Kris Aquino starts new medication, appeals to fans to not give up praying for her
Image: Instagram/@krisaquino
Kris Aquino has begun another new medication as she now has five confirmed autoimmune diseases and manifestations of a possible sixth one.
The Queen of All Media disclosed through her Instagram page on Wednesday, May 17, that she took her first “baby dose” of methotrexate, a medication that—aside from autoimmune diseases—treats cancer, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Aquino recalled how she was diagnosed with her fourth autoimmune disease after she and her sons Josh and Bimby tested positive for COVID-19 in June last year. At the time, she then started taking a new biological injectable to help bring down the allergens in her blood.
“Naiyak na lang ako sa (I cried out of) frustration because my blood panel numbers were bad. I won’t bore you with the details but my chest CT scan showed scarring [and] micronodules in my right lung,” she said, noting that she has been classified as positive for a connective tissue disease.
“My lead doctor in UCLA, Dr. John Belperio, had a difficult time convincing me about methotrexate because physically I knew my immunity wasn’t ready but… I saw my inflammatory numbers were high and so was my ANA,” she continued. “I can’t be classified as outright having SLE (lupus) or RA (Rheumatoid arthritis) because I’m exhibiting physical manifestations for both.”
These manifestations, Aquino said, prompted her to take methotrexate.
“For now it’s definite I have five, possibly six autoimmune conditions and I bit the bullet and started my baby dose slowly increasing the dosage to 7.5 mg per week,” she stated.
Aquino then addressed her fans, saying she decided to make public her medical journey for those who have been praying for her.
“How badly I wanted to keep this private because I’m scared baka mawalan kayo ng gana (you might lose interest) to keep praying for me [and] my doctors, my sons, and my sisters,” she said.
“Hindi ako sumusuko, sana ‘wag rin kayo sumuko? Please?” she appealed. (I am not giving up. I hope you do the same, please?)
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Fans and fellow celebrities then extended their prayers and well-wishes to Aquino via the comments section.
Image: Instagram/@krisaquino
Image: Instagram/@krisaquino
Image: Instagram/@krisaquino
Meanwhile, Aquino also showed a video of Josh, who earlier returned from the United States to the Philippines, exercising with several companions.
Image: Instagram/@krisaquino
Aquino is currently in California for her medical treatments. Her youngest son Bimby is with her. /ra
