I would like to start this blog with a quote from Avenue Q's Only For Now: Nothing lasts, life goes on, Full of surprises; You'll be faced with problems of all shapes and sizes, You're going to have to make a few compromises...
For now.
So, what am I up to since finishing my TB-DOTS?
Got promoted at work
Got engaged
Gained some more weight (masarap kumain eh!)
Traveled to more places
Got married.
For two straight years, I have been given a clean bill of health (well, except for the weight. Tee-hee), with no visible scarring on my left lung. ☺
I almost have forgotten this blog until I was contacted by a few people who are now going through the same path as I have. I have this to tell you: TB is very treatable, and that you alone hold your future in your hands. The stigma is there, yes, but really, the people who matters in your life will never mind, and those who do mind do not matter in your life. I'm glad to know that somehow, somewhere, I was able to give hope to you.
Now that my journey against TB is over (hopefully!), I decided to post biographies of celebrated personalities who had the disease. I will try my best to post stories of TB survivors.
If you, my dear reader, stumbled upon this blabberings of mine, also is fighting, or have fought the disease, or if someone near you is fighting it, I hope that this gives you hope to overcome this disease in my own little way.
Ringo Starr MBE (born Richard Starkey; 7 July 1940) is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for the Beatles.
Richie and his mum, Elsie
Richard Starkey was born on the 7th July 1940, the only child of Richard and Elsie, who where living at no 9 Madryn Street, Dingle, Liverpool. In 1944, in an effort to reduce their housing costs, his family moved to another neighbourhood in the Dingle, 10 Admiral Grove; soon afterwards, his parents separated, and they divorced within the year. Elsie found it difficult to survive on her ex-husband's support payments of thirty shillings a week, so she took on several menial jobs cleaning houses before securing a position as a local barmaid, an occupation that she enjoyed for twelve years.
At age six Starkey developed appendicitis. Following a routine appendectomy he contracted peritonitis, causing him to fall into a coma that lasted for three days. His recovery spanned twelve months, which he spent away from his family at Liverpool's Myrtle Street Children's hospital. Upon his discharge in May 1948, his mother allowed him to stay home, causing him to miss school. At age eight, he remained illiterate, with a poor grasp of mathematics. His lack of education contributed to a feeling of alienation at school, which resulted in him regularly playing truant at Sefton Park.
After several years of twice weekly tutoring from his surrogate sister and neighbour, Marie Maguire Crawford, Starkey had nearly caught up to his peers academically, but in 1953, he contracted tuberculosis and was admitted to a sanatorium, where he remained for two years. During his stay the medical staff made an effort to stimulate motor activity and relieve boredom by encouraging their patients to join the hospital band, leading to his first exposure to a percussion instrument; a makeshift mallet made from a cotton bobbin that he used to strike the cabinets next to his bed. Soon afterwards, he grew increasingly interested in drumming, receiving a copy of the Alyn Ainsworth song "Bedtime for Drums" as a convalescence gift from Crawford. Starkey commented: "I was in the hospital band ... That's where I really started playing. I never wanted anything else from there on ... My grandparents gave me a mandolin and a banjo, but I didn't want them. My grandfather gave me a harmonica ... we had a piano – nothing. Only the drums."
As a result of the prolonged hospitalisations, he fell behind his peers scholastically and was ineligible for the 11-plus qualifying examination required for attendance at a grammar school.
Beatles biographer Bob Spitz described Starkey's upbringing as "a Dickensian chronicle of misfortune". Houses in the area were "poorly ventilated, postage-stamp-sized ... patched together by crumbling plaster walls, with a rear door that opened onto an outhouse." Crawford commented: "Like all of the families who lived in the Dingle, he was part of an ongoing struggle to survive. The children who lived there spent much of their time at Princes Park, escaping the soot-filled air of their coal-fuelled neighbourhood. Adding to their difficult circumstances, violent crime was an almost constant concern for people living in one of the oldest and poorest inner-city districts in Liverpool. Starkey later commented: "You kept your head down, your eyes open, and you didn't get in anybody's way."
When it was time for him to leave school he left with no qualifications, and after a few dead end jobs he got himself a steady job in the Speke district of Liverpool at H.Hunts, it was there that he joined his first band, known as the Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group, playing drums during lunch breaks.
Now that Ritchie had his own drum kit, and had a gig at the Cavern Club with the Skiffle group, he was becoming more well known and in 1959 left Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group to join The Dark Town Skiffle group, after which he joined the Raving Texans with Alan Caldwell, it was around this time that Ritchie became known as Ringo Starr, and Alan Caldwell called himself Rory Storm, at the end of 1959 Skiffle was on the way out, so Ringo and Rory re-named the Raving Texans to the new name of Rory Storm and The Hurricanes.
Ritchie on drums with The Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group.
Ringo on drums with the Hurricanes.
The Beatles, with Pete Best as the drummer.
At the beginning of the 60's Rory Storm and the Hurricanes had established themselves as the top group in Liverpool, but a new band was coming through to challenge the top stop, that was The Beatles, with John, Paul, George and Pete Best, the rivalry between the group was always friendly as they would meet each other at gigs around the north west of England and while touring in Hamburg.
Ringo Starr as the drummer for The Beatles.
It was during 1962, when The Beatles got a record deal, that Pete Best left group, and George Harrison wanted Ringo to join The Beatles, it was John Lennon who contacted Ringo to ask him to join The Beatles.
Clockwise, from upper left: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr.
Pete Best's fans were not happy with his firing. They held vigils outside his house and at the club shouting "Pete forever! Ringo never!" Harrison received a black eye from one of the upset fans and Epstein, whose car tyres they had flattened in anger, temporarily hired a bodyguard to ensure his safety. Eventually, however, by 1962, Ringo Starr has been accepted by the fans, and soon, he began receiving fan mail almost as many as the others, helping him secure his position in the band.
By the end of the year, the phenomenon known as Beatlemania had spread throughout the country, and by February 1964 the Beatles had become an international success, performing on The Ed Sullivan Show to a record 73 million viewers. Starr commented: "In the States I know I went over well. It knocked me out to see and hear the kids waving for me. I'd made it as a personality ... Our appeal ... is that we're ordinary lads."
From 1960, the Beatles built their reputation playing clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg over a three-year period. Manager Brian Epstein moulded them into a professional act and producer George Martin enhanced their musical potential. They gained popularity in the United Kingdom after their first hit, "Love Me Do", in late 1962. They acquired the nickname the "Fab Four" as Beatlemania grew in Britain over the following year, and by early 1964 they had become international stars, leading the "British Invasion" of the United States pop market. From 1965 on, the Beatles produced what many critics consider their finest material, including the innovative and widely influential albums Rubber Soul (1965), Revolver (1966), Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), The Beatles ("The White Album") (1968), and Abbey Road (1969).
The break-up of The Beatles was a cumulative process throughout 1969–70, marked by rumours of a split and ambiguous comments by the Beatles themselves regarding the future of the group. Although John Lennon privately informed the other Beatles that he was leaving the group in September 1969, there was no public acknowledgement of the break-up until Paul McCartney announced on 10 April 1970 he was quitting the Beatles.
Starr, rear centre drumming with Bob Dylan and the Band, November 1976
Ringo launched a solo career in the 1970s, launched albums like "Sentimental Journey", "Beaucoups of Blues", and "Ringo" which writing and musical contributions from Lennon, McCarney, and Harrison. He also played drums on John Lennon's John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, Yoko Ono's Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band and on George Harrison's albums "All Things Must Pass" and "Living in the Material World ".
After John Lennon's murder in 1980, Harrison modified the lyrics of a song he had originally written for Starr, "All Those Years Ago", as a tribute to their former bandmate. The track, which included vocal contributions from both Paul and Linda McCartney and Starr's original drum part, peaked at number two in the US charts, and number 13 in the UK.
From 1984 to 1986, Starr narrated the children's series Thomas & Friends, a Britt Allcroft production based on the books by the Reverend W. Awdry. Starr also portrayed the character Mr. Conductor in the programme's American spin-off Shining Time Station, which debuted in 1989 on PBS. He left after the first season.
In 1989, Ringo formed Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band. The band consisted of Starr and a varying assortment of musicians who had been successful in their own right with popular songs at different times. The concerts interchanged Starr's singing, including selections of his Beatles and solo songs, with performances of each of the other artists' well-known material, the latter incorporating either Starr or another musician as drummer. Some of the musicians who had became a member of the band were Joe Walsh (Eagles and James Gang), Nils Lofgren (E Street Band) ,Rick Danko (The Band), Timothy B. Schmit (Poco and Eagles), Ian Hunter (Mott The Hoople), and Bruce Springsteen.
Up to this date, Ringo Starr has remained active in the music industry, gathering a lot of awards over his achievements. He also appeared in shows like The Simpsons.
Ringo Starr married Maureen Cox in 1965, and they had three children together: Zak (born 13 September 1965), Jason (born 19 August 1967) and Lee (born 11 November 1970). Following Starr's repeated infidelities, the couple divorced in 1975. Maureen died from leukaemia in 1994, with Ringo and her then-husband Isaac Tigrett by her bedside.
In 1980, while on the set of the film Caveman, Starr met actress Barbara Bach; they were married on 27 April 1981. In 1985, he was the first of the Beatles to become a grandfather upon the birth of Zak's daughter, Tatia Jayne Starkey. Zak Starkey is also a drummer, and during his father's regular absences, he spent time with the Who's Keith Moon. Zak has performed with his father during some All-Starr Band tours.
In the Sunday Times Rich List 2011, Starr was listed at number 56 with an estimated personal wealth of £150m.
Recently, Ringo and Paul McCartney - the 2 remaining Beatles - had an opportunity to sing together again at the 2014 Grammy Awards. Enjoy this video. :)
Okay, okay, I should have posted this sooner - but I procrastinated long enough, because it was such relief to be clear of TB. ☺
I took my last round of medications 12 Mar 2014, but I was not able to see Dr. Pagcatipunan until 17 Mar because he was not available that week.
The last dose :)
During that hiatus, to my joy: No More Reddish Pee! :P
16 Mar, I went to the hospital to take my x rays: both PA and apicolordotic views.
17 Mar came, and I was a mass of emotions then... I was excited and nervous at the same time. What if I forgot a dose? What if the medication did not work?
I messaged Chris about my appointment, and he took the time to call me to cheer me up and wish me luck. ♥
I also tweeted:
Thank God for tweethearts like them. ♥
Seeing Dr. Pagcatipunan was a bit of anti-climax. He scanned through my x rays, and pointed out that it's almost all gone, but a small scar in my lungs. He congratulated me, and said that I have graduated from DOTS. He also said that he wishes not to see me again.
What a humour my doctor has. =.=
It was a relief!
Can't help but to spread the news:
Now, almost a month after that day, I have gotten used to a life without taking my medication, and believe me, it was a relief.
Now, all I need to do is get my weight down again.
I have bought my last batch of Bifix. My last 14 dosages, each marking the final two days of my medication.
It feels as if that day at the doctor's office was years away, but it has been only almost 6 months ago. In two weeks from now, I will have another set of x-rays and another consultation with Dr. Pagcatipunan, and I hope that I will have a good diagnosis at the end.
There were times when I was able to successfully lose weight, but I lose it and start all over again. There were a period when I used to exercise up to 2 hours a day, but it was to no avail.
Ever since I started my medications, I've seen that scale go nowhere but up. People are greeting me with "Antaba mo ngayon" (You've grown so fat!) "Sumeksi ka na noon ah?" (You used to be so sexy!) and from my own mother: "Mas mataba ka pa sa akin, anak!" (You're even bigger than me, my child!). Whenever I had to have my weight noted and recorded, I'd secretly curse that nurse who'd read it out loud, even if I pointedly not look into the scale, because I just don't want to know ("165 lbs!", she says. The b*tch.)
I am envious with girls who are slim, and wish that I could be like that. I don't like having my pictures taken any more, because I look like a beached whale. And bulimia is rearing its ugly head again nowadays.
I don't want to think what it's gonna be until 11 March, 74 days from now, the day I take that last tablet.
Similarly, after 4 months, a patient with good outcome increased 3 kg on average (p<0 .001="" 0.2="" gained="" kg="" only="" outcome="" p="0.02).</i" poor="" those="" while="" with="">
Physical Signs That TB Treatment Is Working Physical signs of tuberculosis treatment success include: A reduction in symptoms, such as less coughing Overall improvement in the way one feels Weight gain Increased appetite Improvement in strength and stamina
(If there's one thing about me, my appetite doesn't need help. Haha)
Only 74 more days. I'm halfway there. I WILL WIN AGAINST TB.
And my increased voluptuousness only mean that I'm on my way towards my goal.
I saw my doctor, Dr. Rudy Pagcatipunan, yesterday to change my prescribed medicine from Quadtab™ to Bifix®
Quadtab ™ Bilster Foil Pack
Quadtab Tablets
As you can see, Quadtab™ tablets can be as big as lima beans. I had to take 4 tablets a day, all before breakfast. Gulp. Luckily, they're film-coated, so they taste bland.
As per the Filipino Doctor website, it contains:
Rifampicin 150 mg
Isoniazid 75 mg
Pyrazinamide 400 mg
Ethambutol hydrochloride 275 mg
No, I'm not going into a whole scientific thing-a-majig on what they do, but Quadtab™ is prescribed for those who have TB, and also leprosy.
Today, I've just started on a new medication, Bifix®. This will continue until March 11, 2014, the sixth month of my treatment.
Bifix® Blister Foil Pack
Bifix® Tablets
Bifix® is quite smaller than Quadtab™, about twice the size of a sesame seed. I had to take Quadtab™ two at a time because of its size, while I can take all four Bifix® in one go. And like Quadtab™, Bifix® is also film-coated, so they also taste bland.
I think they made it so to make it easier for TB patients to take them in.
The Filipino Doctor listed its ingredients as:
Rifampicin 150 mg
Isoniazid 75 mg
It doesn't have pyrazinamide and ethambutol hydrochloride like Quadtab™ did. I think that explains its
Bifix®' smaller size.
It has been more than a week since I got back to work. It was back to the grindstone for me. I broke the news to my colleagues, who were surprised at the verdict, and gamely joked around with me about it: "TB? Yeah right. Where's the weight loss?"
Seriously, if not for me having to take Quadtab daily, I\d have forgotten that I have it.
On Monday, I will go back to the hospital for another round of x-rays and consultation with my doctor. I hope that it's getting better, for my sake.
It's a special day, and one that I can't wait for to see my doctor. It's the end of the two-week no-work period prescribed to me.
AND I GOT IT! OH JOY!
I can't tell you how seriously boring and depressing those two weeks were - and so worrying. I can't bear to see my next two pay checks and what's left of my leave credits (what's gonna happen in January? IT WILL GO ON AS PLANNED, of course ☺)
My doctor wrote, in part:
"Although she is diagnosed to have ATB, she is fit to return to work as she is not considered to be contagious. She is still advised to have regular check-ups for monitoring purposes."
And gave an order for another x-ray in a fortnight. Sigh
But still... YAY! I'm back to the normal world again - red pee and all! :P
The past two days were blurs to me: of boredom and depression. I was so bored that my visit to the hospital for my last bit of sputum samples was a highlight for my day. I got invites for two events: one is my team's teambuilding in Antipolo, Rizal, in a resort overlooking the Metro, and the other, a dinner at the Adarna Food and Culture Restaurant in Quezon City, to raise funds for the victims of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC). I did not go for one reason: I don't want them to catch the bacteria from me as I was currently on just day 4 of medications.
So, I did the other thing I could do: eat. I admit, I am a food lover, but I try, yes, I try, to cut down on junk foods, but still I love trying out new things and new food. And give me credit, please - I get full rather easily.
Not surprisingly, my boyfriend got frustrated with the Philippines. I couldn't blame him, but my feelings still got hurt.
Because in a way, I am like the Philippines. Both of us have afflictions that we have to fight.
I think, it's normal for someone like me to get depressed, but the thought of him turning his back on me is unbearable. In my mind, him wanting to give up on the Philippines is almost the same as him giving up on me: because right now, I'm not a healthy and whole woman, as he deserves it.
And what is more depressing is that I am one of the private citizens who speak up about our feelings especially on the corruption going on in our government. Our people has been taught over the centuries to suck it up and accept things as what they are, but I for one understood what Rizal wanted during his time: let the people be educated first so that they'd understand what's going on.
It's an uphill battle, as some people think that I am an idiot for being an activist, but I try my best, even if my voice is too small to be heard, because like a snowball, it can start as a little thing, but it can grow bigger and bigger until it's big enough to make a huge impact.
Alas, I went on him because of what he said. I honestly felt like I was Gabriela Silang, the wife of the Ilocos revolutionary leader, Diego Silang :)
You see, I am loyal to my country, and whatever bad things she might be in right now, she has a lot of good in her, too. And as her daughter, as a Filipina, it's also my duty to stand by what is right, to correct everything that's wrong in our society.
As much as I understand my boyfriend on his frustrations, I felt that I have to stand up for my country, too.
What I love about my boyfriend is that if we argue is that he listens to what I have to say (and I try my best to do the same, too. Really.), and he can readily admit if he's in the wrong. I also did something wrong, so, amanos lang. :)
I felt much better when we patched things up together. :)
I think the cloak of depression just don't completely disappear, so I turn into my favourite band, Queen.
I LOVE QUEEN. #FangirlAlert
I love their songs, they have a lot of genres during their time, so much colour in their harmony, vocal arrangement, lyrics, and everything in between. Freddie Mercury was fascinating to listen to, and so are the others. Even if John Deacon didn't sing, his bass runs were nothing short of fascinating, too. Listening to a Queen song is like looking through a prism.
(Ok, Arlene, that's enough and stop waxing lyrical on Queen...)
I turned on my player, starting with Brian May's Hammer To Fall.
It hit me on how this part suit how I am feeling:
What the hell we fighting for ? Ah, just surrender and it won't hurt at all You just got time to say your prayers Yeah, while you're waiting for the hammer, to hammer to fall
Sigh. Is it time for my hammer to fall?
The next song gave me the answer: (my player is set to shuffle and repeat)
And I heard Freddie Mercury all but shouted to me:
Don't let go
Don't lose your mystique
Wait a little longer
Tomorrow brings another feast
Don't let go
Don't lose your reputation
Thank God you're still alive
You're still in one piece
Hang on in there, don't lose your appetite
Hang on in there, forget the danger signs
Pray for that magical moment (straight ahead) and it will appear
Don't fight for lost emotions!
Wait for the sunrise
And everything will seem so clear
(Look straight ahead, look straight ahead!)
Hang on in there (hang on in there)
Hang on in there (hang on in there)
Your wish will be granted
All your problems will disappear
Don't be a fool
You haven't reached your peak
You got a fast car racing up inside you
Your life is incomplete
Hang on in there...
Hang there!
Pray for that magical moment and it will appear!
(Wait for that moment)
Wait for the sunrise...
(Ahhhhh...)
Just wait and see, and it will seem so clear
(duh duh bap bee dee bup bup bup, duh da dup dee da)
I saw my specialist, Dr. Pagcatipunan yesterday, just to keep track of my progress so far. I told him about the effects I'm having from the drug: reddish-orange pee, itchiness at some parts of my body, and feelings of flu - and he said that it's normal and should stabilise in the next few days.
With the medications on mind, I also asked him about taking BC pills, to help with my PCOS condition (and other things, hah) and he smiled a little and said, "by all means". Looks like my good doctor has a bit of naughtiness in him :D
I love the hospital: the people are so nice and professional, unlike some other private hospitals I've been in the past. The best bit is the hospital cafeteria, which turns out, is more than a hospital cafeteria.
It's called Healthy Bites, the best vegetarian restaurant in Manila. Wow, it's where I saw goodies like Vege-meat, Vege-Tocino (it's pork marinated in a sweet sauce normally served for breakfast), Korean laver (closely resembles Japanese nori sheets), whole wheat bread, fruit juices... the place was just amazing! I had gluten meatballs, and may I say, they taste almost like the same thing!
I then went on to have my sputum test, which I had a lot of trouble with. Since TB was caught early in me, I hardly had any coughs, nor phlegm, and certainly no weight loss (too bad!). May I say, my throat was so sore from trying to expel the needed specimen, and I think I sounded like a sick dog (or, a dog trying to be sick) during my efforts.
I know it'd cost me a lot, with the lab test, and the x-rays, and the consultations, but luckily, it was covered by Maxi-Care.
Later that night, I went and visited my grandma, to seek advice on how to tell my parents. I don't normally cry, but at that moment, I couldn't help it.
I got admonished by her.
She reminded me that I forgot to tell my troubles to God, and I really couldn't do it on my own, but if there's anyone who can help it's Him
I must admit, with everything that has happened for the past three years, I almost have turned away from the faith that I used to have. Now, I feel that there's still that glimmer, but I'm now too jaded by the people who run it...
But that's another story.
She advised me to pray, and just talk to Him, and she reminded me that I was lucky to have it caught early, and that I have the means to get well. Grandma also reminded me that God indeed challenges one but will also give the ways for one to overcome them.
Thank You Lord, for my wise and lovely Grandmother.
I feel that I have more strength to continue with my journey against tuberculosis.
I've started feeling Quadtab™'s effects: my pee turned red-orange, I feel itchy in some places, and I feel as if I caught the flu. I also tried to read other bloggers who are also battling TB - but alas, I found none. It's not surprising, because even in a country with a high TB incidence, it still has a stigma that anyone that catches it must be very poor, or drunkards (that's why they're called sunog-baga - lung burners - which describes basically what TB does to an affected lung)
Am I being brave publishing this? Well, I don't know. I publish this blog without anyone, aside from my boyfriend, knowing about this, but it still is under my Google account, so anybody could know it is me.
My boyfriend's words of love and encouragement help me a lot going through this. I am so lucky to have him, and in this wild and crazy world, I'd be utterly lost without him. (Please let me have this mushy moment. I feel so lucky for having him ☺)
For now, I'm taking this one step at a time. I still have a long way to go towards good health, and hopefully, I will be able to get it: for myself and for the one I love.
Actually, this is officially the start of my fight against this disease.
I didn't know when it started, but when I was a kid, my mom stopped me from borrowing a neighbor's melodica because their family has been affected by tuberculosis. A melodica looks like this:
For it to work, one has to blow through a pipe. Looking back, they shouldn't have let ANYONE but the owner use it, anyway. It was like using someone else's toothbrush.
Yech. (wipes mouth)
Fast Forward to 2013.
I work in a call centre, earn my own living, and am loved by a beautiful man.
Sure, I cannot be a Jeanne Napoles, but hey, life is not bad.
Until yesterday.
I was pulled out from work because of a letter from the company nurse asking if I can have another set of chest x rays due to 'suspicious densities'. I had it last year, too, after my APE so I thought: here we go again.
I went to the Adventist Hospital in Pasay City, and boy, that was quick. I got the results in only a few hours, and have booked an appointment with a Pulmonologist, Dr. Rodolfo Pacatipunan.
Warning bells began to ring when he asked me, "have you taken TB medications before?" And when I asked if I have it, he bluntly said, "Yes".
I burst into tears.
Millions of worrying thoughts began to invade my thoughts: my job, my salary, how much the medicines cost, my leave credits (I'm saving them for our holiday in a few weeks' time), and mostly, what will my parents say?
I admit, my parents are not the average touchy-feely sort. AND they're the sort to believe in pasma, too. During the instances when I have a shower after a day at work, they'd issue warnings about getting really sick, and burden them with caring for me. TB was not mentioned, but it was hinted at, very heavily.
And now that I DO have it, I can see them saying: I TOLD YOU SO.
Dr. Pagcatipunan then prescribed a two-week rest from work (there goes my leave credits!) and a medication that I will have to initially take for the next two months. He prescribed Quadtab ™ to me but assured me that it was caught early, hence the lack of symptoms. (I wished for the weight loss part, though. haha)
The first person I called was my boyfriend, and fresh tears sprung anew when I told him. He asked me a million questions about it, but he was very supportive of me, even if he was upset. It's really too bad for us to be miles apart in times like this - he is in the UK, I in the Philippines - but the sense of having someone care for you and NOT judge you is like a balm to my soul.
I went back to the office to sort things out - and to start my leave of absence. Our nurse, Josephine Suba RN, was another person who gave me assurance on this disease, that anyone could have had it, especially in the Philippines, and no, it's not the late nights or the after-work showers I used to have. It's just that my immune system was weakened enough to let TB get hold of my lung.
As of press time, the only people who know are my boyfriend, my doctor, the company nurse, and my team lead.
I found some articles from the web (Internet: the greatest thing since sliced bread, even more so.) that informed me well about this disease:
