motorcycle riding w/ platelets @ 77?

My husband, Rick, lives to ride, as the saying goes. But his platelets are dropping lower every year- 77 now- and he's not even doing tx yet :( . I was wondering if it's safe for him to ride at this point? I am dreading hearing the answer if it's "no", but I'd rather have him  safe than happy- lol. Just like a wife, huh ;) ?

[GoofyDad]

The risk here ia an accident requiring surgery, I forget, but I don't think surgery is precluded at the 77 leve. However your getting close. A platelet transfusion can be given if needed to prepare for surgery, but that obviously complicates any emergency situation. The bigger question is why he's not treating? His odds of success diminish with progressing liver damage.

Good luck.

[dlr2007]

Hi Goofy,
Rick is finally supposed to treat in Jan 2009 (well he will go to  thehepatologist in Jan and tx soon after)- he has put it off for years now. Every year he gets more tired, his platelets drop lower, and I get more scared... finally he got edema in his ankles and at long last, it hit home that his liver needs some help. What makes me angry is that he's been seing his PCP and a gastro- neither of them ever laid it on the line and told him that he needed to tx sooner rather than later. So my urgent warnings sounded like exaggerations to Rick.
  I'm praying that he tolerates tx and clears... as I recall, you txed and cleared with cirrhosis, right?

[mikesimon]

Dee
I think you should definitely push to get seen by the hepatologist as soon as possible. I see no upside in waiting and instead I see a possible risk. I believe that you can get your PCP to comply if you make your case clear to him - just be a strong but reasonable advocate.

About his platelet count: My understanding is that <50,000 platelet count triggers some reservations about certain medical procedures and most doctors consider <30,000 to be a dangerous level. I believe that clotting is a multi-faceted mechanism that involves more than just platelet activation - you can have a below normal platelet count and yet still have a normal or near normal prothrombin time(clotting time). A count of 77,000 shouldn't be a problem. I would say that riding a motorcycle isn't a recklessly dangerous activity - any more so than is riding with a normal platelet count, that is. In fact, I rode with a significantly lower platelet count than your Husband's. But, I'm not considered a cautious man so that might not be a strong argument in favor of riding.

Mike

[FlGuy]

And then there's the rest of the story...

[mikesimon]

I thought I'd omit that part of the story and I had a normal platelet count by then anyway. Thanks for bringing back the fond memories FlGuy.
Mike

[dlr2007]

Mike- Sounds like a good story ;) ... my husband has never been a cautious man either. I'm not too sure I could stop him from riding anyway, but figured I'd at least find out how nervous I had to be sitting on the back- lol. About seeing the hepatologist sooner, I plan to call his office and get their opinion. If the liver doc wants to see Rick sooner, I will harass the PCP nonstop until he gives me the referral. Btw, you're right- Rick's PT time is normal. strange how that works, but a good thing.

Elaine- Good to hear from you! I saw that you went for a vacation a little while back. I hope it went well, but glad you're back :) . Yeah, Rick is careful on his bike- it's the other drivers I worry about! Hopefully his platelets will hold for awhile, at least until he treats. Then he might not feel like riding at all.
-Dee
  

[GoofyDad]

And then there's the rest of the story...

The Paul Harvey of the palm trees....

You still,have those dark beach glasses?
-------------------------------------------------------------

I did clear with cirrhosis, as have others here (in this thread in fact). But I would not wait till Januarry to get this SVR train rolling. Rick needs every advantage he can get.