Blood platelet question

[Guest guest]

My son had petechai,,,, not sure of the spelling either.. when he was 4 and

diagnosed with henoch-schonlien purpura.. This is auto immune disease .. auto

vascular disorder.. that usually follows a strep throat infection and occurs

in caucasian males , ages 4-7.. he was right in the book.. he is fine now..

but took him months to get better back then.. was a scary time for me..

seeing purple spots all over him.. The doctors suspected leukemia, etc.. was

glad that they ruled out the really bad stuff.

I am noticing that my platelet count, although within acceptable ranges, is

decreasing each time I get labs drawn.. which is every three months.. Should

I be concerned.. My internist suspects that I have lupus, although it is not

a definite diagnosis at this point. I did mention that my platelet count had

been decreasing to the hematologist when I saw him last week.. he didnt say

much about that.. just ordered a series of blood tests.

Hugs,

from GA

open RNY 12/12/00

Revision 04/18/01

Revision 02/07/02

St wt.... 392

Cw.......187

Wt loss..-205

[Guest guest]

I've been diagnosed with ITP for years now, which is a low blood

platelet count. Most people have 150,000 - 300,000 and mine ranged

in the 70,000s. Anyway, for no apparent reason (which is the same

way this problem begins) it got a lot better before surgery. The

last couple of years, my numbers were in the 80,000s, then 94,000

then even 103,000. Went to see a hematologist at the same time I had

my initial consult because I was concerned a low count could be a

reason for denial. Well, my count was up to 130,000, higher than it

had ever been and almost " normal " . The hematologist and the surgeon

both said they felt safe okaying me for any operation with that

count, and the hematologist predicted that my count might drop a

little but would remain stable from here on out.

Well in my first bloodwork post-op, my count dropped to 68,000, lower

than it's been in YEARs. This isn't that signfigant unless the trend

continues, since I don't have a bruising problem now, but it IS

disappointing.

I'm just wondering - there may not be any other people with ITP out

there, but does anyone know if their platelet count was lower a few

months after surgery, and did it go back up? I DEFINITELY don't want

to end up on steroids for this, which would be very counter

productive!

Sandy

Lap RNY 9/20/02

359/307/?

[Guest guest]

Me. I have the chronic version of ITP. I've only h ad 2 flare-ups. ONe in

1980, one in 2001. My counts weren't as low as yours, in 2001, but in 1980,

*I*, a humble person would never have asked to actually SEE the numbers.

I've not seen the platelet count drop much below normal since I've been

watching. I just watch for the " pin pricks " , since I actually had a dog die of

this disease, but hers was acute.

Thanks,

Vitalady T

www.vitalady.com

If you are interested in PayPal, please click here:

https://secure.paypal.com/affil/pal=vitalady%40bigfoot.com

Blood platelet question

I've been diagnosed with ITP for years now, which is a low blood

platelet count. Most people have 150,000 - 300,000 and mine ranged

in the 70,000s. Anyway, for no apparent reason (which is the same

way this problem begins) it got a lot better before surgery. The

last couple of years, my numbers were in the 80,000s, then 94,000

then even 103,000. Went to see a hematologist at the same time I had

my initial consult because I was concerned a low count could be a

reason for denial. Well, my count was up to 130,000, higher than it

had ever been and almost " normal " . The hematologist and the surgeon

both said they felt safe okaying me for any operation with that

count, and the hematologist predicted that my count might drop a

little but would remain stable from here on out.

Well in my first bloodwork post-op, my count dropped to 68,000, lower

than it's been in YEARs. This isn't that signfigant unless the trend

continues, since I don't have a bruising problem now, but it IS

disappointing.

I'm just wondering - there may not be any other people with ITP out

there, but does anyone know if their platelet count was lower a few

months after surgery, and did it go back up? I DEFINITELY don't want

to end up on steroids for this, which would be very counter

productive!

Sandy

Lap RNY 9/20/02

359/307/?

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[Guest guest]

> Me. I have the chronic version of ITP. I've only h ad 2 flare-

ups. ONe in 1980, one in 2001. My counts weren't as low as yours,

in 2001, but in 1980, *I*, a humble person would never have asked to

actually SEE the numbers.

Hi . What do you mean by flare-ups, exactly? Did they give

you any treatment or remove your spleen? See, I've never really had

any symptoms. I suspect I've always had a low count. It was

discovered in the first bloodwork I'd had done in my 20s and they put

me straight in the hospital because the first test was 72,000 and the

second was 56,000 so they thought I was dropping fast. Come to find

out my numbers during that week stayed in the 60s. The bone marrow

test showed I make enough platelets, but my body is destroying them

even though my spleen doesn't <i>appear</i> to be enlarged. Never

got the red marks on my legs, never got strange, unaccounted for

bruises, though I've always bruised fairly easily.

Majorly bummed by the recent drop - but on the other hand since it's

not affecting me I should probably just shrug it off and keep an eye

on it. Still the idea that I could have lost over 50,000 in 2 months

is disturbing since I'll be in deep doo doo if I lose another 50,000

before January when I get tested again!

Sandy

[Guest guest]

Petichaeii or something complicated is what they call 'em. I forget how to spell

it.

Mine look like I've been pricked with a pin. Tiny red marks, some as large as a

pin HEAD, though. I'll get then all over the " soft meat " , inner arms, belly and

such. Since there are always SOME,. I don't get alarmed until there are lots.

But my levels never dropped below 100, that *I* know,. Like I said, back in

1980, I woulda never asked about numbers. None of my biz, you know? Sigh. Like

not being invited to my babies' deliveries.

The ones my dog had were about as big as a thumbprint, to show the difference.

But I only saw hers a few hours before she died. I took her to the vet at 11pm

on a Sunday night. She was gone by morning. NO sign until that night. Nothing.

Black lab.

So, did they give you any vit K or anything for it?

Thanks,

Vitalady T

www.vitalady.com

If you are interested in PayPal, please click here:

https://secure.paypal.com/affil/pal=vitalady%40bigfoot.com

Re: Blood platelet question

> Me. I have the chronic version of ITP. I've only h ad 2 flare-

ups. ONe in 1980, one in 2001. My counts weren't as low as yours,

in 2001, but in 1980, *I*, a humble person would never have asked to

actually SEE the numbers.

Hi . What do you mean by flare-ups, exactly? Did they give

you any treatment or remove your spleen? See, I've never really had

any symptoms. I suspect I've always had a low count. It was

discovered in the first bloodwork I'd had done in my 20s and they put

me straight in the hospital because the first test was 72,000 and the

second was 56,000 so they thought I was dropping fast. Come to find

out my numbers during that week stayed in the 60s. The bone marrow

test showed I make enough platelets, but my body is destroying them

even though my spleen doesn't <i>appear</i> to be enlarged. Never

got the red marks on my legs, never got strange, unaccounted for

bruises, though I've always bruised fairly easily.

Majorly bummed by the recent drop - but on the other hand since it's

not affecting me I should probably just shrug it off and keep an eye

on it. Still the idea that I could have lost over 50,000 in 2 months

is disturbing since I'll be in deep doo doo if I lose another 50,000

before January when I get tested again!

Sandy

[Guest guest]

> Petichaeii or something complicated is what they call 'em. I forget

how to spell it.

Ok, I know what you're talking about it even though I can't spell it

either, LOL. The weird thing is I don't think I've ever gotten it,

except for a few times on my hands. I was told the time to worry is

if you get red spots on your lower legs, and that it means your count

is probably in the 20,000s or 30,000s. Weird that my count is lower

than yours and you got the spots over 100,000!

> The ones my dog had were about as big as a thumbprint, to show the

difference. But I only saw hers a few hours before she died. I took

her to the vet at 11pm on a Sunday night. She was gone by morning.

NO sign until that night. Nothing. Black lab.

Yikes, sorry to hear it. How the heck did you even see them on a

black lab? (Missing my black lab, Lady, right now!)

> So, did they give you any vit K or anything for it?

Nope, what would vit K do? Never even suggested to me. They always

seemed to feel the course of treatment was no treatment, just

monitoring for now. If I wasn't manufacturing enough platelets, they

would give me steroids, but I am so they would only do that if it got

dangerously low - and then my body would still destroy them anyway.

More commonly they remove your spleen because they tend to gather in

your spleen. BTW, my hematologist told me they don't call it ITP

anymore, but darned if I can remember the new name! Immuno

something, auto immuno something....

I think it's kind of weird that my doctor (PA, really) wasn't more

concerned about a huge drop like that! I mean, if it's still falling

at that rate, I'm in trouble.

Sandy

[Guest guest]

" Girl " died in 1975, but she was a great dog, and young. She started acting WAY

weird. We'd been to the beach that day, so I thought maybe the salt water was

making her itch, so we put her in the tub--and her gums were bleeding. Anyway,

in the course of washing, I saw the spots. Described them to the vet, but at

that time, there was only a paragraph on it.

I guess the vit K was for her because she was bleeding to death as I stood

there, not knowing any better. The vet tried. Musta been 30 bottles out that he

had trying to stop her seizures. She seized as soon as I walked in the door of

the vet. I was alone, late at night, so good thing she didn't do it sooner or

I'd not have been able to get her in--she was a BIG dog.

And yes, she was great and only about 3, a pound puppy. Sigh

Thanks,

Vitalady T

www.vitalady.com

If you are interested in PayPal, please click here:

https://secure.paypal.com/affil/pal=vitalady%40bigfoot.com

Re: Blood platelet question

> Petichaeii or something complicated is what they call 'em. I forget

how to spell it.

Ok, I know what you're talking about it even though I can't spell it

either, LOL. The weird thing is I don't think I've ever gotten it,

except for a few times on my hands. I was told the time to worry is

if you get red spots on your lower legs, and that it means your count

is probably in the 20,000s or 30,000s. Weird that my count is lower

than yours and you got the spots over 100,000!

> The ones my dog had were about as big as a thumbprint, to show the

difference. But I only saw hers a few hours before she died. I took

her to the vet at 11pm on a Sunday night. She was gone by morning.

NO sign until that night. Nothing. Black lab.

Yikes, sorry to hear it. How the heck did you even see them on a

black lab? (Missing my black lab, Lady, right now!)

> So, did they give you any vit K or anything for it?

Nope, what would vit K do? Never even suggested to me. They always

seemed to feel the course of treatment was no treatment, just

monitoring for now. If I wasn't manufacturing enough platelets, they

would give me steroids, but I am so they would only do that if it got

dangerously low - and then my body would still destroy them anyway.

More commonly they remove your spleen because they tend to gather in

your spleen. BTW, my hematologist told me they don't call it ITP

anymore, but darned if I can remember the new name! Immuno

something, auto immuno something....

I think it's kind of weird that my doctor (PA, really) wasn't more

concerned about a huge drop like that! I mean, if it's still falling

at that rate, I'm in trouble.

Sandy

[Guest guest]

Hugs hugs for dogs we loved and lost - and miss - ours went in just as short a

time in July - he had Cushings syndrome - no fix, no cure, no stopping - sighs

with ya - deb in NE

And yes, she was great and only about 3, a pound puppy. Sigh

[Guest guest]

,

Honey relax, wait until the doc sees the results. You sound like a medical

student or nursing student who thinks they have every diagnosis in the books

when they study them.

I know people keep a trend of their labs and yes there are certain ones you

should follow, but please you are going to drive yourself crazy if you keep

trying to diagnosis yourself.

Ok, so chin up, and stay off the websites with diagnosis's on them until you

talk to the specialist. OK??????

Deb in Cleveland

[Guest guest]

> I am noticing that my platelet count, although within acceptable

ranges, is

> decreasing each time I get labs drawn.. which is every three

months.. Should

> I be concerned.. My internist suspects that I have lupus, although

it is not

> a definite diagnosis at this point. I did mention that my platelet

count had

> been decreasing to the hematologist when I saw him last week.. he

didnt say

> much about that.. just ordered a series of blood tests.

> Hugs,

>

>

> from GA

Hi . ITP stands for idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpora.

Purpora relates to bruising, thrombocytopenia to the low platelet

count and idiopathic means cause unknown. I was diagnosed in my

twenties and they told me that it happens a lot to females in their

20s, they don't know why and it eventually goes away. Well, I'm 39

now.

Low platelets can be a symptom of lupus and leukemia so they often

rule that out first. It can also commonly happen after a virus or a

cold. Your immuno system goes a bit crazy working overtime and

starts to kill your platelets. That can be temporary but in my case

it doesn't seem to be. Antibodies stick to the platelets and the

platelets are often gathered in the spleen, which is one thing they

do to cure the condition - remove the spleen. At the time an

ultrasound didn't show my spleen or liver to be enlarged so nothing

was done. Now my hematologist said that's not really an accurate

diagnosis because the platelets could be massed there and the spleen

not enlarged. He seems to think that's the case. They also did a

clotting test on me and I clotted within normal ranges so that was

good.

I wonder if the surgery has made my immune system even more whacky

and it's trying to fight the surgery itself and fighting platelets?

Also I have had a bit of a cold lately.

You don't say how low your count is. The concern is that platelets

help you clot and with a low count you could start bleeding

internally and not stop. If the count was really low you'd be in

danger of a stroke. You can get along fine for years with a low

count though - I did. The thing to watch for is a lot of bruising,

particularly if you can't remember how you got the bruise, and also

the petichiae which you usually get when the count is really low. If

your count is 150,000 or more, you're still in the normal range. If

they rule out lupus and leukemia, they probably won't be very

concerned with you until the count gets to around 50,000 - 60,000 or

until it looks like it's dropping steadily and will go below that.

When I had one test at 72,000 and the next at 56,000 they put me in

the hospital for a week for tests, because another drop of that level

would have put me in danger.

Hope that puts your mind at ease a little and that your counts are in

the normal range!

Sandy

[Guest guest]

Good luck . I sure hope your internist is wrong!

Sandy

> Dear Sandy,

> My platelet counts were in the 300,000 range, and now are in the

150,000

> range.. My internist does suspect that I have lupus.. and I also

have

> increased bleeding times.. which is why I am seeing a hematologist

right

> now.. I hope to have some answers soon.

[Guest guest]

Wow! Where did this come from? Did I MISS something? I read 's

post where she talked about her platelet count dropping by half..and

that her Dr thought she might have lupus...but this post seems a

little harsh and disrespectful toward ...I personally have

never " known " her to be a hypochondriac..and thats what she is being

made to sound like. I think when one has major medical problems and

no easy answers, that it is their JOB to look for solutions! I

struggled with SEVERE PCOS for years and Drs gave me the run

around..until I read read read and went into the Dr's office and

plunked all my research down and demanded to be tested for it. Gee,

guess what I had...RIGHT! PCOS! Perhaps you did not mean to come

across as degrading , but thats how it sounded.

((((HUGS))))

> ,

>

> Honey relax, wait until the doc sees the results. You sound like a

medical student or nursing student who thinks they have every

diagnosis in the books when they study them.

>

> I know people keep a trend of their labs and yes there are certain

ones you should follow, but please you are going to drive yourself

crazy if you keep trying to diagnosis yourself.

>

> Ok, so chin up, and stay off the websites with diagnosis's on them

until you talk to the specialist. OK??????

>

> Deb in Cleveland

>

>

[Guest guest]

then you don't know me. And I am not going to defend what I said other

to reiterate for her not to worry, that's all............

[Guest guest]

I don't think was trying to diagnose herself, or that she was

panicking. It was her DOCTOR that suspects lupus. I think a

platelet count decreasing by half IS signifigant. If the trend were

to continue, obviously it could be a serious problem. JMHO.

Sandy

> ,

>

> Honey relax, wait until the doc sees the results. You sound like a

medical student or nursing student who thinks they have every

diagnosis in the books when they study them.

>

> I know people keep a trend of their labs and yes there are certain

ones you should follow, but please you are going to drive yourself

crazy if you keep trying to diagnosis yourself.

>

> Ok, so chin up, and stay off the websites with diagnosis's on them

until you talk to the specialist. OK??????

>

> Deb in Cleveland

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Deb,

I really am not trying to diagnose myself.. I just know that when I take

a wait and see approach, I get into big trouble 90% of the time.. It is best

in my case to be persistent and get answers ... and deal with the problems up

front.

I havent been to the websites.. dont want to put any ideas in my head..

just going by what the doctors have said to me.. I do watch my labs and keep

track of those things that tend to be decreasing gradually.

Thanks for your concerns.

Hugs,

from GA

open RNY 12/12/00

Revision 04/18/01

Revision 02/07/02

St wt.... 392

Cw.......187

Wt loss..-205

[Guest guest]

Dear Sandy,

It would be great if my internist was wrong, but she has suspected lupus

for over 4 years now.. My allergist./immunologist is in total agreement with

her also.. They both tell me that time will tell for sure.. and in the

meantime, I have to have frequent labwork to see where we are ..

Hugs,

from GA

open RNY 12/12/00

Revision 04/18/01

Revision 02/07/02

St wt.... 392

Cw.......187

Wt loss..-205

[Guest guest]

Thinking about you - keeping you in my prayers - hugs from deb in NE

Re: Blood platelet question

Dear Sandy,

It would be great if my internist was wrong, but she has suspected lupus

for over 4 years now.. My allergist./immunologist is in total agreement with

her also.. They both tell me that time will tell for sure.. and in the

meantime, I have to have frequent labwork to see where we are ..

Hugs,

from GA

open RNY 12/12/00

Revision 04/18/01

Revision 02/07/02

St wt.... 392

Cw.......187

Wt loss..-205