Going Home...Again

Dr. is happy with 30,000 platelets. My EKG and chest x-ray were fine.

But now the big changes.

Since I live at home right now, Mom talked to my step-dad about smoking in the garage. IDK what that plan will be but my room is above the garage. He spills kerosene a lot, too. IDK if the animals are gunna affect allergies. I'll have to use the humidifier in my room. Hopefully, I can just move out asap. It will be better for me and my son anyway. It's too hard chasing him around moms big house when I'm tired like this.

Hopefully, this 4 week treatment will raise my platelets and keep them there for quite some time. I read many patients lasted a year before any symptoms occurred again.

Hopin for the best!

Hot Hot Hot

Been feeling super hot since lunch time. I don't get a temperature, though. I just feel super hot. Yesterday, I was hold with the chills. It was miserable. My back is aching really bad which means my platelets are probably dropping. I'm also short on breath. Ate a little bit of dinner, only the broccoli and of course the key lime pie. Drinking water instead of more chocolate milk. I've had a ton of chocolate milk since I've been here. I get shaky during and after I eat.

Had an EKG and chest x-ray because my chest has been feeling like it's squeezing together from both sides the last two times I've been given platelets.

(Guys hold your ears, ha) I did start my monthly. This was a high concern considering the blood loss. It doesn't seem to be causing any problems and it's not extreme either. In fact, lighter than normal. Which has me confused.

Going to finish eating and take a nap. It's strange how sleepy I get just sitting around. :\

Nosebleed #3

nosebleed #1 today.
the 3rd in two days.

start time: 3:11 pm
end time: 3:19 pm

THAT'S GOOD!

yesterdays lasted forever!

One Week At A Time

I was diagnosed with ITP 1/21/11.

I came into the hospital after seeing HUGE bruises on my body as well as the petechiae on my legs (mine was much milder than wikipedia's picture!). My fingers, toes, teeth and nose all began bleeding on the way.

I stayed about 4 days. I was given platelets and IVIG then prescribed prednisone. Went home for almost a week. Platelets went up to 50,000. Two days later they dropped to 7,000. Dr. called me to come back in right away. So here, I am.

ITP patients are suggested to keep track of treatments, bleedings, diet, etc. to help figure out what is going on.

Prednison was a fail.

My Dr. gave me these options:

Splenectomy.
Bone Marrow Examination.
A drug that I would take for life and be hard on my body.
Or Rituxan that I get through an IV once a week for four weeks.

I definitely chose Rituxan. Even though everyone was very nervous about it. It has extreme side effects such as strong shaking, kidney or liver failure, and possible death. It's used for people with HIV and other cancers as a chemo to help B cells.

Had my first IV of Rituxan last night.
Had absolutely NO side effects!
Not even any common ones.
(though, i did sleep through the whole thing from Benadryl!)
SHEEEEEEW!
We'll see how this goes after 4 weeks.
Hopefully, my kidneys hold up through it.

Been given more donor platelets, as well and IVIG. Up to 30,000 last I heard.

Not sure what's next. Probably I'll leave when platelets are up again and come back each week for the Rituxan. Hopefully, my platelets stay up between those weeks. I have a feeling I'll be back and forth quite a bit.

On we go.