Dacogen and kidney problems

[seniorrico]

Has anyone experienced fluid retention or kidney problems while on Dacogen?
I completed my 10th cycle last Friday and I am tending to retain fluids to the point where my ankles are swollen and my ears are hissing like crazy. I am taking fresh pineapple juice to keep my plateletts up.

Warren
Wilmington, NC

[Jordan]

I did not knowthat pineapple juice helps platelets. What is your platelet level?

[kertkkey2007]

how long have you been drinking pinapple juice for your platelet count and who told you about it. Kert sure needs to try that. Kerts ankles swell sometimes but, he always keeps his feet up and sleeps with them proped up on pillows for a night or two and it just goes away.

[Ruth Cuadra]

There seem to be a wide range of possible uses for Bromelain, the primary active ingredient in pineapple juice, including as a digestive aid and in the reduction of inflammation. But it is known to reduce platelet aggregation, which is the ability of the platelets to form clots. It seems to me that anyone with low platelet counts would want to stay away from anything that might reduce the effectiveness of the platelets they have.

Here are some easy-to-understand summaries on pineapples/bremelain:
http://www.drugs.com/npp/pineapple.html
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/d...bromelain.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bromelain

Does anyone have anything other than anecdotal evidence that indicate platelets counts can be increased in this way?

Reminder: always talk to your doctor about dietary changes you make because your metabolism of medications may be affected.

Ruth

[seniorrico]

Member Rated:
posted August 22, 2007 03:30 PM
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Betty,
I have had low platelets, in the 50-60K range. I started trying taking 1/2 fresh pineapple, juiced in a juice extractor each day, and my platelets have now been hovering about 80K. It might be worth a try.
There are several posts on MDS Patient Forum an example is the above. Dr Raza who treate ONLY MDS subsribes says FRESH pineapple juice helps plateletts and it has helped me.
Warren Rich

[g2_mace]

Warren,

Any updates on your treatments? I was reading about your treatment with Dacogen and also your comment about fresh pineapple juice and raising platelet counts and was interested in hearing more. My father has been diagnosed with MDS and is being treated with Dacogen for a year and a half now, and is currently experiencing a low platelet count. Thank you for posting all the information. It has been very helpful.

George