New to this site. Found this site while searching for platelet information. What a great site and resource. I am 48 years old and recently went in for my yearly check up. My platelets have been slowly rising over the past few years.
2008-241
2010-203
2011-202
2012-225
2013-219
2014-253
2015-285
2016-320
2017-336
2018-429
2019-566
2020-681
All other labs are good and I am asymptomatic. I met with a hematologist on Monday and she didn't really have any answers other than wait and see when the labs come back. My next appointment isn't for 3 more weeks. has anyone had something like this and what did it amount to? From what I have read from Dr. Google I am really worried about cancer. I have a sore lower back with inflammation from old back injuries (20 years ago). For the past couple years I could barely put socks on or tie my shoes. When I went on an aspirin regiment a week ago (as per Dr's orders). I cant believe how good I feel, like 5 years younger and I can actually tie my shoes! Can inflammation like this possibly raise my platelets like this? In conjunction with that my stress load from work the last 4 years has been almost unbearable which coincidence or not that is where my platelets were starting to raise. I would be so great full for any help or reassurance that will get me by until my next appointment.
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mother2britton
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Hello and welcome to our forum. Completely understand how concerned you are about these results and that your platelets have been rising over the years. I would advise that you read the information on our website about MPNs
I would also advise that before your next appointment that you write down your questions, it makes it much easier to think about what you want to know before your appointment and have them written down so that you don't get side tracked and then forget to ask something important, and if possible, take someone with you so that you have someone else hearing what is being said.
Hi welcome to the Forum my platelet started to rise about 5 years ago about the time I hit 40 now they're at 587,000 and I just realized I have anemia
have you been checked for that also be careful in the aspirin regimen because aspirin can mess up your stomach lining I think the bayer orange colored melt-in-your-mouth type aspirins would be safe I'm happy to hear that you feel better on your aspirin regimen it is something I've been meaning to talk to my doctor about for a long time also given the age you might want to check into pre menopause and as far as platelets being high due to inflammation that is absolutely true I talk to my doctor about that I am also a hundred pounds overweight and she said when you're overweight your platelets can be high hormonal fluctuations and stress makes platelets fluctuate constantly.
Hi, welcome, Maz has given you good advice, read all the info on MPNS possible. This will allow you to ask your doctor questions. Very few doctors have up to date info on MPNs.
No doubt the asprin has helped for a few reasons.
Given your age asprin only is given.
It could be that the asprin is helping your back inflammation and helping your blood. Only a Haematologist can diagnose you and that is after various blood tests.
Welcome to the forum. It is a club none of us wanted to join, but are all happy to be members of.
You will shortly have more information about your status. For some reason, you have thombocytosis, the question is whether it is primary (essential) or secondary. Likely one of the tests the doc ordered included a test for driver mutations (JAK2, CALR, MPL) as well as tests for known causes of secondary thrombocytosis.
The wait can be a bit unnerving, but even if you have Essential Thrombocythemia - at your age in the absence of symptoms - most docs would opt for an aspirin-only protocol. While ET is technically a "cancer" - it is a long term chronic disease that can be managed. I was diagnosed with ET about 30 years ago. It progressed to PV about 7 years ago. Still alive and kicking at age 65 and have had a good life. Despite a few challenges of late - still have a good life.
In answer to your question about inflammation the answer is YES! At the core, MPNs are inflammatory disorders. They are driven by deregulation of the JAK-STAT pathway. The JAK=STAT pathway does more than drive hematopoiesis. It also drive inflammation, specifically the production of inflammatory cytokines. This is responsible for many of the secondary symptoms we experience. Glad to hear the aspirin seems to help. That speaks to underlying inflammation being an issue. FYI - i have had more success with Curcumin than any NSAID I ever took. It made a huge difference in my osteoarthritis. If you decide to try this, be sure to use a bioavailable formulation and let your providers know you are taking it.
Do please let us know how things go. All the best to you.
Thanks for the helpful replies, I have some results back, basically more in-depth CBC with iron, giant platelets etc. those all check out great platelets were 670 this time, guess I'll take that. The rest of the specialized tests were sent out so I wont be able to see those right away if at all before I meet with my hematologist. what do you think of these labs? can I take it as a good sign to see my platelets drop some? The 26th is going to be a long wait!
Overall these lab #s look pretty good to my layman's eye. The main thing that looks high is platelets. Please do not sweat the variation in platelet levels too much. It is the trend over time that matters, not fluctuations in individual labs. It is normal for platelet levels to vary as there are many factors that influence thrombopoiesis - bleeding, inflammation, infection, stress, etc. In just a few days it can vary by as much as 100K. That is normal.
Also bear in mind, there is no straight line correlation in risk for thrombosis whether your platelets are at 550 or 750. It is more complex than that. Erythrocytosis or leukocytosis poses more of a risk for thrombosis than thombocytosis alone. Also bear in mind, you may be just as much at risk for hemorrhage as you are for thrombosis (particularly if platelets >800K). It can go either way, but the docs worry more about clotting than bleeding. You doc likely also did prothrombin times, which will show as ptt/aptt - INR. Those are also important numbers to understand. (Time it takes your blood to clot).
It will be a wait and see for a bit until all your labs are in. The hematologist will want to look at whether this is a primary or secondary condition. The doc should also evaluate to ensure you do not have a masked polycythemia vera. The doc may want to do a bone marrow biopsy. Be assured you have plenty of time to sort this all out.
My platelet levels have cycled between the low 500s to mid 700s for nearly 30 years, with spikes into the 900s. I have never had a single incident of thrombosis. While on aspirin, I did have issues with excessive hemorrhage (bleeding/bruising). We are each different in how our MPN presents. You will almost certainly have a different presentation, but know that most people with ET live normal to near-normal lifespans. If you do in fact have ET or another MPN, know that you will have plenty of time to figure this out. There may be some issues to manage, but they can be managed.
All the best to you. Please let us know how things turn out.
Well I met with my hematologist today, looks like I am ET CALR+. She left the BMB up to me but felt comfortable with my current bloods to call it ET. Aspirin for now if I reach 1000 we will discuss meds, bloods every 3 months to keep an eye on things. To be honest I had all my labs back last week and saw the CALR+ test and kind of knew at that point how this appointment was going to go. This is defiantly a tough pill to swallow with some big ups and downs in the last week. Didn't help at all being put on quarantine from a work Covid exposure, talk about being stuck in your own head, possibly a cancer diagnosis and Covid at the same time! I will begin the search for a specialist but it may be tough since the closest one is about 600 or so miles away but I think that will be best. This has all been a lot to take in and this site is such a big help. I truly believe this will make me a better person, as I can truly see with a new found perspective that life is a gift and is to short for things that just don't matter. I can see more clearly now than I ever have.
It really helped to focus things. My only suggestion is 600 miles each way seems far for a specialist. Especially if at some point you start treatment. I see my haematologist more then my GP he manages most of my health needs. If you are happy with your current haemotologist why not get the specialist to act as a second opinion or consultant work with your haematologist
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