I was just diagnosed with ITP in late january and am a freshman in college. I had to take the semester off but plan to go back in the fall.

[efaile]

If i have a maintained platelet count around 150,000, do you think its possible for me to enjoy myself, have a little fun and drink? (i know i'm underage, thats all the doctors focus on when i ask, so they never give me a straight answer)

[Hidden]

Hun your"normal" count might be 50,000 or 25,000 and you can still lead a very full and active life. I wouldnt suggest too many binge drinking sessions but you have to live life and enjoy it. Why did you take the semester off? what symptoms and counts have you had?

[efaile in reply to Hidden]

That is very encouraging, thank you. I'm not a big partier anyway, I just want to be able to have a casual drink with my friends. I go to school at Miami University (in the middle of nowhere) and I was diagnosed righttt before I went back. I had a lot of unexplained bruises on my legs, my gums were bleeding alot, and I was absolutely exhausted for about a month. My counts were down to about 20,000 when I was admitted. But, I wasn't able to get the medical attention I needed if I stayed at school, and it turned out that I didn't even finish my treatments until late March. It's been about 4 weeks now since my last dose of medicine and I've maintained at about 150,000 which blew me away.

[Lynnek]

Hi efaile. I have been diagnosed with ITP for 8yrs. There's no reason why you can't enjoy a full college life. You have to be aware of your condition and stay away from contact sports which may cause injury (a knock to the head or cuts & bruising). As for your social life, carry on. Again be aware that alcohol is a blood thinner so a few beers will probably be fine but heavy binge drinking will do you no favours. Be aware that fatigue is a common condition associated with ITP so too many nights out will affect your studies. Do not let ITP control you but don't do silly things which will affect your ability to get on with life. ENJOY x

[BethHope]

I got signed off work for six months as my job was so demanding and my state there was no way I could an felt too ill to work. Being 19, the doctors themselves told me that whilst I was on mediation to not touch any alcohol, anything containing taurine, or medication which got in your blood stream. But when I was of for a month, there wasn't anything to stop me "acting my age" My pkatelet count is now normal, (my family all has low red blood count so it's normal for me) and I go out and drink as I normally would before I was diagnosed. Iv been told to not have any more piercings or do contact extreme sorts (wante to do a charity skydive) it's up to you entirely if you want to go back to school, only you know if you feel well enough, but just stay away from people with viruses, as when I fall ill my platelet count drops. The only advice realy is to not go crazy! Getting out your face is never a good look and will effect you. I have found hangovers are so much worse since I fell ill, just be careful!

[5052]

it is my understanding that a normal platelet count is between 150,000 to 400,000. so your normal low side but normal. Don't drink too much but enjoy life you might not go out and play contact sport. Good luck

[alice_sportyauthor]

Hi

Straight answer: If you try and keep up with the amount your friends drink you will feel a lot worse than most of them in the morning, but you will live, AS LONG AS being drunk doesn't get you in a fight or make you fall down the stairs, both of those could kill anybody even though it is rare, but are MORE likely to kill you.

I used to find that sometimes I could drink a couple and feel fine the next day and sometimes I could drink the same and feel rough as *** the next day. So I tended to keep my consumption low whilst my student friends kept going. Don't worry, I always still got an invite to the party (because I was in a fit state to fix breakfast the next morning !!!! )

Enjoy life but don't be stupid, make sure one of your more sensible friends knows about your condition and what the symptoms of concussion etc are, wear a 'Medic Alert Bracelet' just in case you are in an accident and can't tell the Drs yourself. AND THEN just get on with life.

[Leahgersh]

A count of 150 sounds amazing ! I have a count of around 40 thousand and I do have a drink Every now and then. I think it's safe to have a drink twice a weekend and you'll be fine! If you see like a nosebleed or something then go to the doctor but my doctors always said a drink every week or twice a week won't hurt ! I'm no doctor. I'm 27 and have had itp throughout college. And I drank ... A lot. Always fine and my count was much lower than yours ! Good luck.

[JoaoP]

I dont know about most of you but when my platelet count goes down I feel drained and not at all well. Im quite a strong stoic person but I get tired very quickly when I do simple daily chores. I expect ITP varies from person to person, at what stage your at and if you have stabilized your platelet count. I would definitely not call it leading a normal life. btw 150,000 is great lets hope you can keep them at that level.

[amberyard]

Yep, your in normal range. My last count was 2k, I want a drink so bad but it could kill me. I would go drink a lot of liquor (with what I have been through, I would wake the next day swollen fingers and sick as a dog but really didn't drink much but my counts were in 40-50ish range).