Bgnels2nd

I developed ITP shortly after returning from Vietnam in 1968. Was diagnosed in early 1970s and we watched my platelet count drop to zero and my doctor said, "You are going to the hospital right now!" After a bone marrow tap to rule out leukemia it was decided to remove my spleen which was done. After 3 weeks in the hospital my count went way up and has been usually over 300,000 since. I have tried over the years to find a cause and finally just today stumbled on Dapsone which we were required to take daily for the year I was there. I was a Lt leading a platoon of Infantry (3Bde, 25th Inf, 1/14th Bn). After googling more about Dapsone and side effects I found this site. We were always in mosquito infested areas so we took the anti malaria drugs religiously (well, except for one or two who wanted malaria to get out of the field) I had not idea ITP was a VA ratable disease until reading this post! My disabilities are other than ITP. Where to go from here? Back to the DAV? (good people).