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When to seek treatment?

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13 years 9 months ago #20826 by sciobladestrife
When to seek treatment? was created by sciobladestrife
I have adult chronic ITP, for the most part without a CBC I can tell when my count is low.
I am unable to afford constant medical treatment and it has been a year ago I did last seek treatment.
The thing is I have been wondering when should I attempt to seek medical treatment?
I am not bleeding currently and have seen no blood in my urine or stools but I do know my count is low.
  • Sandi
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  • Sandi Forum Moderator Diagnosed in 1998, currently in remission. Diagnosed with Lupus in 2006. Last Count - 344k - 6-9-18
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13 years 9 months ago #20843 by Sandi
Replied by Sandi on topic Re: When to seek treatment?
Well, some people prefer to go by symptoms rather than counts as an indicator as to when to treat. You'd have to get a count done though or you won't find a doctor to treat you. If you feel that your symptoms are increasing, get the CBC and go from there. Prednisone is really cheap and if you respond to that, that would be your answer.
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13 years 9 months ago #20857 by Dean
Replied by Dean on topic Re: When to seek treatment?
Go with your gut instinct. I would atleast try to get a CBC done. Mainly for peace of mind. If you are stressing out over not knowing what your counts are, that's not helping. Are you bruising at all? For me Fatigue is my indicator to get counts checked. The only other symptom for me at diagnosis was bruising.
Good Luck.
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13 years 9 months ago - 13 years 9 months ago #20914 by poseymint
Replied by poseymint on topic Re: When to seek treatment?
I thought I couldn't afford a hemotologist so didn't go until I started fainting with counts of 6K. I panicked thinking I was having a brain bleed, and took an ambulance to the emergency room. ER said I was fine and gave me some prednisone. Now thats the expensive way to go and I don't recommend it. It took 2 years for me to pay all the bills! I wish I had done things more simply but lesson learned.

I now keep up with my care. I'm on cash pay with my hemo and the lab. I pay about $48. every couple months to see the nurse practitioner who is brilliant. And $29. for a CBC. Prednisone is about $4. a month. Promacta is free from the Promacta Cares program of GlaxoSmith.

I am in the USA so a lot depends on where you are, but my point is its not wise to wait for things to get bad, and if you don't have insurance, you might check around and ask for cash pay discounts. Good luck!
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13 years 9 months ago #20925 by rambova
Replied by rambova on topic Re: When to seek treatment?
This is a great question, one that I have been thinking a lot about recently. I had the stomach flu last week. I was in bed for two days. On Friday I woke up to find that I had petechiae from head to toe. Normally my counts drop when I am sick, so at first I wasn't too concerned. Sometimes I can wait a day or two and the symptoms go away. I went to work and kept having this feeling that I needed to get my counts checked. Finally I gave into the feeling and within an hour my hematologist (he works in a different city from where I get my blood work done) called me and informed me that my count was at 4,000 and that I needed to start taking prednisone ASAP. I guess I don't really have an answer for you, because this is an issue that I also struggle with. I guess it is really about listening to yourself and trying to find inexpensive treatment options.