Curious

[wjoyful]

So I'm wondering if you have to have a bone marrow biopsy before you try nplate? My platelets are at 26 and I'm going off steroids cause the platelets weren't increasing. How are the side effects with nplate? I'm going to ask the dr about it but I'm not sure if they will let me try it cause I have congestive heart failure.

[Morgan]

I had a bone marrow biposy when they diagnosed ITP over 15 years ago and had my first experience of Nplate last year (to raise platelets for a small op) but I do not have your heart problems. There are articles on the web you can read but your doctor should advise you. Good luck

[BurntToast in reply to Morgan]

You don't need a biopsy for Nplate although some doctors do things differently. I was on it for three years and more recently for two months and had no side effects either time. Having said that, I wouldn't treat at a level of 26. I only treat when below 10.

[wjoyful in reply to BurntToast]

I'm in a rather stressful situation. I have only a nurse practitioner caring for me and she has admitted she has no idea what to do. I'm at my last three weeks of weening off prednesone so I was just wondering what else could be done. Prednisone and ivig didn't work so just seeing looking for info. Thanks