Quote:
Originally Posted by pino10
next week I have a choice of either having IVIg or Plasma Transfer for Peripheral Neuropathy (possible CIDP). I'm 78 in good health ortherwise and of course I'm considering the best possible decision to make. Which is the safest procedure with the highest therapeutic returns. The reason for the choices is that in my home town the neurologist at the hospital is offering IVig while the neurologist I saw at W. Cornell in New York is holding out for Plasma Transfer or Plasmapheresis. I would greatly apprecite anyone's experiences with these drugs and any suggestions they might make. Thank you.  |
I received IVIG for several years for anti-MAG neuropathy (similar to CIDP) and had good results. The treatments started out with slow infusions a day or two apart. I was given tylenol and benadryl prior to the infusions (at a hospital outpatient infusion center) which helped prevent allergic reactions, but made me very sleepy. The infusions lasted 2-3 hours. I would feel groggy, thirsty, and somewhat "gassy" afterwards for a couple of hours. I tolerated the treatments well and my insurance paid for them. We were able to spread the treatments out to once every 6 weeks - 2 months. Over 3 years they became less effective in decreasing the neuropathy, so I stopped. You need to have good veins though as the IVIG is rather viscous and can irritate the veins and cause tissue problems if it goes into the tissue instead of the vein.
Good Luck!