It Started as Sinus Headaches — But Things Got Deadly.

I have nothing but respect for the people at Morristown Medical Center. They have saved my life on more than one occasion. And, I say people because everyone who works there is important. Every morning the man who came into the room to mop and empty the garbage smiled at me and said hello, as did the woman in the afternoon. The xray employee who told me to hold his hands and squeeze when I felt pain. When I could eat, the cafeteria people who smiled, and encouraged me to eat, or keep something to try later. The phlebotomist who smiled and told me I was looking better, when I wasn't. The nurse who helped clean my hair when three weeks of not being able to wash it was more than I could stand. The nurse who hovered around me, noting improvements, and regressions, all the while smiling, and letting me know that although we had never met before, they truly cared. All the other physicians who were involved in my care. The surgeons called in early on a Sunday morning. The physicians who constantly monitored me, and who put up with a year of side effects and relapses. The physical therapists... There are many things I hate about this Godforsaken state, but, I have received excellent medical care. My only negative is the people who live in Morristown, who saw fit to tax me for my stay at the hospital. in a clear case of taxation without representation. It isn't my responsibility to pay for amenities they wish to enjoy but refuse to fund. .

What an amazing and complex case, so glad there was a resolution. As a psychiatric clinician, I am aware of a growing body evidence that reports of the trauma experienced by those who have undergone lengthy ICU treatment. Perhaps this young lady can benefit from some therapy, especially as she is about to start college. And I look forward to her joining our honorable profession!

I, too, was diagnosed with a sinus infection and prescribed an antibiotic. It cause an allergic reaction and did not help my terrible headache. I finally went to the emergency room and after appropriate tests and later a biopsy I was diagnosed with Temporal Arteritis. I know doctors are trained to think "horses, not zebras" but after a few days of severe pain it was a relief to get the appropriate diagnosis and treatment. It could have become very serious, and my treatment course took about 9 months.

Check this recent nejm case report: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMicm1706987

I came down with GPA at the age of twelve (1965). I was lucky as my father was an M.D. and found the best docs in town. It stumped them but they tried everything in their toolbox including steroids, chemo and plasmapheresis. My kidneys eventually failed in 1981, but the immunosuppressants used then for transplantees are some still used for GPA today so I was treated though didn't get a diagnosis for another 40 years when I relapsed. I'm now 64 and occasionally suffer relapses, but I'm alive. I'm an exception. Most who got this disease back then died. Because it's a rare disease people are still dying due to a lack of, or a wrong, diagnosis. Bravo to the M.D. who caught the elbow rash. Best wishes to the young woman and her family.

Excellent article , opening our eyes on the complexity of our immune system . We still know so little about it’s functions and behavior and about what triggers it’s calamitous reactions. Since there are an incalculable myriads of illnesses caused by overreacting of our immune system more funds for this important research should be mandatory. At the end this research would save a lot of financial resources for our already too expensive and unaffordable healthcare system .

Comments below are getting to be annoying - always about the POTUS. Can we not leave him out of these science pages and just that excellent medical care that is available in our country. What is also in plenty are the dedicated professionals. Nowhere in this article was a mention of insurance issues or expenses ?? I would hope that folks would want to learn from this excellent series. I for one when appropriate forward these to who may need to know these issues. Let's keep politics out of science. Its getting to be a bit tedious without actually adding to the discourse.

Wow! As someone who has lived with GPA for almost 13 years, I am happy to see this. So many doctors don't know anything about GPA, or they've "heard of it". To see it discussed in a widely read newspaper gives me hope. It's a terrible disease and there are so many terrible rare diseases that just don't get the research monies because there aren't enough of us suffering. Thank you!

So much autoimmune stuff going around. I have celiac and going on the gaps diet and acupuncture are the only things that helped. It is a slow recovery. I wish you guys would write stories about people like me who've seen dozens of western doctors, spent almost ten thousand dollars only to finally get relief outside the normal recommendations.

A couple weeks ago, in our book club, I heard one of the members suffering from severe headaches. He saw a doctor but still the pains sometimes devastate him. Even painkillers never worked. However, he tried to encourage himself and joined our club to make his life better. In this article, there might be some clues to cure his headaches. Thank you very much.

With Trump and the Republicans leading the way you can forget about progress in medicine, science, education. He is taking us back to the dark ages. The up coming tax bill has provisions where people working for advanced degrees will be taxed on scholarship benefits. Readers, please email your Senator today. It is easy, just Google; contact so & so, and write a quick message. This is important. The Republicans want to take healthcare away from millions of children as part of their make the rich richer program.

Poor babe! So glad they found/treated the problem. Still devastating for her.

this is really horrible, and scary. And something that struck me? The whole point od Obamacare. This is exactly the kind of situation that financially cripples or bankrupts people. If not now, with weeks in ICU, later when she has a pre existing condition and needs ongoing treatment. The GOP are monsters to do that to us.