Learning, Living, Thriving
-Katrice Lee

Katrice was born and raised in Hawaii. She obtained a master’s degree in human resources from the University of Southern California and spent 30 years working in high-tech as a human resources executive before retiring and moving  back to Hawaii in 2026.  Though she has had symptoms since the 1990’s, Katrice was officially diagnosed with IgG4-RD in 2015.

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For those facing self-doubt on the long road to diagnosis, there is hope

I recently attended a free webinar called “Prevail: Creating Your Path Forward with IgG4-RD,” sponsored by the pharmaceutical company Amgen. The speaker was rheumatologist Brittany Panico. What resonated with me most from her presentation was the variety of organs that are commonly affected by the disorder, the range of…

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How 20 years of searching for a diagnosis finally led to IgG4-RD

My first symptoms of immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) appeared around 1990 as intermittent eyelid swelling. At the time, I assumed it was an allergy, because the symptoms began the same day my boyfriend and I brought home a rescued cat. Initially, the swelling happened for about two weeks every…

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Celebrating the power of community in life with a rare disease

Before I was diagnosed with IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) in 2015, information about the symptoms was virtually nonexistent. I remember searching online for “intermittent chronic eyelid swelling” and finding very little. At one point, I came across only a handful of TikTok videos, and even those weren’t very helpful or…

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My experience with IgG4-RD treatment has been positive overall

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with Rituxan (rituximab) and Uplizna (inebilizumab). Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. I have immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) that presents in the orbits. I had eyelid swelling from 1990…

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Finding community after a decades-long quest for diagnosis

Although I’ve probably had immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) for over 30 years, I was officially diagnosed about 10 years ago. Despite this, until recently, I’d never told anyone about it apart from medical professionals. I’d always be vague about what was ailing me, brushing it off when anyone asked.


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