By Jkoi October 10, 2011 - 8:57am

Hello everyone, my name is Jennifer and I was diagnosed in July 2011 with Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) which the filters of my kidneys are affected and it caused me to have nephrotic syndrome, hypertension, and vitamin deficiencies. I was struck with strange symptoms while deployed on my fourth deployment to Afghanistan; swelling in my lower extremities, restlessness, insomnia, feeling more fatigued than usual.
Well as a Marine I was taught to "suck it up" and I basically tried to ignore or fix the problem myself for a month until one night I tried to take my boots off and my feet were so swollen and in pain that I had to cut my bootlaces to remove them. I finally realized that there was a serious problem that I couldn't fix and I went to the doctor the next day.
To sum up everything after that, I was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, sent to Germany to the hospital there for further evaluation, it was decided that I should be sent to the hospital in Bethesda, MD for treatment. Once there I went through numerous tests and a kidney biopsy and in a month I received my diagnosis of MPGN. Needless to say, it was all a shock to the system and I am still reeling from it.
Everything is still so new to me and I am still learning how to live life with this disease. I saw that there wasn't a group for it here so I felt compelled to change that, so not only will I be able to connect to women that are going through life with CKD as well, but to pass on the information I learn and to receive it as well.
I hope that this group will benefit everyone and please do not hesitate to ask me anything.
I also chronicle my journey on my blog: http://www.thekoiexperience.com