brain of a healthy young adult again, it’s pure elation. No hyperbole—I made a miraculous turnaround starting with the plasmapheresis treatments, and I’m incredibly thankful for the doctor that recognized my need for this treatment.

As for the individual roles of Solu-Medrol and Actemra in contributing to recovery, I’m less certain; but given my level of cognitive dysfunction, protracted AE history (originating in 2014), and unsatisfactory response on rituximab alone through 2020, my doctor felt they were necessary additions.

Please note that I’m not providing medical advice or implying that this treatment is appropriate for all AE patients; furthermore, results from plasmapheresis vary from quick and dramatic like me, to imperceptible for others.

plasmapheresis 2 500x375 - This is what it took to lift me out of an autoimmune encephalitis relapse

This post brought to you by…. *drumroll* …. this machine! I would have a fraction of my present functionality were it not for the wonders of this technology.

In Perspective

I fully recognize my case of AE is grey. I have a relatively isolated, dementia-like presentation that is not detectable on an MRI or via standard CSF markers, but does involve vague EEG abnormalities and mixed hypo/hypermetabolism on a FDG-PET scan.

I understand why most neurologists struggle with this. They don’t want to risk hurting you with medications or procedures that come with potential side effects, and they’re used to treating patients with a more black-and-white picture.

But what I DON’T understand is the rampant gaslighting experienced by patients left, right, and centre within the AE community—not just by me. I went from capably managing 40-60 hour work weeks in early 2020, to having to bow out of work altogether. You can’t just peg that on residual symptoms leftover after my initial treatment in 2019.  And some of the alternate narratives suggested to me, while convenient if true, were incredibly sloppy (ADHD—really?!) and left me with psychological battle scars I’d rather not have. For all the specialists I’ve seen, I actually have a relatively straightforward medical history; I can only begin to imagine the frustration felt by patients whose doctors remain fully adamant their symptoms are due to a comorbidity, and NOT autoimmune encephalitis.

It should not take 12 neurologists over 6+ years –with 4 weighing in with erroneous judgments while I was relapsing, even after the diagnosis had already been established the year earlier—to fix 1 AE patient.  It’s really not that complicated. Yet our present medical system makes it so, stranding scores of AE patients who are left to needlessly suffer. My situation of misdiagnosis and mistreatment is not that unique, and that’s what troubles me most.

As for today: I’m not at baseline, I still have some unsteady days, and I still don’t have all of the maintenance medications I’ve been prescribed. Frankly, the follow-up care outside of the hospital has been a bit lacklustre; in the end, the panacea for AE care remains elusive. In a situation like mine, it’s still on the patient or caregiver to hound doctors’ offices, facilitate insurance appeals, coordinate communication between doctors, and take command of figuring out logistics for ongoing care. I’m run down. But I’m also keenly aware that I’ve already experienced a level of treatment and healing that many patients aren’t so fortunate to experience, and for that I remain incredibly grateful.  Fingers crossed the treatments hold, and that the healing continues.

The major takeaway here? If you know in your gut that something is medically wrong, keep advocating for yourself (or your loved one). Dig deep inside yourself to keep going, until you find the answers that sit right with you. This may not always look like more treatment; there may not be anything further that can be done. However, many times there is—it just takes some serious persistence. That’s the ugly reality of AE today (one I hope to help change for the future). You might need to spend hours gold-panning for the right nugget of information and stomach some gut-punches from the medical community, but it can absolutely make a world of difference towards restoring your quality of life.

Believe me, I had my days I wanted to give in. But once the wallowing subsided, I kept turning back to my community. There are many out there, more resilient than me, who inspired me to inch forward whenever the going was rough.  Get resourceful, and don’t be shy about reaching out to others—these were pivotal components to unravelling my own personal AE puzzle. You can find a list of AE-specific support groups here.

I hope this post benefits someone out there in the same way I’ve been fortunate to benefit from patients and caregivers on this journey alongside me. To those who have helped me weather the AE storm, thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤️️.

For more insight into what living with autoimmune encephalitis looks like, read more at my blog below or find me on InstagramFacebook, or Twitter.

 

wherearemypillows bio

WhereAreMyPillows is a seronegative AE survivor from Canada. Her favourite activities include writing on her health blog, taking photos, doing yoga, and finding her next spot to take a nap. 

Join her on the IAES Facebook group, and on her WhereAreMyPillows Facebook PageInstagram and Twitter #wherearemypillows

 

 

Your generous Donations allow IAES to continue our important work and save lives! 

guidestar platinum logo 300x300 1 e1605914935941 - This is what it took to lift me out of an autoimmune encephalitis relapse

 

 

Become an Advocate by sharing your story. It may result in accurate diagnosis for someone suffering right now who is yet to be correctly identified. Submit your story with two photos to IAES@autoimmune-encephalitis.org

 

 

International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society (IAES), home of the AEWarrior®, is the only Family/Patient-centered organization that assists members from getting a diagnosis through to recovery and the many challenges experienced in their journey. Your donations are greatly appreciated and are the direct result of IAES’ ability to develop the first product in the world to address the needs of patients, Autoimmune Encephalitis Trivia Playing Cards. Every dollar raised allows us to raise awareness and personally help Patients, Families, and Caregivers through their Journey with AE to ensure that the best outcomes can be reached. Your contribution to our mission will help save lives and improve the quality of life for those impacted by AE. 

Trivia Playing cards 3 FB 500x419 - This is what it took to lift me out of an autoimmune encephalitis relapse

For those interested in face masks, clothing, mugs, and other merchandise, check out our AE Warrior Store!  This online shop was born out of the desire for the AE patient to express their personal pride in fighting such a traumatic disease and the natural desire to spread awareness. Join our AE family and help us continue our mission to support patients, families and caregivers while they walk this difficult journey.  

AE Warrior Store 300x200 - This is what it took to lift me out of an autoimmune encephalitis relapse 

Be a part of the solution by supporting IAES with a donation today.

 

why zebra - Aphasia as a Symptom of Autoimmune Encephalitis

 

 

 

The Real-World Challenges of Surviving an Autoimmune Encephalitis Diagnosis

The Real-World Challenges of Surviving an Autoimmune Encephalitis Diagnosis

December 19, 2020 | By WhereAreMyPillows.com  

 

This post is part of the #WhereAreMyPillows monthly blog column for the International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society and has been republished from www.wherearemypillows.com

 

—–

Please note that the following is based on my (WhereAreMyPillows) own personal experiences as a patient living with autoimmune encephalitis. Everyone’s journey is different; some may disagree with the views presented.

The world that doctors live in…

The classic story arc of autoimmune encephalitis goes something like this: a patient presents to the hospital emergency room with an abrupt onset of psychotic features that include hallucinations, paranoia, anxiety, and strange behavioural changes.

They’re evaluated by the psychiatry service, medicated with psychotropic medication, and monitored to ensure they don’t become a danger to themself or others.

But the patient’s symptoms persist; then, seizure-like activity is witnessed by someone on their medical team. Physical weakness, loss of balance, autonomic dysfunction, and other physical abnormalities quickly follow.

The neurology service is called in. An EEG, lumbar puncture, comprehensive blood panel, and an MRI are ordered and come back with several abnormalities.

The diagnosis? Presumptive autoimmune encephalitis (AE), made definitive a couple weeks later when serum and spinal fluid results are reported positive for antibodies against the NMDA receptor (or another recently discovered autoantibody).

Steroids and IVIG are promptly administered, further deterioration is halted, and the patient begins to make a turnaround. Within weeks, family members start to recognize their loved one again. The patient has some months of rehab work ahead of them, but the disease has been arrested—modern medicine has done its job!

At the 6-month post-discharge follow-up, healing is judged to be progressing smoothly; 1 year later, the AE patient has recovered and made a full (or nearly full) return to their pre-illness activities. No further complications. Case closed.

….Versus the world that patients live in.

Oh what a neat, tidy, and ultimately naïve narrative.

It’s the idealized version of the patient journey—the one that, in fact, most (but not all!) AE survivors fall short of.  Myself being one of them.

More saliently, it’s the story that poorly-informed physicians—often neurologists—tend to stick to. No ifs, ands, or buts.  In their eyes, anything that colours outside of these lines can’t be related to autoimmune encephalitis.

…..Okay, that’s probably an unfair characterization and overgeneralization. Forgive me for being salty right now; not all doctors are narrow-minded. I’m just exasperated after speaking with 5 neurologists too many in the past month, continuing to have ongoing medical chores, running on fumes, and feeling mostly like crap for the past 8 months. It’s both heart-warming and soul-crushing to think back to around this time last year, November 2019, the first time I felt like I had finally gotten my neuropsychiatric symptoms into remission after a 5 year journey of misdiagnosis (which culminated in being hospitalized).

One whole year after recovering from Rituximab and IVIG, I didn’t think I’d be back here. In some ways, 2020 has been like the sped-up version of my 2010s: a time that began with unbridled dreams, aspirations, and excitement (excellent health as I began adulthood); a sudden lurch that threw everything up in the air (medical challenges and uncertainty); and a bumpy landing where all sense of progress ground to a standstill (poor health). In 2020, I started a new chapter of life in a new country (USA); I relapsed; and the subsequent months have gone sideways. The 2010s DID conclude with some medical miracles and a remarkable recovery—if I look through an optimistic lens, I can see how things may be shaping up for a similar outcome again.

But right now I’m just bitter.

This time last year, I knew relapsing was a possibility; however, I was comforted by the belief that I had a concrete diagnosis after spending 5 years without one. I thought I was done with falling through the medical cracks. As far as I knew, autoimmune encephalitis is a very treatable condition, we know what medications work for me, and the field continues to rapidly progress. And I managed to get my full health back, after progressive worsening that started in 2014.

So maybe you can imagine my anguish from realizing I’m in the midst of reliving parts of that 5 year nightmare once again. Instead of accessible medical care and treatment after my relapse, I’ve been met with medical gaslighting and new barriers—made all the more heavy by avoidable medical trauma of my past.

Here’s a representative story that amalgamates parts of my own healthcare experience together with common experiences I hear from other AE survivors in patient support groups:

What happens when you relapse

1. Some doctors dismiss the possibility that you are relapsing.

One day, you face the fact that some vague symptoms have crept up on you the past couple weeks. Maybe your balance seems a bit off. Maybe you’re slurring your words a bit. Maybe your emotions are uncharacteristically erratic. Maybe you’re having bizarre memory lapses and spells of paranoia.

So you go back to your doctor, only to be given a flippant reminder that AE often leaves long-term sequelae and permanent deficits you have to learn to live with. There’s nothing more to be done. The inflammation can’t be there anymore. Go home and get on with your life.

But lo and behold: a couple weeks later, your health deterioration is undeniable. You’re forced to take a leave from work, and find yourself readmitted to the hospital after having a seizure.

Evidently, overcoming a return of AE symptoms is not simply a matter of pulling up your bootstraps and willing your way back to good health.  The immune system can be a temperamental beast; having it knocked out of balance once can certainly make it more susceptible to being knocked out of balance again. While not all symptom exacerbations point to a true relapse caused by immune dysregulation, there’s certainly reason why patients should remain closely monitored.

Research is limited, but a publication from Dalmau and Graus (2018) estimates that AE relapses occur at a rate of 12-35%. You learn later (just a little late) that some doctors know to be vigilant and closely monitor for returning symptoms, while others adhere to the misguided dogma that AE is rarely more than a monophasic illness.

2. There are no widely accepted protocols for what to do during a relapse.

Autoimmune encephalitis entered into the neurological mainstream in 2007, when Josep Dalmau at the University of Pennsylvania published his discovery of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. That makes the field of autoimmune encephalitides relatively young.

While AE experts have roughly come to agree on the medications and protocols for patients early in their disease course (particularly anti-NMDA receptor patients), there’s little out there to guide physicians dealing with patients who recover slowly, have ongoing symptoms, develop new symptoms, or end up in a full-blown relapse.

So when you consider how common initial treatment delays are due to under-recognition of the disease and lack of worldwide AE expertise, it’s not hard to imagine the reluctance and challenges faced by the average physician when confronted by a patient in the midst of a relapse.

3. Your response to medications may not remain consistent over time.

A logical place to begin re-treatment might be to use the medications that helped you recover the first time AE entered your life.

Thus begins the lovely road of IV medications all over again.  It’s a painful crawl down memory lane, but it’s a relief to know that at least your medical concerns are now being taken seriously. Further deterioration seems to have halted, and everyone’s hopeful that you’re back on the mend.

Fast forward a few months however, and it’s clear that your relapse recovery is swerving left in a new direction. This isn’t the familiar road you were expecting.

Later, you learn it’s not uncommon for medications to lose their effectiveness as time goes on. Sometimes, different methods of targeting the immune system are warranted.

20201128 blood draw 500x375 - The Real-World Challenges of Surviving an Autoimmune Encephalitis Diagnosis

Back in the thick of the medical journey.

What happens when you talk to other AE patients

4. You realize that the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment protocols for AE are more heterogeneous than you were led to believe.

When you realize your recovery isn’t going as planned, you reach out to patient support communities to find out how others are coping after their AE diagnosis.

It’s a boon to find real human beings who lend colour to the lonely experience that is autoimmune encephalitis. It’s also shocking at times: you learn far more from fellow patients than you do from your own doctors. You’re far from the only one without a textbook case of AE.

There can be a range of severity levels, some are misdiagnosed for years before receiving immunotherapy, people have variable responses to the conventional treatment protocols, and relapses ain’t so rare afterall.

It becomes clear that the current state of AE medical literature is not wholly representative of what this disease looks like for the patients living with the condition.

5. You observe large differences in the style of treatment offered to patients.

What dose of insert-name-of-medication-here should be administered? At what point do you escalate to second and third-line treatments? Are there instances where therapies should be combined? How long should a patient be kept on immunosuppressants? When and how do doctors make the judgment call that indeed, this patient is in a true AE relapse?

You see people from across the globe chime in to various online forums with their experiences. Turns out people are placed on medication regimens and provided with recovery guidance as variable as the manifestations of the disease itself.  Sure there’s many points of commonality, the basics of which appear in the medical journals; but it’s also unnerving to realize that the standard of care can differ from physician to physician, let alone state to state and country to country. This has drastic implications on a patient’s ongoing quality of life.

Some people are automatically provided with rehabilitation support in the form of occupational or physical therapists. Some are directed to get a neuropsychological examination. And some others might be left to their own devices after their discharge from the hospital, clueless that perhaps they could benefit tremendously from a speech language pathologist that provides cognitive therapy (i.e. me, up until a few months ago).

Most strikingly, you learn of several major U.S centres that have adopted the convention to keep patients on at least 2 years of immunotherapy after the acute phase of their illness. You notice a minority are even told by their docs that they’ll be on some form of an immunosuppressant for life.

Well, perhaps THAT partly explains why I relapsed, you think with some bitterness. Your original care team cut you loose from all meds and deemed you fully recovered, after only half a year of immunotherapy.

20201128 doctors office 500x375 - The Real-World Challenges of Surviving an Autoimmune Encephalitis Diagnosis

Another glum doctor’s office.

What happens when you get a second opinion

6. Seronegative patients battle the ongoing question of whether they really even had autoimmune encephalitis in the first place.

After you’ve spent a couple months at a plateau—and far from your healthy baseline—you seek out a second opinion.

But you end up worse off than where you began prior to the appointment. Rather than offering insight into how they treat AE patients and suggestions for how to adjust your current regimen, this doctor spends an inordinate amount of time hung up on the fact that you do not have an identified autoantibody, despite other abnormal biomarkers consistent with AE. Even though antibody negative AE is a legitimate diagnostic entity. Even though new antibodies are continually being discovered.

They’re skeptical about the recovery you describe the first time you were given immunotherapy a couple years ago, using your inadequate response to recent treatment and ongoing symptoms as ammunition for their assertion that you have a primary psychiatric disorder instead. Even though there are more and more case reports of antibody positive encephalitis patients who fail first and second line immunotherapies.

You realize you’ve just been medically gaslit. Join the crowded club.

7. The search for proper medical recognition and treatment can become just as exhausting as managing the symptoms of AE itself.

You pingpong back and forth between your longtime family doctor, psychiatrist, and neurologist. They’re sympathetic to your situation, but ultimately reluctant to be the one to step up and alter your current medical treatment. They’ve had little to no experience treating a patient like you. Maybe your body is just taking longer to respond this time, one of them tries to reassure you. Another shares your concern that you’re backsliding, and encourages you to continue to seek out further AE expertise and guidance.

So you spend more time in patient groups, gathering names of doctors that others suggest. You take a deeper dive into the medical literature. You read stories from other patients in similar situations as you, sharing your darkened reality of falling through the medical cracks. You follow up on every promising lead, and spend countless hours reaching out to medical institutions that are miles and miles away.

You search. And search. And search.

Your efforts sporadically yield a new piece to the puzzle, with key information and answers feeling so close yet so damn far away.

8. It may take a few “second” opinions, but your persistence finally pays off.

After dead-ends ranging from offices that never return your messages, to doctors transitioning out of clinical practice to focus on research, to doctors with new patient appointments booking too far away in the future, you manage to line up some appointments with a few of the top experts in the autoimmune encephalitis field.  There’s no shame in doctor shopping by this point; you can’t waste any more time putting all your eggs in one basket.

One doctor stands out, offering an astute assessment of your present situation and outlining a clear plan for future treatment. Why can’t all neurologists be as straightforward, compassionate, and solutions-focused as her?!

There’s no guarantees that the new protocol will work, but at least your sense of hope is renewed once again.

20201128 sunrise snowy rooftops 500x375 - The Real-World Challenges of Surviving an Autoimmune Encephalitis Diagnosis

So… now what?

Turning the narrative back to me: I started writing this post on a day I was frustrated, having spent large portions of the past weeks scraping by in survival mode.  It’s been a grueling time, with doors thudding shut and leaving echoes of the question “why do I even bother?”

I thought I simply needed to rant—which I ended up doing, to an extent. Part of me just wanted to curse away and throw a pity party, nevermind whether I should bother to post something like this at all. Let’s just say that these topics can get touchy and lead to arguments that cross lines into toxic territory.

But then I thought about the types of people who reach out to me. Oftentimes they’re stuck in a similar maze, feeling unsupported by their current medical team—or worse, by friends, family, and even other AE community members. I’m not a medical professional, but at least I can share personal insights based on my patient experiences.

And then I realized I’m tired of these pain points being swept under the rug. They’re shared by a significant number of AE patients, whose quality of life is worse off than it needs to be because a multitude of barriers exist between them and the medical attention they deserve. Throw in self-doubt, a lack of support, and discouraging remarks from those they’ve placed their trust in, and it’s easy to get lost in that “why bother?” mindset.

To those that are fighting similar battles right now, please carry on. Push forward and don’t lose sight of the light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how much it seems to be diminishing. It’s still there, waiting to brighten once you make it around the right corner.

I’m not sure exactly what’s ahead in my health saga, but I’m pleased to say that some new puzzle pieces finally came together this month.  Another doc, another approach, and better medical support have entered the picture.  And right now I think that’s enough to celebrate: getting to this point has been a hard-fought win.

For more insight into what autoimmune encephalitis recovery looks like, read more at my blog below or find me on InstagramFacebook, or Twitter.

 

wherearemypillows bio

WhereAreMyPillows is a seronegative AE survivor from Canada. Her favourite activities include writing on her health blog, taking photos, doing yoga, and finding her next spot to take a nap. 

Join her on the IAES Facebook group, and on her WhereAreMyPillows Facebook PageInstagram and Twitter #wherearemypillows

 

 

Your generous Donations allow IAES to continue our important work and save lives! 

guidestar platinum logo 300x300 1 e1605914935941 - The Real-World Challenges of Surviving an Autoimmune Encephalitis Diagnosis

Become an Advocate by sharing your story. It may result in accurate diagnosis for someone suffering right now who is yet to be correctly identified. Submit your story with two photos to IAES@autoimmune-encephalitis.org

 

 

International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society (IAES), home of the AEWarrior®, is the only Family/Patient-centered organization that assists members from getting a diagnosis through to recovery and the many challenges experienced in their journey. Your donations are greatly appreciated and are the direct result of IAES’ ability to develop the first product in the world to address the needs of patients, Autoimmune Encephalitis Trivia Playing Cards. Every dollar raised allows us to raise awareness and personally help Patients, Families, and Caregivers through their Journey with AE to ensure that the best outcomes can be reached. Your contribution to our mission will help save lives and improve the quality of life for those impacted by AE. 

Trivia Playing cards 3 FB 500x419 - The Real-World Challenges of Surviving an Autoimmune Encephalitis Diagnosis

For those interested in face masks, clothing, mugs, and other merchandise, check out our AE Warrior Store!  This online shop was born out of the desire for the AE patient to express their personal pride in fighting such a traumatic disease and the natural desire to spread awareness. Join our AE family and help us continue our mission to support patients, families and caregivers while they walk this difficult journey.  

AE Warrior Store 300x200 - The Real-World Challenges of Surviving an Autoimmune Encephalitis Diagnosis 

Be a part of the solution by supporting IAES with a donation today.

 

why zebra - Aphasia as a Symptom of Autoimmune Encephalitis

 

 

 

Our website is not a substitute for independent professional medical advice. Nothing contained on our website is intended to be used as medical advice. No content is intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice. Although THE INTERNATIONAL AUTOIMMUNE ENCEPHALITIS SOCIETY  provides a great deal of information about AUTOIMMUNE ENCEPHALITIS, all content is provided for informational purposes only. The International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society  cannot provide medical advice.


International Autoimmune Encephalitis Society is a charitable non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2016 by Tabitha Andrews Orth, Gene Desotell and Anji Hogan-Fesler. Tax ID# 81-3752344. Donations raised directly supports research, patients, families and caregivers impacted by autoimmune encephalitis and to educating healthcare communities around the world. Financial statement will be made available upon request.

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