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Looking for natural treatment for ITP 3 years 5 months ago #67356

  • acosta02151
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Going on one year being diagnosed with thrombocytopenia. I am a 70 year old competitive runner who is not used to having something wrong with my body. My PCP started conferring with a hematologist when my count dropped to 90. When it hit 70, I was sent to a hematologist. After many blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy, there is no known cause for this. My platelets are now at 51. Fortunately, I have very few symptoms, so I am just being monitored every six weeks. The size of my RB cells has increased to 106.5. I am quite frustrated and am looking for answers I am hoping that a naturopath or holistic doctor can help. Has anybody had improved results going this route? If so, what types of treatments did you have?

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Looking for natural treatment for ITP 3 years 5 months ago #67360

  • maria3132
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Hi acosta,
My son's remission coincided with treatment with papaya extract. It may only be correlation and not causation but there were enough positive reviews for papaya leaf extract on Amazon.com to convince me to try it. Beyond these testimonials, there is scientific evidence that papaya extract has the potential to raise platelets in Dengue fever patients. Based on my son's experience, I'd recommend trying it. Papaya leaf extract has a very good safety profile, so you don't have much to lose. This is the one we used; www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005TK5MQI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Good luck!
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Looking for natural treatment for ITP 3 years 5 months ago #67381

  • Hal9000
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acosta02151, how about vitamins and trace elements? Here is a pretty good list, for immune system health, on the link below.
"
The vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E and folic acid and the trace elements iron, zinc, copper and selenium work in synergy to support the protective activities of the immune cells.
"
www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/selected-vitamins-and-trace-elements-support-immune-function-by-strengthening-epithelial-barriers-and-cellular-and-humoral-immune-responses/94B772EB747D1E5CD9FAC8F90937AA9F

And, because you are a runner, probably Folic acid and this thread will be of interest to you.
'No Response to IVIG, ACK !'
pdsa.org/discussion-group/7-treatment-general/30169-no-response-to-ivig-ack.html#64535
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Looking for natural treatment for ITP 3 years 5 months ago #67394

  • acosta02151
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I tried the papaya leaf tea for a months with no results. I am just about to start another round of tea. I’ll let you know if improvements are shown.

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Looking for natural treatment for ITP 3 years 5 months ago #67396

  • acosta02151
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Thanks for this information. I take most of what you listed, but have decided to increase folic acid intake to see if that helps. When I was tested last September, B-12 and folate levels were not low. I’ll let you know what happens.

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Looking for natural treatment for ITP 3 years 5 months ago #67397

  • MelA
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How low was your folate level - what did your doctor say about the test results - how much folic acid did your doctor say to take - when did he/she say to test again to see if taking folic acid has increased the level into the normal range?
"Instead of wasting your time worrying about symptoms, just get it checked out" -Nieca Goldberg, MD

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Looking for natural treatment for ITP 3 years 5 months ago #67403

  • acosta02151
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My folate levels were in the normal range. My doctor did not tell me to take folic acid and they have not retested

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Looking for natural treatment for ITP 3 years 5 months ago #67416

  • Hal9000
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acosta02151, when you were tested for Folate et al. Was there anything found to be low?

Another thing to investigate for would be Candida/Fungus of the gut - which can be treated with Probiotics and other things.
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Looking for natural treatment for ITP 3 years 5 months ago #67421

  • acosta02151
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I was tested for floated in September of 2018. Results were not low. Thanks for the information on Candida/fungus.

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Looking for natural treatment for ITP 3 years 2 months ago #67989

  • acosta02151
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No other than the platelets. My red blood cells are large and have fluctuated but never back into the normal range. My last CBC, it was 106, macrocytosis. I have all the symptoms of myledysplasia but a bone marrow biopsy ruled it out, thank God.

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Looking for natural treatment for ITP 3 years 2 months ago #68003

  • Hal9000
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acosta, you're referring to Myelodysplastic syndrome, aka MDS? Don't know much about that one. Is the red cell out of range 106 size indicative of MDS? Have you read through Wiki?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myelodysplastic_syndrome
Is MDS thought to be auto immune, or genetic, or combination?

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Looking for natural treatment for ITP 3 years 2 months ago #68007

  • MelA
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Hal do you think wiki is really a good source for informtaion? What about others like Mayo or Cleveland Clinic or MedLinePlus.
I personally don't search wiki for anything.
"Instead of wasting your time worrying about symptoms, just get it checked out" -Nieca Goldberg, MD

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Looking for natural treatment for ITP 3 years 2 months ago #68009

  • acosta02151
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Yes, MDS, sorry. Ruled out after biopsy. I like to like at scholarly articles rather than Wiki, but you have been a great resource! Thanks so much.

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Looking for natural treatment for ITP 3 years 2 months ago #68065

  • Hal9000
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acosta, I guess what I saw on the Wiki page, and was trying to hint at exploring, was: 'Transient myeloproliferative disease', and wondered if that may apply here with the negative bone marrow test. At the same time, having all the MDS symptoms, as described.

Wikipedia is just an Encyclopedia. Lots of detail. Well footnoted.

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Looking for natural treatment for ITP 3 years 2 months ago #68079

  • JJ
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I have to disagree with you Hal. Wikipedia is written by well meaning amateurs. I have looked at subjects there that I know a lot about and there have been many errors. I have tried correcting articles but they have always been reversed by someone who thinks the page belongs to them. Better to read proper medical sites.
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Looking for natural treatment for ITP 3 years 2 months ago #68087

  • MelA
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Wikipedia is not a good source for anything serious - which ITP is.
There are a number of legit sites out there, as I mentioned above.
"Instead of wasting your time worrying about symptoms, just get it checked out" -Nieca Goldberg, MD

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