New symptoms occuring...blood blisters...

Since the start of this (3 months ago) we haven't found a treatment to raise and stabilize my husband's counts. The IVIG has worked but even that is not as effective as it once was. 8 weeks after first Rituxin treatment and it's looking like that isn't doing anything either. We're about to begin Nplate as soon as the paperwork goes through.

Here's my question though, since the start the only symptoms my husband has shown is bruising and minor petachie (and that was only at the very beginning). Even at his lowest counts (4k a few times) there was only bruising.

Now he's started to develop blood blisters in the mouth. He's had them for a couple of weeks (even while his count was at 94k last week - thanks to IVIG we're assuming) but then yesterday he was spitting blood and there was a lot of bleeding when he brushed his teeth. The blisters weren't painful.

Has anyone noticed their symptoms getting worse? I mean his counts have always been low - why all of a sudden is he now getting such a harsh symptom? He goes to the doc today and we're expecting a very low count of course. I guess I'm just freaking out because, bruising was one thing - but these blisters seem to be a lot more severe!

We thought the 94k last week might have been the Rituxin kicking in - but obviously the onset of the blisters (plus more bruising and slight petachie) can't be happening if his count was high.

Thanks so much,

Erin

I'm sorry to hear about the new symptoms Erin. I wish there was a pat answer. I never had symptoms other than bruising and petecheia at the beginning. Then all of a sudden, after my 2nd round of Rituxan I started getting nose bleeds. It was 6 weeks after the last infusion, so it was obvious it wasn't working! That's when I started Promacta. I've been as low as 1 with no new bruising, and had some pretty nasty looking brusies at 50+. Try not to worry to much. Looking forward to hearing what the doc says today.

Sometimes symptoms increase the longer counts are down. I hope he gets approved for treatment soon.