After 15 years of high platelets my platelets have suddenly dropped into normal range

[clubdino]

I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Of course the reason I think it may be bad is I'm wondering if this is the beginning of myelofibrosis. The rest of my blood work was completely normal. My platelets were 424,000. I'm not on meds for my ET.

On the other hand the only change I have made in my life that could explain a sudden drop in platelets is I started Cymbalta. The Cymbalta greatly reduced my pain and I used to have fevers four times a week and now I don't have fevers anymore. So I wonder could Cymbalta be putting my ET in remission?

Anybody with post ET/PV myelofibrosis can you tell me the first changes you noticed in your bloodwork. Were the changes fast or slow?

[Osteomyelio]

That is very interesting. I hope you are in remission

[Charlieapple2018]

Remission would be amazing!

[fee13]

Supposedly MPN's are driven by inflammation, I wonder if there's something in it that minimises this. Very interesting.

[clubdino in reply to fee13]

Definitely. It will be interesting to see my platelet count after 6 months on the medication.

[william-Indo]

Happy to hear your blood result

Keep update to us

[Cja1956]

I’ve never heard that before but maybe you’re on to something. I would probably do some research and talk to your doctor about it. If the fevers have stopped, that seems to me to be a very good sign, indeed.

[Aneliv9]

Is cymbalta a drug for depression?Is so, what has to do with the blood counts?

[clubdino in reply to Aneliv9]

It's an antidepressant that can be used for pain. It has nothing to do with blood counts.. but that doesn't mean it can't have an effect on your blood count.

[Aneliv9 in reply to clubdino]

Ok.. everything is possible though!

[Hidden]

Cymbalta is not an anti-inflammatory and only has an effect on the perception of pain. At what level have your platelets been since you were diagnosed? What tests were done at diagnosis or since to confirm the diagnosis - BMB, genetic tests (JAK2 etc)?

[clubdino in reply to Hidden]

I am CALR positive. I had a BM biopsy over a decade ago that didn't really show anything. My platelets never have gone over 550k the entire 15 years but they have also never been in the normal range either.

[Hidden]

With a normal BMB and a platelet count that was never very high, it may be that, despite your CALR+ status, ET was not a correct diagnosis. However, now that your platelets are at normal levels, you need not worry too much about a cardiac episode or a stroke. Great news.

[clubdino in reply to Hidden]

So you think I may have had a false positive test?

[Hidden]

Not for me to say. Just trying to make sense of your situation. If Cymbalta had been an anti-inflammatory, then your typically small reduction in platelets would make more sense from what we know at this time. Perhaps you have inadvertently stumbled on something not recognised before

[Jschwab]

I'm hoping for remission for you too!

[clubdino in reply to Jschwab]

Thanks!

[MaggieSylvie]

Platelets rise and fall every day.

[clubdino in reply to MaggieSylvie]

Lol yes I know...I am the one who read the blood smears on the chemo patients.

[Jschwab]

How are your plate letters now?

[clubdino in reply to Jschwab]

Hi. I haven't checked them in over six months but my last level returned to just above normal.

[Jschwab in reply to clubdino]

So are you still at an elevated risk of stroke if the platelettes are in the normal range? Mine are, as you know, and the Haem is telling me to continue aspirin.... maybe as a precaution? I am just wondering if there's something that keeps us at a continued greater risk of stroke because we have the condition, even if platelette count is in normal ranges.

[clubdino in reply to Jschwab]

I have read in the past that our platelets are still more likely to function abnormally even if they manage to dip in normal range. But I have to admit I am not very good about taking my aspirin on a regular basis. Also, not sure if you are Jak2 pos or CALR positive but I have also read that aspirin may not be necessary for CALR patients because we are at less risk. Not medical advice of course just something I remember reading.

[clubdino in reply to Jschwab]

This paper explains more: hematologyandoncology.net/a...

[Jschwab in reply to clubdino]

Thank you for this link!

[Jschwab]

Platelettes