ivig question

if i were to go for IVIG, (both for 1-2 day and 4-5 day infusions) would i have to stay in hospital the whole time, or would i be allowed to go home overnight?

i got really bad cabin fever after 3 nights in Mayday (was fed up with the food as much as anything!) so would like to be able to sleep in my own bed if possible.

I think it would depend on how low your platelets are.... when I have been under 10k I have not been permitted to leave the hospital because I became a liability... but I think it will all depend on your doc...

Good luck... I hate being in the hospital also...

Yes, imagine sharing a ward with Gollum from Lord of the Rings - I honestly thought i was going mad! 3 days and nights of this woman loudly muttering to herself - was very creepy!

Hahaha my precious!

OMG... that is too funny,,, I have actually been pretty blessed when it comes to sharing rooms with other... all have been pretty normal *knocking on wood*

It's usually given in a day ward so you are thrown out at 5 o'clock and go back the next day. They don't usually keep you overnight unless there are bleeding problems.

Oh you're in Croydon, just down the road!

Well it wasn't quite 'my precious' in content - general ramblings, but in that very eerie raspy voice.

she was at least 80 years old and recovering from concussion. conversations were akin to:

Catering Staff: Tea or coffee?
Gollum lady: What?!
CS: Would you like tea or coffee?
GL: Who's dead?!

Daughter: Mum it's us.
Gollum lady: What?!
Daughter: Mum can you remember my name?
Gollum lady: But I don't want an aspirin.

Other gems included:

Can you die inside a clock?
I don't want a parrot - it'll eat my slippers.
Don't worry, julian and i will open up the shop and you can have a sandwich.

Depends on the consultant and how they feel about you and where you are at with the condition.

You will need to speak to the consultant and ask them I think is the best option for you;)

OMG, I am literally over here laughing out loud at you right now.... Tee Hee! What a hoot!!!!

Ps, one gets used to other patients. sometimes they are very good and sometimes yes get the ones who 'cry' all night. It can feel quite creepy when you cannot sleep. If get patients who have alzeimers etc then the trick is to pull the curtains around the bed so they don't attract your attention. For it is harder if you can 'see' them. When you can't 'see' them, the noise is still there but ease the burden feeling. This time it was very good for me though don't sleep anyway in hospital as a rule but last time did have a lady with alzeimers and factor x ? or was it factor 8? But yes she was upset at night and it can be very hard to switch off because feel responsible if anything should happen. We are not off course, but like I say, the trick is to close the privacy curtains around you and you do still get the noise but it not as bad....

good luck

and ps, I have only ever had IVIG as an inpatient so depends on the hospital and circumstances. Though last two times not been given IVIG. And the drop has come around sooner. Last known count was 4 on sunday but sent me home monday on steroids. of which am happy about but wonder to the current consultant way of thinking when under the previous consultant I have always had IVIG. Had the drop taken longer. Dec was my last drop and was in 4 days..... Perhaps steroids is cheaper and he has to tick a few boxes or thinks that the previous consultant did too much? Who knows and it may be he might be planning to give me it in day clinic? Though platelets are up from my regular signs....am just the patient I say to people

Ann wrote: It's usually given in a day ward so you are thrown out at 5 o'clock and go back the next day. They don't usually keep you overnight unless there are bleeding problems.

Oh you're in Croydon, just down the road!

Ahh that's something - yes i'm in sunny croydon, where are you?

I'm in Central London in cool Camden.

heh, small world.

there's a woman who my parents know who also has it, and my uncle's niece* has it, but she's related by marriage, not by blood.

*my dad's sister's husband's sister's daughter - phew.

My daughter was able to get her IVIg on a out patient bases and her platelets were under 8. but it would depend on your doc an how comfortable he is.

When I had my first ivig I was admitted for 5 days! Then my count was barely 1 and I had the dots from head to toe. Talk about being scared and confused! Nowadays (several years later) when I get ivig its in and out. My dr. has it on such a slow drip rate that I am there 7 or 8 hours at a time. Good luck!

When I had IVIG last summer, my doctor did it over a 24-hour period (theory of Dr. Liebman), and it really works well this way. The 7-8 hour drip didn't seem to budge my platelts. Dr. Liebman is on staff here at PDSA and will be speaking at the up-coming conference. Wish I could go! There are such great doctor's speaking at the conference.