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Does it seem like autoimmune diseases are on the rise?

Posted by Becky, Volunteer Mentor @becsbuddy, Aug 12, 2021

I read an excellent article in AARP Magazine. “The Rising Toll of Autoimmune Diseases in Older People” https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2021/autoimmune-diseases-rising.html. It talks about why AD are on the rise and why the elderly are especially vulnerable. Excellent article!

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Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Jun 15, 2022
In reply to @hi2l "Went for my Nplate infusion this week and was pleased to finally see a platelet count..." + (show)
@hi2l

Went for my Nplate infusion this week and was pleased to finally see a platelet count above the normal. The count came back as 145x10*3/uL This was with the use of a Citrate Tube. The CBC results were 114 but the platelets are clumped which makes it impossible to get an accurate count hence the citrate tube draw. Anyway, it's nice to see something working. I started weekly Nplate infusions a little over a year ago and in February the hemato;ogist suggested changing the infusion to every other week since I had missed the last week because I was on vacation and the count after my return actually went up. Since then the counts got higher and higher with each new count. Is it possible that the weekly Nplates were over stimulating the production of platelets and my bone marrow could not keep up. I see the hematologist in 3 weeks and am thinking of asking if it would be safe to quit the Nplates and see what happens.

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@hi2l Good morning. You’re sounding positive this morning! You can always ask your doctor about stopping Nplates, but she may want to go slower in stopping use of this drug. Like increasing the time between infusion instead of going ‘cold turkey’. You can send a message though the portal, asking the question. Then the doctor has time to consider your request before your next appointment.
Are you having problems with Nplates?

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hi2l | @hi2l | Jun 15, 2022

I'm convinced the Nplates infusions are the reason my platelet count is improving. My concern is the cost involved. While I'm very fortunate to have excellent medical insurance in addition to Medicare so the only cost I incur is for gasoline used in the 60 mile round trip to and from the cancer and hematology center. Someone else is paying for the $30K to $50K weekly bill for my infusions. This is obscene.

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Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Jun 15, 2022
In reply to @hi2l "I'm convinced the Nplates infusions are the reason my platelet count is improving. My concern is..." + (show)
@hi2l

I'm convinced the Nplates infusions are the reason my platelet count is improving. My concern is the cost involved. While I'm very fortunate to have excellent medical insurance in addition to Medicare so the only cost I incur is for gasoline used in the 60 mile round trip to and from the cancer and hematology center. Someone else is paying for the $30K to $50K weekly bill for my infusions. This is obscene.

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@hi21. Cost is exactly what i said to myself when told the cost of my infusions! Drug prices are a real crime, aren’t they? Talk to your doctor about some minor tapering to see what she says. You certainly don’t want to stop taking it when it’s working!
Maybe there is something you could do in return—like paying it forward. What do you think?

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sharleneh | @sharleneh | Jan 11 1:26pm
In reply to @becsbuddy "@4200wishyouwerehere. I’m so sorry to hear this. Yes, autoimmune diseases can be devastating to everyone. There..." + (show)
@becsbuddy

@4200wishyouwerehere. I’m so sorry to hear this. Yes, autoimmune diseases can be devastating to everyone. There are also called the invisible disease because know one knows about the, including doctors. There is lots of research happening, but treatments and cures will probably never happen in our lifetimes.
Please accept my condolences and tell others to come here if they need help.

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I have just been diagnosed with Crohns Disease and on the Steroid Entocort. It has given me my active life back but it could be short lived as I know we can't stay on Steroids long term. My specialist has suggested I try Entyvio. So now doing some research and would like to ask if anyone else has tried this Biologic for Crohns Disease? I was on Remicade twenty years ago for Ankylosing Spondylitis but it did not help and I had an allergic reaction where I couldn't stop itching. Thanks for the opportunity to speak out. The thought of CD causing my death is devastating for me right now!!!!!

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