I really need to no the differences please?
Trisha,
I don’t really know the answer to that. I have done a lot of reading about CIDP and treatments and from what I have read it seems like it’s not really about what is better it about what works for you. I have read lots of post by people that were having no luck with one treatment and then another worked great. Or that all 3 treatments did not work but then some combo of 2 treatments was the magic bullet for them.
Maybe you can email your doctor and he can tell you?
I have had both: plasmapheresis once, IVIG many times.
Both seemed to work well. In both cases, I was back on my feet in a few days.
However, IVIG is much easier for me. I go to an outpatient clinic, they put a small intravenous needle in a vein, and the whole thing takes about 3 hours. I do this for three days, about every six weeks. I have never had a bad reaction, although I understand that some people do.
Plasmapheresis was much more invasive. They surgically installed a large tube into a vein in my neck (jugular?). I was then hooked up to a machine that essentially circulated all my blood out of my body, purified it, and returned it back to me. Because they remove essentially all the blood, the connections have to be pretty big, hence the large tube. They will only do this every other day, so three treatments required five days. All this time, the large tube was sticking out of my neck. I looked kinda like Frankenstein, and it was very uncomfortable. So, for me, IVIG was much easier.
However, you may have to go with what works for you. IVIG works fine for me, but I recently talked to a fellow who has to have plasmaphersis because IVIG just doesn't work for him. There is no way to know without trying.
Hi Tricia, i have done a lot of research on this and EVERYTHING I read says IVIg is more effective, less invasive treatment. There have not been any results that show that IVIg in conjunction with plasmapheresis works any better than IVIg alone. If IVIg doent work, dr usually will add prednisone or an immunosupressive to it. Get the IVIg treatment. It represents best CHANCE AT RECOVERY. I am so sorry you have to go through this but remember, you are never alone. We are all there with you. Jo br/>
Uncle Bill said:
I have had both: plasmapheresis once, IVIG many times.
Both seemed to work well. In both cases, I was back on my feet in a few days.
However, IVIG is much easier for me. I go to an outpatient clinic, they put a small intravenous needle in a vein, and the whole thing takes about 3 hours. I do this for three days, about every six weeks. I have never had a bad reaction, although I understand that some people do.
Plasmapheresis was much more invasive. They surgically installed a large tube into a vein in my neck (jugular?). I was then hooked up to a machine that essentially circulated all my blood out of my body, purified it, and returned it back to me. Because they remove essentially all the blood, the connections have to be pretty big, hence the large tube. They will only do this every other day, so three treatments required five days. All this time, the large tube was sticking out of my neck. I looked kinda like Frankenstein, and it was very uncomfortable. So, for me, IVIG was much easier.
However, you may have to go with what works for you. IVIG works fine for me, but I recently talked to a fellow who has to have plasmaphersis because IVIG just doesn’t work for him. There is no way to know without trying.
I feel like we're twins. I've been through it all 5 spinal taps bedside and the machine, Plasmapheresis to different sessions and now IVIG every month 2 days for 6 hrs. so I do get it. I just wanted to know if possible could it replace IVIG that all! also I did contact my doctor last night and he said it's to risky and he only uses it when your really weak and I also asked him about stem cell surgery and he said there no stem for CIDP. What do you guys think?
Doggymama said:
Hi Tricia, i have done a lot of research on this and EVERYTHING I read says IVIg is more effective, less invasive treatment. There have not been any results that show that IVIg in conjunction with plasmapheresis works any better than IVIg alone. If IVIg doent work, dr usually will add prednisone or an immunosupressive to it. Get the IVIg treatment. It represents best CHANCE AT RECOVERY. I am so sorry you have to go through this but remember, you are never alone. We are all there with you. Jo br/>
Uncle Bill said:I have had both: plasmapheresis once, IVIG many times.
Both seemed to work well. In both cases, I was back on my feet in a few days.
However, IVIG is much easier for me. I go to an outpatient clinic, they put a small intravenous needle in a vein, and the whole thing takes about 3 hours. I do this for three days, about every six weeks. I have never had a bad reaction, although I understand that some people do.
Plasmapheresis was much more invasive. They surgically installed a large tube into a vein in my neck (jugular?). I was then hooked up to a machine that essentially circulated all my blood out of my body, purified it, and returned it back to me. Because they remove essentially all the blood, the connections have to be pretty big, hence the large tube. They will only do this every other day, so three treatments required five days. All this time, the large tube was sticking out of my neck. I looked kinda like Frankenstein, and it was very uncomfortable. So, for me, IVIG was much easier.
However, you may have to go with what works for you. IVIG works fine for me, but I recently talked to a fellow who has to have plasmaphersis because IVIG just doesn't work for him. There is no way to know without trying.
Hey,
There is a study right now at NorthWestern U for Stem Cell Transplant with those suffering from CIPD that have tried traditional therapies with no success. Google it and you should find the link.
Good Luck,
Christine
Thanks everybody!!!!!!!!!!