Wow ITPGirl when do they think it will be approved by the FDA? I am glad it worked for you and I hope that you never have to worry about platelets again.
I know what you are saying about the Pred. I hate it also.

i tp are 2 different things its very dangerous to get them mixed up

itp and ttp are 2 different things its very dangerous to get them mixed up

itp and ttp are 2 different things its very dangerous to get them mixed up

It is not known if ITP causes depression. However, your body is attacking itself in a way by destroying healthy cells. Who can say this can't make you feel "down." From the www.pdsa.org; "Many adults report fatigue, depression, and muscle aches in association with their ITP." Hope this helps : )
-jackie

This also effects your autonomic nerve system...

I think that this site will help you with resources and links, but how others have dealt with similar issues.

Thought we could help.. http://dailystrength.org/groups/neuropathy

Was wondering. My son has ITP it is considered chronic...and his doctor keeps saying that she is fairly certain it will correct itself. Quit frankly this is starting to T me off but anyways, My question is this. He keeps staying tired. They keep telling me that it has nothing to do with the ITP but if his body keeps bruising up and he gets pools of blood under his skin doesn't that mean that there is less blood going to his heart so his heart is going to have to pump harder in order to make up for that blood loss right? Yeah, I am still new to this, its only been a little over a year but it is just so frustrating to see a very active 7 year old going through this instead of having a childhood and it is making his family's life harder too. Not that I would change that, we support him and will do anything for him but I am still looking for answers you know.

Well, last week my count dropped to 18,000. I had been in the 200s since July. No rhyme or reason and no symptoms at all at 18! s/p splenectomy in march 2007. Counts have been fine without tx after the splenectomy until last june when they dropped again to 19,000. again, no Sx/Sx. after they went back up in June with 5 horrible days of steroids they stayed in the 200s until last week.
I wonder... Maybe I grew a new Spleen! My MD wants to check this possibility out. Is that crazy or what. I did 1 tx of IVIG and so responsive My counts are up in the 400,000s. I know this will not last that much longer. Not sure which tx I will do next. But checking to see if I grew back a spleen is just nuts .

APRILMOMM Our daughter has ITP and AIHA together it is called Evans Sundrome.We have found that the tired feeling and paleness comes from her low iron. Has your little guy's iron been tested? She takes liquid iron/ multi vitamins and lots of red meat and vegs with iron in them.We have found for her the pooling of blood/ bruising goes with the platelet problem. If you have concerns about your sons heart tell your Ped but our daughter has a trick taught to her in Childrens Hospital-- She checks the color of her nail beds to see that she is getting enough ozygen in her- she also was taught to pull down the skin at the bottom of her eye and check the redness for her platelets.Docs can tell you things to watch for. She has a mumur when her counts are very low but at present alls well. She takes Azathioprine and Plaquenil, is your son on Meds? Children are very resilant and he's got you in his corner so he's a lucky guy.

I dont know that ITP on it's own can cause depression, but i know i've had a real problem with depression while on prednisone.. of course that could be me just being down because of all the other side effects and lack of sleep. who knows. I'm currently taking prednisone to bring my platelets up but it's not really working and because i am also pregnant there isnt alot my doctors are willing to look at as far as alternative medications. They're saying i'll have to be on a high dose for the whole pregnancy.. which just sucks. before treatment my count went down to 23 and it took a daily dose of 100 milligrams to finally bring it up to 72.. after that the docs gave me the go ahead to start lowering the dose and at a current 40 milligrams a day my count has dropped back down to 26. so now they want to bump me back up to 80 milligrams. as far as i'm concerned (in my case, because everyone is different and i'm sure this treatment has been great for some people) it's just not worth it. the side effects have made me miserable and finally when they are starting to get better my platelets crash again. Anybody have any tips or ideas for me on how to bring it up without the prednisone? i really dont want to have to go back up to 80.

Talon331-Thank you for starting this thread and recommending the PDSA website for the people here with ITP. It is a fantastic site for support and information on ITP. It also has some information on TTP.

I just wanted to throw in that a bone marrow test is usually done to rule out blood cancers/leukemia, etc. It is an elimination tool for TTP diagnosis. I wouldn't think it would be done unless the RBC and Platelets were dropping along with other symptoms.

Also, you can grow accessory spleens (someone mentioned checking to see if theirs grew back) after the removal of the "main" spleen. Removal is also usually saved as an extreme last resort for TTP'ers. I believe it is more likely to be successful for ITP'ers.

Although the names are similar, TTP and ITP, the common symptom is the dropping/destruction of the platelets. ITP usually doesn't affect the fragmenting/destruction of the Red Blood Cells like it does in TTP.

Thanks again for referring the other website www.PDSA.org(?). I'm sorry you have to deal with the ITP and MS...that sucks!

xoxoxo,
Jennifer

Hello
I had TTP in OCt. 3-31 2008 in the ICU and hospital. I have lessions on my brain from MS also --- How are you doing? I am recovering but still have horrible headaches --- take care! In the spirit, Judy

I have had ITP for over 20 years now and am 37 years old. I do consider myself lucky in that predisone takes care of my issue fast and without too many issues when I need it too. My dr. advised me that any platelet count above 50K on me is "normal". I've been as low as 2K in my childhood.

I live a pretty normal life now. I've had 4 kids all by c-section and my life isn't impacted a great deal now.

However, as I was growing up, I had to learn to deal with alot of different issues. Stress definitely affects me. I've learned to do some meditation and it helps.

Well I am dealing as I usually do. Granted that TTP and ITP appear to be the same sadly (and not looking to argue) they aren't. Symptoms can be similar I give everyone that. That said, ITP can be tricky for me at least. And yes stress is way bad for both of my diseases. What distresses me the most is that loved one around me will never take them serious unless they act up and in my mind its too late at that point. Support is the one thing that can help with dealing with these things that the common person has no or very little knowledge about. Let alone their unpredictability and what they do and have done to me (the diseases). My greatest sticking point is the sheer and enormous medical cost to treat them. Yes prednisone can and does work but not usually for me if ITP flares up. And lets no go there with MS because most of the therapies for it are brand name with no generics. Meaning hand over fist M-O-N-E-Y. This passed year has been a nightmare with getting my health care situated with Medicare. And to add salt to the wound since I worked so many years and my last job had LTD as a benefit I make too much income to get the amount of healthcare I require paid for. Meaning, I don't qualify for extra care, any of the drug companies special programs. So, since I worked I am now suffering for it. If it wasn't for my LTD I wouldn't be able to afford my extremely small place that I am about to move in. So I am stuck with choosing which disease to treat or worse treat or eat. Sadly, I make one wrong move with how my medical is handled and i'm done. My anger is how does anyone survive on their own when dealing with not one but, 2 or more serious medical conditions and afford to just simply eat and have a roof over their heads. This was not the life I ever imagined I'd have but, its what it is and I don't know what else I can do.

I was recently diagnosed with ITP my platelet levels are extremely low they are (11) right now. We are waiting to get bone marrow biopsy and stuff because the doctors think I have acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) as well. I get regular blood tests to check my counts and platelets because they are so low. Depending on what the bone marrow biopsy results are will result in what treatment I get. I wish you all the best.