The disease in question is Autoimmune Autonomic Ganglionopathy (AAG), an extremely rare condition caused by the body’s own immune system mistakenly attacking the body, leading to a raft of terrible effects.
AAG impacts the autonomic ganglia, part of the nervous system that deals with involuntary bodily functions, that is to say functions we don’t consciously control.
The result is that a sufferer’s body can’t process the signals from nerves properly, causing disruption to a number of bodily functions. Annaliese’s case is so severe that she is unable to eat anything; her nutrition comes from a specialized source pumped directly into her body.
The Cleveland Clinic state that common symptoms of AAG can include things like constipation, dilated pupils, dry mouth or dry eyes, fainting, urinary retention, and low blood pressure when you move to stand up.
Worst of all, the condition is so rare that there is no standardized treatment for it at present. Medical help is instead offered on a case by case basis, with treatment focusing on managing and minimizing symptoms where possible.
The success of this, of course, varies from patient to patient, and Annaliese has a particularly virulent case.Continue reading…
