What is the next best option?

I have known that I have ITP since 2000. I got my spleen removed and went into remission. I had a dip in platelets in 2004, prednisone brought them back up then down. Doctors say that pred. will not work on me anymore. I have been on ivig + dex + retux since 2010. I got 4 more spleens removed this May. Doctor said when this round of retux wears off and my platelets drop again we will have to look at other options. My question is what would you all recommend besides these treatments? I have seen people with Nplate, and read about the real nasty chemo stuff, and heard of male hormones that will make me grow man hair in man areas. Has anyone used these options and would you recommend them, or recommend waiting and watching...?

Are you a candidate for Winrho? Promacta?

Those are the other ones that I know of that are pretty common "next steps". I've not tried Promacta but Winrho was totally easy on me. And really didn't work either. Eh.

Winrho is not offered for people who have had their spleen out I am told. I have not tried the other, have you?

you had 4 more spleens removed??? you grew 4 back! I know you can grow back a 'spleen like' organ but 4... you are a over achiever aren't you! :laugh:

WinRho isn't offered for people who don't have spleens. But maybe you do have spleen tissue so maybe WinRho would help.
Erica

I have had steroids, nplate, promacta, rituxan and splenectomy all to no avail. It has since been discovered that I have 3-4 more spleens and will most likely be getting those removed soon. I am currently on nplate and that seems to help most of the time keep me in the safe numbers.