Week 4 Rituxamab

[Shneakyoleary]

Almost finished my fourth out of four Rituxamab infusion, my Platelets are up 15.000 this week from 27.000 to 42.000.

[sharroN42]

Congratulations!

[epdavidson]

That is great news Shneakyoleary! Also keep in mind it can take many weeks for Rituxan to fully kick in. So stay positive!

eric

[Shneakyoleary in reply to epdavidson]

That’s great to hear, my next appointment in around the 21st November so that should give me a better idea on how Rituxamab is working.

[Johnsonmartinp]

Fantastic... My platlets have crashed for the third time in 12 years and I start Rituximab AGAIN next year - I have had a five year recovery of my platlets on the past two occasions! Fingers crossed for you and me...!

[Shneakyoleary in reply to Johnsonmartinp]

What levels are you at now? A five year recovery was good, did it take long to notice any increase in your levels back then can you remember?

[Johnsonmartinp in reply to Shneakyoleary]

With Prednisone daily my count varies between 20 and 35 (it changes every day). Prednisone is only a temporary impact - if I stop my platelets drop. Rituximab has so far been the game changer and my platelets with 4 to 6 weeks of the treatment finishing are consistently up over 80. Although the normal range as 150 - 400 if my platelets are stable at around 80 that is perfect for me and I stop my treatment - If they are stable.... I have had that situation twice previously, this is my third occurrence... fingers crossed!

[Shneakyoleary in reply to Johnsonmartinp]

I never came back to update after this, but in December I was 59.000 then 61.000 in

January, and yesterday (February) I am 51.000 (the ran yes twice and it was same both times) very disappointing and disheartening. I wasn’t prepared for the fact they would drop in such a number yesterday, I thought the would keep rising (slowly) with possible 1.000/3.000 dips here and there, I had been tired the last week and a half.

I’m not a fan of prednisone I found it difficult with sleep and pains in my head, and after it needed glasses (personal observation)

How long do you stay at stable number before fall, do the drop by a margin of 10.000 and rise again?