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Showing posts with the label ivig infusion at home

IVIG Treatment Sessions: An Autumn Reading List to Pass the Time

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If you’re receiving IVIG at home this autumn, a good book will turn a routine appointment into a few quiet hours of escape. With doctor-approved home infusion, a portable pump and pouch keep you comfortable and free to move, so your infusion setting doubles as a reading getaway spot. Here are five kinds of books worth bringing into your book nook. Finish in a Day: A Beloved Literary Novel Modern novels have their own charm, with tighter sentences and punchier lines. Yet a classic's richer, more deliberate language has a way of pulling you fully into another world, which suits infusion sessions that can take several hours as the rain falls outside. Feel Young at Heart: A Children's Fantasy Series Children's fantasy has more range than people give it credit for, and the genre extends well into the teen years, making it rich in diverse subjects, sentence structures, and language levels. Whether you're drawn to warrior cats defending their forest homes or to kids at a h...

5 Situations Where IVIG Infusion Therapy Can Help

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Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) isn't just for people with lifelong immune disorders. It's used to treat a broader range of conditions than many realize, and for many, at-home IVIG is simply how it's delivered. Here are five situations where a doctor might recommend it. TL; DR IVIG helps support the immune system in people who don't produce enough antibodies to fight infections. IVIG also helps calm the immune system's attack on the nerves in conditions such as myasthenia gravis and CIDP. For ITP, IVIG helps the body stop attacking its own platelets. A physician might also recommend IVIG for other autoimmune conditions, depending on individual circumstances. 1. Primary Immunodeficiency   When the immune system doesn't produce enough antibodies on its own, infections can become frequent and harder to overcome. Many patients manage this with IVIG infusion at home , which supply the antibodies the body isn't making and give the immune system the support it ne...

Which Alternative Therapies Can I Use with IVIG?

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Although there’s no substitute for the IVIG home infusion therapy you’re receiving, alternative therapies can still have a hand in your treatment plan. Some of these alternative therapies help you relax. Others give you a creative outlet. Still others take your mind off things by offering a physical outlet. If you’re curious about potential secondary therapies you can use during your IVIG treatments, here’s a look at a few that might support you. Keep Your Peace with Mind-Body Techniques  In principle, practices like guided visualizations, meditation, and mantra chanting are simple. You close your eyes (usually) and center yourself. You might imagine yourself on a beach somewhere or focus on the in-and-out movements of your breath. Over time, many benefits may emerge. Sleep quality may improve. Anxiety levels may go down. Pain levels may decrease. If you’d like to try integrating some of these activities while you’re receiving professional IVIG therapy at home , ask yo...

Who Is Eligible for At-Home IVIG Infusion?

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Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy is an incredibly beneficial treatment for people with chronic conditions and autoimmune disorders. IVIG delivers healthy antibodies directly into the bloodstream, either increasing antibody levels to strengthen the immune system or replenishing antibodies and blocking those that are leading the immune system to attack itself. If you receive IVIG infusions, you know you have to have them regularly to benefit from the treatment and feel true results. Yet frequent trips to doctors’ offices or hospitals to receive these treatments are time-consuming, inconvenient, and even uncomfortable. So, it’s good to look at other options that won’t interfere with your treatment plan. Depending on where you are in your health journey and treatment plan, you may be eligible for IVIG treatment and therapy at home . First, you have to talk to your doctor about who is eligible for at-home treatments. Patients with Chronic Conditions Chronic conditions, including au...

How to Advocate for Treatment Options with Your Doctor

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Chronic conditions can affect your life in many ways, but many are manageable with the help of a dedicated care team. Once you have a trusted doctor who helps you through the most difficult times, discuss future treatment options. Talking about this might make you feel out of your element, but it’s your body, and advocating for yourself and alternative options, like outpatient treatments, is important. Discuss Your Health Status The first thing you have to do is get an update on your body. Your doctor has certainly discussed your health with you, but you need to know what that really means. Depending on your health status, you may need inpatient treatment and symptom monitoring. If you’re doing well or you have a chronic condition that requires symptom management and health maintenance, you may be able to explore more treatment options, like IVIG treatment at home . Ask If There Are Other Options Exploring more treatment options starts with a question. Doctors will usually start with o...

Why Do You Need a Doctor Referral for At-Home IVIG Infusion?

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It would be wonderful if every patient could receive at-home treatments for their chronic condition. However, trustworthy IVIG home infusion companies need a referral from your healthcare provider before they can proceed with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatments and other infusion medications. Accredited home infusion companies need your doctor’s referral for many reasons. From licensing and expertise requirements to the needs of each unique condition, you can easily uncover why it’s so important to get a referral for at-home IVIG infusions.  Doctors Are Licensed Physicians Licensed doctors need to complete years of training and follow specialized educational paths to become experts in their fields. They’re the experts for a reason. While home infusion companies offer fantastic treatments and make them incredibly convenient, not everyone at the company is a practicing physician. Home infusion companies provide support to doctors, allowing patients to get the care th...

4 Ways to Get in Contact with a Home Infusion Company

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If you’re a patient undergoing intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment or receiving another intravenous infusion for a chronic condition, you may be eligible to receive your treatment at home. Trusted IVIG home infusion companies offer patients the convenience of receiving their regular treatments in the comfort of their own homes. With long session times and uncomfortable clinical rooms, a treatment plan that includes home infusions may be ideal. What steps do you need to take to connect with a home infusion company?  Get a Referral From Your Doctor You need a referral from your healthcare provider that includes your medication and dosage to receive home infusion and IVIG from an accredited company. Whether it’s for a condition like myasthenia gravis or nutritional therapy, a doctor’s referral is the best way to connect with a trusted home infusion company.  Call the Company Every home infusion company has a number you can reach. They may even have two: one for a pharma...

Is At-Home IVIG Infusion Therapy Right for You?

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Diagnoses of chronic conditions or immunodeficiencies, and starting treatment for them, can feel like a significant life change. Working with a doctor to develop a treatment plan can reduce the symptoms that impact your quality of life, and one of the treatments they may suggest is intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusions. Some people with chronic conditions such as myasthenia gravis (MG) or immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) are eligible for IVIG home infusion . Understand IVIG Infusion Therapy IVIG treatment for myasthenia gravis and other medical conditions delivers healthy antibodies intravenously (with a catheter) to your bloodstream. For chronic autoimmune disorders, replenishing the body with healthy antibodies may block defective ones from attacking your tissues. That way, symptoms of the autoimmune condition may temporarily feel less intrusive or uncomfortable. With immunodeficiencies, healthy antibodies can boost a person’s immune system to reduce the ris...