how successful is splenectomy at the age of 65?

[dhwani]

if the patient(my dad) has the platelet count as 38,000 with no inter bleeding episodes in last 8yrs. he has diabeties and hypertension. He is he is otherwise leading a normal life, going to work and able to do all the personal work. does it make sense to get spleen removed? he is on wysolone 8mg per day .

[NickyD]

Why would your father want to have a splenectomy if he is coping well without one? I had mine removed three years ago and it did not affect my ITP, so now I take penicillin twice a day for the rest of my life and am prone to catching all sorts of other illnesses. In my opinion do not have the operation.

[rjsmyth]

One would have thought with those conditions having your spleen out at 65 would be a bad idea. A lot would depend as well as to whether it could be done by keyhole which is much less invasive and easier to recover from than open surgery. A count of 38 would be something quite a few peiople on here would like have. I would certainly be asking for Nplate long before considering spleen removal.

[22-patience]

I say NO to the splenectomy for your dad given his history and age. I was told that I may as well have a splenectomy (I was 68) by my doctor because I'd end up having to have one anyway and it might work for my ITP-----65%. Well, it did not work. And it's (in my opinion) just not worth the risk and opens more avenues for infections and inflammation. I'm 72 and have been on prednisone for several years---my platelets are all over the place and the doctor is always adjusting the dosage. Currently my platelets are at 18,000 and I'm on 15 mg of prednisone. Feel extremely fatigued all of the time---my legs are covered with bruises----and as far as I can tell the splenectomy did nothing to improve my condition------it did make it impossible for me to be on a medicine that I've heard other itp'ers have used and gone into remission----but without a spleen I'm no longer a candidate. Ramble, ramble! Hope this helps! Keep the Faith!

S

[rharvin in reply to 22-patience]

Wow, ive been battling with ITP for a year now and a doctor tells me i would live a normal life if i got mine removed

[dhwani]

thanks a ton all of you..this really helps

[dhwani]

did any of you try Rituximab injections?