Low platelets

[Peacox]

Hi all, I’m a bit concerned. The Rheum nurse just called to say my platelets are low. She said I’m to have another blood test next week. I’ve been on MTX injections for about 4 weeks. Has anyone had this problem? I’m a bit freaked out. Thank you x

[nomoreheels]

Hiya Peacox. Any anomalies in bloods when you've recently started a new med may often be of concern, it's normal. However, it may be RD itself (being poorly controlled), a blip or your body's early response to MTX, why you've been asked to have another blood test. I've been on MTX 13 years & lost count of how many times I’ve been asked to either halt MTX & book repeat bloods or just repeat bloods, it can just happen. Now & again it's needed attention (pred increased temporarily) but more often than not all is well. What it does show is that our team check blood results & we are not left to fend for ourselves, which can sometimes feel to be the case.

Just be mindful of unusual bruising, more than you'd see normally or excessive for the reason for the bruise. I see you're relatively new to etoricoxib as well. This & new to MTX may be another reason for low platelets. It can be an early days thing & often rights itself though, one reason you read advice they shouldn’t be coprescribed, but that's in an ideal world & ours just isn’t! I've been on both for around 9 years, it's important for us to keep that inflammation down. Again what is shows though is you're being monitored so take something from that.

[Peacox in reply to nomoreheels]

Thank you so much for such a detailed reply. I’m really grateful.

[nomoreheels in reply to Peacox]

You're welcome. Let us know how things go?

[Peacox in reply to nomoreheels]

I will, thank you

[Frances_UK]

I had this on sulfasalazine. My platelets halved in 8 weeks. I believe it's unlikely to cause serious problems until it gets really low (like well below 100) but if your platelets are on a downward trajectory you need to keep an eye on them. Even at 140 I had excessive bleeding, bleeding gums, bled through my clothes after a blood test.

[Peacox in reply to Frances_UK]

Thank you. That sounds really distressing. I've actually always been a bit of a bleeder (😆), so yes, definitely something to look out for.

[Vonnie10]

I had a low hb one time its was corrected on my next set of bloods I put it down ti been a rogue blood.