Rheumatoid Arthritis & A Low Platelet Count!

[Juliachoo]

Hi All, the demon chasing me is at it again! After having a kidney infection followed by pneumonia I assumed I had had my share of illnesses recently & was happy to be back on the methotrexate & Imraldi after almost 6 weeks off them. I thought all that was behind me & was happily bobbing along when I had a routine blood test last Tuesday. Not so, I was called back yesterday (Friday) for another blood test by the Rheumatoid Nurse as I had low platelet count. This was rushed through & the result came back late afternoon. The nurse rang & informed me that they were still not happy with the results & also there was some “clumping” which means I now have to go for another blood test first thing Monday morning. Despite being told not to be alarmed, I’m fretting a bit I must admit & am hoping one of you on here can shed some light on why this is happening? I have been taken off the methotrexate until further notice

[wishbone]

No idea what caused it, but I was told I had platelet clumping a few years ago. Don't recall my meds being stopped but pretty sure I was only taking hydroxy at the time so it might be different with methotrexate. Think I had a follow-up blood test but the problem had improved.

Hope the same happens with you.

[Juliachoo in reply to wishbone]

Thank you. X

[wishbone in reply to Juliachoo]

I've just found a 3 year old post in my archives that I made when I asked here about my platelet clumping. Can't add much to my above reply, only that along with clumping my count was slightly high and I had 2 not just the 1 repeated blood test as I previously thought. I don't say what the results were but they must have been ok for test #3...obviously.

It's a blinkin'worry when something negative turns up in a blood test, especially if you don't know exactly what it is or the significance of it. I remember how worried I was at the time!

Good luck

[helixhelix]

As I understand it platelet clumping does happen from time to time and makes it difficult to get an accurate count of your platelets (which are the blood components that stop you bleeding when you have a wound - so clumping is their “thing”, but normally only in response to injury).

So they may just need to check that your low platelet count is not just due to this passing phenomenon. Try not to worry, and make sure you are well hydrated on Monday. They are probably just being extra-cautious by stopping the MTX and this could all be a stress for nothing. Hope so!

[Juliachoo in reply to helixhelix]

Thank you, xx

[Juliachoo in reply to helixhelix]

Hi, my platelet count went down to 107....I have been taken off methotrexate & Imraldi for the time being. Finally after 4 hospital blood tests on the trot, the last two that we’re clumping, they got a reading today & it has gone up to 260. So while Still low it’s going in the right direction thank goodness. X

[helixhelix in reply to Juliachoo]

Keep it going that way... Maybe look on the bright side, you can brandy on your christmas pud!