I have a recent diagnosis of Portal Hypertension due to cirrhosis. No biopsy was ever done. No measurements on portal pressure was ever done. My liver function is good. My MELD Score is 10. My spleen is enlarged. My WBC and platelet counts are low. Platelets usually around 50-60, but have been as high as 80-90 and one time dropped below 50 to 43. I had my first EGD. Due to my platelets being below 50 for the first and only time, they did not band. Instead, they transfused platelets and banded on the next day. They did 7 bands. They don't want to have another procedure. They want me to take Doptelet - a new and outrageously expensive drug that is not covered by my insurance. My GI doctor and hepatologist do a very poor job explaining any thing. First, is it rare to do banding right away? I was expecting to do the EGD and not have to do any bands? Second, why is Doptelet preferred over platelet transfusion. Am I sicker than they are letting on - even though my liver function is good and MELD score is low? Doesn't banding one are just cause pressure in other areas causing the need for more bands? How many bands can a person have? Are my doctors just bad communicators or does this just come due to the lack of knowledge of the disease? I also have a lot of questions about Doptelet and concerned it may cause more problems that it cures. Does anyone know? What is the goal BP/Heart Rate?