Its Back

After an over two year remission, my platelets fell last night to 10,000. I actually believed that my ITP was gone. :laugh: I had lost 100bs so I thought that had something to do with it. I have been diagonised for 14 years (highly suspect at least another 4 years before this). Have gone through pred, WHinRHO, NPlate, IVIG, DEX, and last time Rituxian. Usually they don't give me steroids, but because platelet transfusions do nothing, and my doctor was out, they gave me the DEX pulse to Monday and I start Rituxian on Monday also. Already, getting the major hunger from the DEX and I am worried about doing the DEX and Rituxian together. Also I heard the risk of adverse effects are higher the more you get Rituxian. UGHHH!!! My puppy is also so hyper active, he was terror last night because I was afraid to take him for his usual runs with my platelets so low (when they get so low they can drop to 0 in hours). I was counting the new bruises and petechaie through the night. I also had to cancel his neutering which has already been canceled twice due to the canine flu (he didn't have it but concerns kept pushing it back). I don't know how I am going to give him what he needs if my platelets get all messy again or I have bad reactions, or it just doesn't work this time. O.k., officially entering panic mode. Sorry for the venting.

Sorry to hear that. Actually, there are studies that have been done that state that a Dex/Rituxan combo can work better for longer remissions, so doing the two together is fairly common.

As for the puppy - we've had two of them in the last three years so I KNOW what you're talking about! If you can't run, you can still walk and the puppy would love that too. If you are responsive to Dex, counts could be up significantly already.

Try not to panic. Many times, the second or third rounds of Rituxan can cause longer remissions than the first time. That has happened to quite a few here.

Sorry to hear that - hopefully this round of Rituxan will put you in another remission.

Why did you have to cancel getting your dog neutered - from male dogs & cats I know neutering is "easy", it is the female dog/cat that requires more attention.

Good luck!

I say vent away! It is ok to vent once in a while if we hold it in it can affect our mental and physical health.

Here's hoping for a good response and back to being in remission!

It is good to vent! But, don't panic..that adorable puppy needs you
Since Rituxan worked well for you before you can anticipate good results again. Ive had 3 rounds of Rituxan over the last 8 years and have had good remissions each time.