Can stress or worries make a big difference in FBC numbers?

[jointpain]

My wife's FBC has changed significantly over the past few weeks, while her medication has been the same for a year. During the past year she has been on anagrelide 3 a day, hydroxy 3 a week keeping her platelets at or around 250 white cells at or around 40 though over the past 8 months her Hgb keeps dropping to a point where she has iron infusions and or packed red cell transfusions. The platelets were nigh on 900 white cells 54 and Hgb was 122 two days ago, this was four weeks after two bags of packed RBC and an iron infusion. In the past if her platelets were higher than 400 to 500 she would be sleeping of an evening, but not this time. I think she might be lacking in epo possibly because she has only one working kidney, and of course no spleen. I've asked her hematologist consultant if she has ever had an epo test, but never had a reply. Do any of you geniuses have an answer? She is a bit more stressed due to my own injuries three months ago I fractured my skull with bleeds to the brain and broke ribs which damaged grade 4 spleen and punctured lung also damage to hip and knee and hand. Falling off a bicycle. Spent three weeks in hospital but since she has been looking after me until recently when I've been able to do my share.

[hunter5582]

Sorry to hear about the struggles. Stress is not good for body and mind in more than one way. You may hear different things about stress and FBC. Best to go to the data. Here is one example.

"Stressful life events and anxiety usually cause an increase in platelet volume and activity through various mechanisms. Mean platelet volume (MPV), which is indicative of platelet size, is accepted as an indication of platelet activity." tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

You can find more information if you care to look. The bottom line is that stress releases a variety of chemicals in the body. These cause host of problems when the stress is not relieved or managed.

Your wife's profile is quite involved and complex. I would not want to venture to interpret what is going on other to say that stress could make things worse. Hopefully, she is already seeing a MPN Specialist with a case this involved. Her situation is well beyond the scope of a regular hematologist.

All the best to you both.

[lizzziep]

Just sending good wishes to you both x

[ainslie]

I have heard from a ET veteran stress can increase platelets, I haven’t read any science on it. Your wife’s situation seems complex and if you haven’t done it already it might be worth contacting a MPN expert for a second opinion, I hope you get some reassurance soon.