First round finished.

[LannaBarnett]

Okay. So back in Decmeber I asked you guys how the rituxamab helped people. Well needless to say I did my first round of rituxamab in Janurary. It went great. I had a slight reaction. My throat, eyes, and face itched. They stopped it for 30 minutes. After that it went great. I did it for four weeks. Well it's been five months. My platelets going into the rituxamab were only four. I seen my hematoligist two days ago and my platelets are still sitting at 73. It's made me very confident that I can again do the rituxamab once they start to drop and avoid the awful steroids. So I have another question for everyone. I'll be 21 in a few months and Will want to enjoy a few drinks. Who did drink their twenty first birthday? Anyway. Is it safe. I've asked my hematoligist and he pretty much avoided my question. I don't want to get drunk, but I'd like to go with a fried and have a couple girly drinks. Any advice?

[Hidden]

Live your life to the fullest.Getting rotten drunk is no good for anybody but a light buzz is fine. Only time I don't partake is when under 10,000.It's an individual thing but dont let itp rule your life

[holcotts]

Yes , I dont know about ritux and drinking but as for low platelets and drininking , as long as rock bottom, you enjoy your birthday, have a ball, feel good, few glasses be fine. (I speak having had a great night out last night, sharing a lovely bottle of wine and feeling happy that i didnt just say ohno i cant im too tired. will take bloods soon and let you know.....havent had measured since my antid treatment may 9th which put them up to 153!....I fully expect them to be about 80 now...as they drop over about 10 weeks gnerally..... and should be nearing 20 by mid july (And i just came back italy and had a drink with every meal)........will keep you posted....

[holcotts in reply to holcotts]

PS, in my reply above, I meant as long as NOT rock bottom!!!!!!

[Donegal]

I've just had my last BR treatment of 6 a month ago. Wine tastes like vinegar to me but beginning to enjoy a vodka and ginger ale again - without noticeable effects!!!

Enjoy and many happy returns.

[technogeek]

Hi. I had four rounds of Rituxan finishing two and a half months ago. My platelets continued to drop for three consecutive weeks after the last treatment. And then I was surprised that it kicked in and my platelets rapidly rose to a normal 200 reading over a period of two more weeks. So I am not in remission and finally off the nasty steroids that gave me all kinds of grief, weakness and pain. I am now starting to feel recovery and happy that stuff actually worked for me. I wish you all the luck friend.

[ITPAffecty]

Lucky you guys, I had 4 doses of Rituximab 4 years ago and my count never went above 5000. I am somehow surviving with Elthrombopag which is too costly, dont know when it stops working too.

[LannaBarnett]

Great news to follow this. I got to drink for my 21st birthday. My platelets are also still climbing. I've not done any rituxamab since Janurary and my platelets are still 122,000. God is good guys. It's that or my hematoligist just knew what was going to work for me. I've also started thinking about having another baby.. I'll discuss that more later. I'd like to see how long my platelets can stay up first.