Have you heard about amyloidosis? This army wants to be sure you know
Amyloidosis Army founder Mike Lane talks to LINC Caring Communities Coordinators at Hickman Mills Middle School in Kansas City.
Mike Lane and his Amyloidosis Army came to Hickman Mills with an urgent message about the pervasive but little known disease.
Amyloidosis, a disease that leads to organ failure, is not well-known in public or even in the healthcare community, but it is causing great harm, especially among the U.S. Black population.
“The rate (of people affected by the disease) for the African-American community is one-in-25,” Lane said. “But doctors say it could much higher. That’s how important it is to test.”
Lane, of Kansas City, is the founder of the organization, Amyloidosis Army, and is a survivor of the disease. He met recently with LINC Caring Communities Coordinators at Hickman Mills Middle School so that they could understand the seriousness of the disease and help urge people in their community to know symptoms and get tested.
Lane talked talked about treatments and his personal time dealing with this disease. He also gave more insight into others’ journeys with the diseases and all they had to go through.
Lane was joined by pharmacotherapy expert Adam Blevins who talked more about the symptoms and the different signs of the disease.
“These symptoms are so close to other diseases it may be hard to find if it’s really amyloidosis and (get the) diagnosis right,” he said.
That’s why it is important to get tested if you feel the symptoms in a pattern and to make sure your medical provider knows to test for the disease.
Signs and Symptoms of Amyloidosis:
The signs and symptoms of amyloidosis can vary depending on which organs are affected, but common symptoms include:
Fatigue and weakness
Swelling in the legs and ankles
Shortness of breath
Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet
Irregular heartbeat
Weight loss
Enlarged tongue
Easy bruising, particularly around the eyes
Difficulty swallowing.
From AmyloidosisArmy.org