Red Blood Cells

'My fathers has been battling myleoprolific disorder or mylofibrosis for approx. 4 years now. His spleen is extremely enlarged due to his weekly injections of 45,000 units of "EPO". Unfortunately, this is the only thing that will keep his red cell count up.

My question is does anyone know of anything that he can do, or take, to help relieve the terrible itching that he experiences constantly. He will literally scratch himself until he bleeds, the itch is that intense. His doctor say that the itch is due to his ill balanced blood chemistry.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks you very much!
SHAWN'

moderator: Myelofibrosis is one of the myelproliferative diseases. The marrow becomes essentially fibrosed over("scarred") as fibroblasts over-grow. The infantile hemopoietic organs like the spleen take over, and of course the erythropoietic drugs encourage that.( It's better than having endless transfusions.)Itch is characteristic as the abnormal cells and subtypes casue the release of histamine, serotonin, and bradykinin in the skin. Scratching until one bleeds is to be discouraged-- of course it takes enormous self-discipline-- and the usual approach is to try antihistamines, natural or drug, and antiserotonin/bradykinin agents, of which there are many. Heat -- like hot showers-- worsens it. It's not exactly "unbalanced chemistry", if it were it could be re-balanced.

Let's here what our other participants have to offer for itch.

MAL

I also have myleofibrosis for over a year now and the only thing i have taken medically for it is blood transfusions. I sure need to find out of any other medication that will ease the number of transfusions. Nick

My father was diagnosed with mylofibrosis 2 years ago. last year his spleen was removed at 61/2 pounds. he has taken a drug called hydroxia but it quit working also he has taken procrit shots but did not help either. as of yesterday his hemoglobin was 6.2 and they have my father scheduled for a transfusion this friday. i wish there were other alternatives my father really doesnt like blood transfusions. My father has been a brick layer most all his life. im not real sure how he got mylofibrosis. but my understanding is that it is a cancer in the bone marrow. yet they say a bone marrow transplant is to risky for him. other then that all i know is they say there is no cure. i am looking for any kind of hope that there may be out there any info would be most appreciated thanks. Tonya 9-7-05

I am 50 years, just diagnosed at the Mayo clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Right now all I am experiencing is the being tired all the time from the lack of red blood cells, the enlarged spleen, the lack of appetite. The Mayo clinic was very adamant about how dangerous a bone marrow transplant is. My biggest question is with all the medical bills coming in after your company's insurance has paid, what do you do? They are very, very large and like most of us I have no nest egg, large savings account, or rich relatives. I live from paycheck to paycheck and barely make it on that. I have a wife and 2 kids to worry about and don't have any idea where to get help. Anybody got any ideas? Please and thank you.

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