Operation v ET

[Pennypen]

Just wondering has anyone on this forum had a joint replacement and later found out they had ET. I had a hip replacement 21 years ago and a year later found out that I had ET. On doing a bit of research I found that operations can cause this. I had a lot of blood tests before the op so they would have picked up high platelets if they had have been there. Is it just a coincidence as the Hematologist said it doesnt cause it.

[AngiP]

Hello Pennypen, I've had both my hips replaced first 2011 second 2015. i was diagnosed with PV in 2017 must admit that I never thought there was any connection, but I had radiotherapy for breast cancer in 2009 and have read that this can cause MPN's.

Hope you are keeping as well as is possible

Angela

[Pennypen in reply to AngiP]

Yes I am keeping well but I don't like this tiredness you get with taking Hydroxy and as you get older it seems like it gets worse. Once I have played down for half an hour that seems to do the trick. I hate taking any kind of medication but if you don't we are in trouble.

[Cindy12]

Hello Pennypen, Yes, I had a knee replacement in 2012 and while I was recovering from that I was told I had elevated platelets and they would be writing to my doctor. 18 months later I went to the practice nurse for a blood pressure check and she sent me for a blood test. The result of this was that my platelets were over 1300 and I was referred to the haematologist and after a bmb I was diagnosed with pre-fibrotic myelofibrosis . I was told that my blood counts were normal in 2011, but I am wondering whether an injury I had in 2012 a few months before my knee op. could have triggered the ET.

[Pennypen in reply to Cindy12]

I don't think so I think it was the operation because my platelets were fine before the op then a year later my platelets were over a 1000. I was having squiggles in the eyes and left me with a dull headache and my doctor told me it was a migraine. I went to another doctor and she did the blood test and sent me off to a haematologist put me on aspirin and within two days the symptoms went away he told me what I had and have been of medication ever since. I am glad I went for a second opinion .

[Chris3875 in reply to Pennypen]

Hi Pennypen - I also had two knee replacements, the last one about a year prior to being diagnosed with ET. Like Angie I also had breast cancer in 2014 and had chemotherapy but not radiotherapy. I mentioned this to my Haematologist but she did not think there was any correlation.

[Pennypen in reply to Chris3875]

I think the haematologists are going to say that as mine did. It will be interesting to see how many people it has happened too as there wouldn't be many people who talk on this forum there would be thousands out there I reckon.