Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP): What helps?

Posted by naiviv @naiviv, Sep 2, 2022

Has anyone been diagnosed with ITP? Does anyone take supplements for ITP? Food to eat to increase platelets?

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@gwilli

Has anyone had success in treating ITP? It is an autoimmune disease that attacks the platelets in the blood that reduces the ability for the blood to clot. I’ve been on steroids for about 4 months, was taken off them about 3 weeks ago, and have just been put on the medication, Promacta, which was developed specifically for ITP, but my platelet count doesn’t seem to be responding.

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My husband was diagnosed with ITP in 1996. Within a few weeks of his diagnosis, they removed his spleen. He was then on Prednisone for about 7 months and weaned off it over a few months thereafter. He was lucky - the removal of his spleen for the most part resolved his ITP. He has to be careful about exposure to certain viruses, but for the most part his ITP has resolved.

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Thank you for your response. We’ve talked about it, but my doctor doesn’t seem to want to remove my spleen unless last resort. But from all the responses I have received, it seems the only successful eradication of the condition is with removal of the spleen.

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I was diagnosed in April 2024....taking Promacta, its was working for 6 month, but in November my platelets are slowly going down....and I still taking the medicine.
Couldn't find anyone who have a experience with that, i mean Patient

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@smes

My husband was diagnosed with ITP in 1996. Within a few weeks of his diagnosis, they removed his spleen. He was then on Prednisone for about 7 months and weaned off it over a few months thereafter. He was lucky - the removal of his spleen for the most part resolved his ITP. He has to be careful about exposure to certain viruses, but for the most part his ITP has resolved.

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I am 60 years old and was diagnosed 7 months ago....if don't mind me asking, how old your husband was when he was diagnosed....and did doctor gave to him any pills before Deciding to remove the Spleen.

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HI there. I don't mind you asking at all! My husband was 41 when he was diagnosed; he is now 69. He was otherwise very healthy. He doesn't remember whether he had any mediation before the surgery, but if he did it was not for long because they removed his spleen very soon after he was diagnosed - within 2 or 3 weeks or so. I seem to recall that the removal of his spleen was their first treatment option. He has continued to do well since then, no signs of any further problems - just had his annual visit with the hematologist yesterday and the numbers all look good; his neutrophils are a little low but nothing that has resulted in any medication or other treatment.

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