my count today

has dropped to 44. I dunno. It's been a month since I've had NPlate and 3 weeks since ending Rituxan. It's looking like the Rituxan isn't working. I know....gotta give it more time. I'm getting discouraged. And I'm more than tired of waiting. I'm just plain tired!

Gretchen - I know it's not what you wanted to hear, but on the bright side...it's been 3 weeks of no treatments and it's still a safe number. I know remission is always the goal, but this is the next best thing.

I know what your saying Sandi. My count has dropped from 288 to 44 in 2 weeks though. Next week they are gonna flush my port and my nurse said she was gonna leave the needle in "just in case". I don't want any more platelet transfusions. I don't think I want the NPlate anymore either. The joint pain was starting to be to much. And it always took my counts to high. I'm not having any symptoms....yet. We'll see.

I'm sorry your count has dropped, but like Sandi said, 44 is not a bad number. And...I know you are sick of hearing this, but give the Rituxan time...it might just "kick in!"

Nat

I know 44 isn't bad, I could live with that. It's the fact that they are falling that upsets me. I've come to the decision that I'm not going to treat until I have symptoms, which I don't currently have, except tiredness, which is everyday life and I'm learning how to handle it. I'm upset that the meds appear to not be working. I know.....wait. I am!

Nplate is supposed to get you safe counts, not normal counts. They told me around 50 is what they aim for with Nplate, so your not far off it, so i wouldn't worry about it.

Hey Gretchen I can empathise. Chin Up know that at least one person is envious of ur counts... Meeee lol (1 K last week). But I hope that ur counts go up on soon and your remission is coming!

Thank you Lorie. I was at 1 at one point myself. Praying your counts come up too! What treatment are you on?
btw, I have a new bruise just this afternoon.

Gretchen, I've been on 200mgs Imuran/Azathioprine for the last 8 weeks with limited results. the highest i've been is 4k and still have elevated white blood cells every cbc. I am at a point where i'm not watching numbers anymore but treating symptoms. I went to the beach, go out with friends, went to work trying to live as normally as possible. I still struggle with tiredness though but most of the time if you didnt tell me I was sick I wouldnt know!

wow, 8 weeks on the same meds with no real response? That sounds crazy to me! How long do you have to wait before they move on to something else? Or do you want to move on to something else? You have a wonderful attitude. I see you were diagnosed shortly before me. I try to have a positive attitude all the time to, but sometimes I get over-whelmed. I took some time off work but went back May 1st. I'm glad I did. I'd be stir crazy now if I didn't!

Well Gretchen where i live it's azathioprine (very poor responder to steroids nad very high doses dont last more than 10 days) or my spleen.... and the spleen stays! so i should be in New York in a few days. Hoping for more options when I get there. the positive attitude is not my own. This may sound strange but ITP has changed me so much. before i used to think of all the things i wanted and didnt have. Now I just feel so grateful, and so thankful and have a deeper faith that gives me peace that surpasses my understanding :laugh: . That gets me through the hard days.