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Adults With ITP
Newly Diagnosed & Frequently Asked Questions
Hubby low platelets
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Hubby low platelets 4 years 1 month ago #66364

  • Hal9000
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Soco, does the Prednisone help keep symptoms away between IVIGs, or ?

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Hubby low platelets 3 years 11 months ago #66796

  • soco87
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The Prednisone doesn't do anything with symptoms. It just suppresses my immune system to a certain degree, which keeps my body from creating antibodies that destroy my platelets. It so my platelets don't get dangerously low. I'm down to 5mg per day. Hoping to get off them soon. I just started Rituxan so hopefully, that will be it. My counts were at 127 before my first treatment of Rituxan so hopefully, I'm heading in the right direction.

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Hubby low platelets 3 years 11 months ago #66798

  • MelA
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soco87 - there are organs [spleen, liver] in the body that clean the blood, there they detect the antibodies that have attached to the platelets and destroy them (the platelets) - the spleen is just doing its job. Our bodies are making antibodies that now attach to the platelets, the antibodies are detected and destroyed which of course destroys the platelets. The antibodies do not destroy the platelets.
"Instead of wasting your time worrying about symptoms, just get it checked out" -Nieca Goldberg, MD
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Hubby low platelets 3 years 11 months ago #66815

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MeIA -Thank you so much for the explanation. Having a splenectomy makes a lot more sense now. Hopefully, I respond to Rituxian.

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Hubby low platelets 3 years 11 months ago #66828

  • MelA
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soco87 there are other places in the body that clean the blood (detecting the antibodies that are attached to our platelets and then destroying them). A splenectomy is not a certain fix.

Rituxan doesn't work quickly - I gather you have to have patience & give it time. I don't know much about it since I've only used prednisone
and one IV of WinRho for treatment. Good luck!
"Instead of wasting your time worrying about symptoms, just get it checked out" -Nieca Goldberg, MD

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Hubby low platelets 3 years 11 months ago #66833

  • mrsb04
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  • ITP since 2014. Retired nurse. My belief is empower patients to be involved as much as possible in their care. Read, read, read & ALWAYS question medics about the evidence base they use.
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Well said Mel.
Soco87,
There is no guarantee a splenectomy will work, your risk of clotting will increase and your susceptibility to infections will rocket. You will require vaccinations +++++.
There are many medical treatments to consider/ try first.
Think very carefully about having an organ that is doing it's job removed. I've had ITP 5 years and have absolutely no intentions of parting with my spleen.
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Hubby low platelets 3 years 11 months ago #66837

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I was told in 1990, or '91 can't recall, by the head of hematology at the teaching hospital here that I "would have a splenectomy" - all these years later my spleen is still where God put it. Had I been told it was the cure I would have had it removed but I was told it may or may not work. And with all the other things that have come up I'm glad I didn't.
"Instead of wasting your time worrying about symptoms, just get it checked out" -Nieca Goldberg, MD
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Hubby low platelets 3 years 11 months ago #66838

  • soco87
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Thank you mrsb04.
I don't plan on have any procedures like this done unless it's an absolute last resort. Hopefully, I'll respond to my current treatment. I'm only 31 years old and have always taken care of myself. (now especially) I feel that is push comes to shove, I will recover well with any procedure that needs to be done. It's the risk/reward factor. I have a question. Why would clotting increase? Is it because my platelet count can become too high with a splenectomy?

Thanks again for the response.

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Hubby low platelets 3 years 11 months ago #66847

  • mrsb04
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  • ITP since 2014. Retired nurse. My belief is empower patients to be involved as much as possible in their care. Read, read, read & ALWAYS question medics about the evidence base they use.
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Many articles available to read online e.g. jaoa.org/article.aspx?articleid=2094480
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Adults With ITP
Newly Diagnosed & Frequently Asked Questions
Hubby low platelets

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