I was recently diagnosed with ITP about a month ago. I had random bruising and red dots on my legs and thighs like most. Went to the ER and had blood drawn. I was told I needed to go to the hospital with a count around 7,000. Hemo at the hospital put me on 80mg pred. and had two rounds of IVIG. My counts rose over the following week topping out at 118. I had not yet found this forum and thought that I was cured..... Little did I know this ITP thing takes some time from what I have been reading. Hemo lowered me to 60mg pred. My following three CBCS dropped each time to 1900. So back on 80mg pred., B12, and another IVIG. Last count as of yesterday 85,000.
One side note is that I work in law enforcement and was wondering if there were others that are in the same kind of work with ITP. I have returned to work since being diagnosed and my office has been real supportive. I have talked with my Hemo and he has left it up to me as to when to work and when to stay home as long as my count is near 20,000. I realize that do to the nature of my work I am at a higher risk of injury due to my ITP. I feel comfortable going to work with my counts over 20,000.
After reading the forum over the last month I realize that ITP is a condition that can be dealt with over time. I now realize there is no quick fix, but hopefully I will find a treatment that will work best for me. I will still work as a law enforcement officer, I will still go out and have some drinks once in a while, and just live the way I have been with more Doc appointments and blood work than I have in the past....
Glad to have found this forum. It has provided me with a great deal of info. I have a consult with my Hemo next week and with the info from this forum I hope to be able to establish a game plan with him moving forward.
