Platelets up!

[EmeraldA]

Hi, as I have mentioned before Im newly diagnosed 4 weeks ago now, but I just had my bloods done to find out my cholesterol level and nutrient levels in blood. It was not a hemo appointment or anything. I'm quite shocked because in a month they have gone from 505 to 638!! I'm so concerned. Does this mean that they are now just going to keep increasing? So worried. ( Prevoius to this over the last year they had been between 449 and 505). Some advice or information would be so good right now.

[Hidden]

Hi, stress and anxiety can put your platelets up! Quite understandable at this terrible time especially in UK and USA. We aren't quite so bad here in NZ. Still your platelets are not that high for ET. Lyn

[krotsida in reply to Hidden]

I agree, stress and anxiety can do that!!

I try to keep calm under pressure.

Anastasia.

[Hidden in reply to krotsida]

Yes I was talking with a Dr at work and she said it was quite common when I was talking with her about mind!!

[EmeraldA in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much. I've downloaded a mindfulness app to attempt to chill out a bit and will try not to stress about this for now. I also bought tonic water.....x

[Hidden in reply to EmeraldA]

I heard tonic water was also good. Possibly for you HDL

[EmeraldA in reply to Hidden]

Ok well I've got some so will give it a bash! I'm obviously in some sort of experiencal stage. Thank you for getting in touch! Really just trying to work it all out and do what is best.

[Mazcd Partner MPNVoice]

Hi EmeraldA, platelets do go up and down, your haematologist will monitor this, when are you next due to see your haematologist? Maz

[EmeraldA in reply to Mazcd]

Thanks to the both of you for posting. I rang my haematologist this morning and spoke to her secretary. My next appointment is at the start of June. I just didnt think it could go up this much so quickly. I have had a bad cold for over two weeks that had just gone when I got my bloods done. Also the anxiety of being diagnosed 4 weeks ago too maybe. The funny thing was though until yesterday I had really started taking the ET diagnosis in my stride. Thanks again x

[piggie50 in reply to EmeraldA]

Hi EmeraldA,

A cold always makes my platelets rise. My heam always says, how are you, and when I say, I’m just getting over a cold, he says, ah, that would explain the rise in your platelets. I’m on hydoxicarbamide and he doesn’t increase the dose at those times. Try not to worry.

Judy x

[Jennytheb in reply to EmeraldA]

Hi, my last consultation with Heamot. my platelets were up to 750 when they had been consistently down to about 540. He was concerned but did not know until consultation that I had been ill for most of January with chest infection and sickness and diar. He was sad to find out I had been ill but reassured to find that this was probably the cause of the rise. He asked me to have a blood test early April but it has been so difficult to arrange and he said not to worry. So, illness does make the platelets rise. Also I am wondering if my illness in January had actually been Covid? Perhaps I will find out one day if we are tested.

[Gaithersburg]

Hello, my platelets were up significantly in January when I had them checked which was a concern. Sometimes if you are unwell this happens but I was not. However when I redid them a month later they had returned to my normal. Perhaps you could see if you can have your bloods taken again just to check the levels before worrying about anything else or adjusting medication as this does occasionally happen. Good luck and try not to panic at this stage.

[hunter5582]

Not to worry - variation in platelet levels is normal. My doc told me they can change by as much as 100k in one day. There are a variety of things that can affect your platelet levels, including bleeding, inflammation, tissue damage, etc. The nature of MPNs is that our blood cell levels are already elevated so these changes appear more alarming. Your platelet levels are still relatively low. There is not change in your risk factors between 505 and 638. It is something to keep an eye on since your history was to cycle between 449 to 505. It is the trend over time that matters, not individual fluctuations. I have cycled between 468 and 775 for over 30 years. When in periods of reactive thrombocytosis, the numbers have temporarily gone as high as 990. I have never had a single incident of thrombosis in the entire 30+ years no matter what the platelet number was.

Suggest you not worry about it at this point. Just watch the numbers over time and watch for symptoms of both thrombosis and hemorrhage.

Hang in there. Be well and stay safe.

[EmeraldA]

Hi Everyone, thank you for all your reassuring advice. If I didnt have access to this site I dont know what I would have done. If the Haematologist gets in touch I will let you know what she says. From advice here though it is dont panic yet, try and relax, platletes can go up, and it's about watching how they trend. Thank u X

[EmeraldA]

Is there any way I can help myself to lower my platelets?

[EmeraldA]

Hi Everyone, I just thought I would let you know that I had my first 3 month check. My platelets have come down from 638 to 544. Which is great news. Now, was this because I have been taking Q10 as per the study, or the fact that the last time I had my platelets checked I was just getting over a bad cold and the shock of finding out I had ET. Or it could just be the natural up and down of platelets that also happens that I have read about here. I also updated my haematologist on all the supplements I'm taking. Thank you everyone for responding to my cry for help when my platelets went up it really helped me calm down a bit about it. I dont know what I would have done when I was diagnosed with ET without this site! It was also good to meet my Haematologist for the first time and ask all the questions that I had which was loads! I'm now also booked in for my bmb. Ex