new member/cidp

[MarkEns]

Hello Beth,

For treating CIDP, plasmapheresis is typically administered over the course of three to five sessions, spaced every other day. How long each session lasts depends on your weight, red blood cell count, and sex, with weight being the most important. For a fat man like me, a session lasts about 2.5 hours from beginning to end. I doubt any one session would take longer.

When I was using plasmapheresis alone, I would have five sessions over the course of nine days. I would then go fifteen days until the next round. While really frequent, it did keep me going. Now that I have added prednisone back into the mix, I have three sessions over five days, and then I go between thirty and thirty-seven days before the next round.

MarkEns

[oldbat]

Hi Mark,
April will be 6 months since the cath was last used, i really don't mind it, but if it isn't being used ( not since the initial 7 treatments) would just as soon be rid of it, i guess.
Am kind of ambivalent about that since it seemed such a miracle cure, but neuro is very pleased with my progress without further PP.
Anyway will be seeing him 7th April and we'll make the decision then on whether to leave it or not.
How are you doing?
Beth,
At the time of my treatments i weighed 116 so the sessions lasted about 45 minutes. Had seven (every other day) over the course of two weeks, none since but have had no relapses (Knock on Wood ) and continue to do exercises at home, mostly stretches, balancing on the ball and exercycle. I avoid weight bearing on my hips as much as possible and only do enough to keep me somewhat limber, in other words, if it hurts stop
Hope all goes well for you, keep up the good fight!