anyone have any info on what a low platelet count means? UPDATED

[faithinkarma]

My son just got this diagnosis. At first they said the count was so low, there had to be an error. But they got the same results the second time. He feels fine, not that that has to mean anything. They did the blood test after discovering blood in his urine when he went to be tested as a possible kidney donor. Needless to say this is very worrying, but I think knowing absolutely nothing about the subject is making it that much more difficult for me.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

I don't know anything about it, but I just hope that everything turns out okay! Maybe it's not such a bad thing!

 

[JC2]

Platelets are the sticky things in our blood that causes our blood to clot.

Try not to worry. Talk to the doctor and see what he has to say about it.

 

[faithinkarma]

I should have mentioned my son is 26, so I won't be doing the talking to the doctor.....I will only get what my son chooses to share, and he is so busy protecting me, I am not sure I will get the whole story. Not right away at least.

He is not bruising or bleeding which they said he should be with such a low count. I just am a bit overwhelmed right now.

And I realize this is probably a silly place to ask the question, I just thought someone might have some info. I have been looking online, and it is pretty depressing.

 

[luvwinnie]

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/thrombocytopenia.htm

here is a link

Let us know how he is!

 

[DawnCt1]

There is a condition known as ITP (idiopathic thombocytopenic purpura) that is characterized by low platelets. My friend's son has this and the onset was in his teens. They noticed bruising and followed up with a hemotologist. It can be acute and self limiting or chronic. It becomes chronic when it goes on a year or so and then probably won't go away. There is treatment and it responds well. He does need to be evaluated by a hemotologist because there are a lot of other blood dyscrasias that have low platelets as well. He has blood in his urine and so he is symptomatic.

 

[faithinkarma]

Thanks Dawn, he sees the hemotologist next week.


That's a great site luvwinnie, thanks

 

[TEENEE]

My dd was diagnosed with ITP two years ago. Her count went down to 20,000. She spent 3 days in the hospital getting steroid treatments. She had daily blood tests while she was in the hospital to check her progress. After she was released she had check ups and blood tests at the hemotolgists office for about 13 months. If your ds does have ITP there is website I found that has a lot of info. Keep in mind that most people on that website have bad cases of ITP. The people and parents of kids that have had success stories generally don't post on their site. Good luck to you and your ds. I know it is very stressful.

www.itppeople.com

 

[piratesmate]

When I was 19 I was told that my platelet count was incredibly low. In my case, it turned out to be a reaction to the phenobarbital I was on. (I also had a low temp, low pulse rate & low blood pressure from the meds.)

They took me off the phenobarb (as they weren't sure I was epileptic anyway) & my platelet count came back up. I don't remember how long it took before it corrected itself...well, at least the platelets. The rest of it lasted for 30+ years.

I hope everything is okay & that your son shares the info with you!

 

[faithinkarma]

Thanks for the link and the warning. You were right of course, but I might not have thought of that until tomorrow if you had not pointed it out.

 

[Teris]

Just here to give a virtual hug FIK. Nothing is worse than worrying about your kids,, doesn't matter how old they are. Will keep a good thought for you.

 

[aprilgail2]

My godson had a low platelet count but he was bruising and his nose bleeding, that is how he was diagnosed with Leukemia.
Best of luck with your son and hope everything turns out good.

 

[faithinkarma]

Thanks, I appreciate your honesty. I just keep thinking how difficult this must be for his fiancee. Her only brother was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease in Feb of 2002, and he passed away in July of the same year. She must be feeling frantic.

I am still optimistic though. The fact that he had absolutely no symptoms is a bit reassuring. If he had not been trying to give me a kidney, he never would have known he had a problem. Thanks for all the good wishes. I will leave an update once I know more

 

[browneyes]

When I was pregnant with my ds, I had a low platelet count. The dr put me on Prednizone (wonderful stuff, my joints stopped aching as soon as I started taking it ). I asked the dr what it meant to have low platelets, he just said not to worry about it, they'd just keep an eye on it. He did say not to let it drop down below 100,000. It dropped down to 90,000 once, but that was because I forgot to take my med.

Good luck to your ds.

 

[faithinkarma]

He saw the hematologist yesterday. She took new tests and they got the results immediately ( that rarely happens in Canada in my experience ). The tests showed that his platelets were normal. Given that he has absolutely no symptoms, they feel that the first two tests were wrong. SHEESH ! I am so relieved, but what a way to spend a week, out of your mind with worry !

They will test again next week to be safe. And he is scheduled for an ultrasound to find the cause for the blood in his urine.

 

[luvwinnie]

Great news!!

 

[Lanshark]

Great News!

 

[edie w]

Excellent news. You must be so relieved.