Low platelet count - how low would make you worry

[hepcandme]

I recently had 2 surgeries - my platelet count the first time was 70 (early December) . This last time, a week ago, it was 59

During both procedures, my surgeon gave me platelets intravenously during the surgery so clearly she was concerned with the low number. I always think of normal as around 140 but is 59 Too low? Below 50?

Have people monitored platelet levels exclusively while on treatment? How do you tell if they are dropping? Do you feel or have symptoms of anemia?

I'm done with the surgeries, btw
Thank you to everyone for their support and thoughts

[dontworry_behappy1]

The person who posted this question has/had serious health problems. She
is looking for answers concerning her upcoming treatment and current status.
______________________________________

You are taking away from her thread that can help many people and I'm asking you to post where you can get the help you need.  "hepcanme" has
hepatitis C and recently cancer.   This is her thread.  

I will post this final response.  Below is your own statement concerning you
mother's health status.  Your mother's doctor seems to have been speechless that his longtime patient had Waldenstrom.   Before you continue to want to kill the messenger you really need to take the time to
read what Waldenstrom does to your body.   Your mother died from a massive stroke as a complication from her failing health.   She had Hepatitis C which also brings on addition health issues.  Your mother died
of Cancer which could have been the results of having Hepatitis C.
  
Your mother's doctor was aware of the extraheptic illnesses brought on by Hepatitis C.  You might want to look that up too.  Hepatitis C rarely kills....its the other stuff you can get as a result of having Hepatitis C.   I do understand your frustration.  But you mother would have still progressed to Waldenstrom in the natural process. Which would have contributed to her massive stroke that resulted in death.  The people posting on this forum are looking to treat there Hepatitis C and hope of a cure.  These current new medications are doing that.  I too have been cured of Hepatitis
C and reduced my chances of dying of liver cancer and a whole bunch of
blood related illnesses.  

Below is your own words

michniak  
Nov 09, 2014
To: Dbzc2
My Mom was on Solvadi/Olysio.  She was 80.  Her doctor put her on it in April.  She was in remission from Lymphoma.  6 weeks into treatment she got really sick. 12 weeks she was sicker and couldn't walk.  The doctors couldn't find out what was wrong.  We were hysterical going to doctors, blood test, bone marrows, scans, nothing was coming up.

End of July she collapsed at home and was hospitalized.  They found blood viscosity, her blood was thick, etc, etc.  She had plasmapheresis and platelet transfusion and was discharged.  She had weekly blood draws and had bi weekly platlet transfusions cause she could not keep her platelet count up. She was bleeding from her gums and nose all the time.  It was horrible.  She couldn't sleep, she needed a walker, she no longer drove.  When we look back at the summer now we realize she was not getting better, in fact she was dying :(

In October she was hospitalized again and needed plasmapherisis.  On October 6 she was diagnosed with Waldenstrom, a type of cancer.  She was so excited to finally have a diagnosis.

That same night, while still having the port in her neck for the plasmapheris, she had a massive stroke to her brainstem.  We all rushed to the hospital and were able to see her awake for a little while trying to talk, etc... she was aware of her right side being paralyzed, etc.. it was a nightmare.   She started to 'fall asleep' we thought but really she was losing consciousness.  

She died 10/13/14.

We are in a lot of pain and grieving and we have come to believe in hindsight that yes this medicine compromised her auto immune system so much that another form of cancer returned.  At 80 years old she never rebounded.  Prior to treatment she was an active and independent 80 year old.

We are heartbroken and mad.  Why that doctor put her on Solvadi and Olysio at 80yo we will never know.  I've been kicked off of forums telling my story.  Noone wants to hear the truth of my Mom.  I'm sorry we don't have a positive experience to share, but perhaps when I was desperate looking for answers on the forums and saw a story like Mom, we would have had more information and could have saved our Mom.

These drugs are not to be messed around with.  I'm so glad to hear what your sister wrote about the auto immune being compromised.. it gives us validation that this in fact happened to our Mom.

Thank you.

Please post on the Post Hepatitis C Forum if you wish to continue

Here is a link to your thread.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C-Post-Treatment-Issues/Post-SO-since-June-27th-and-all-is-not-so-great/show/2296388

You might also what to post on the below referenced link


http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Grief--Loss/show/12

[michniak]

the reason I posted on this was because my mother's condition was sever, due to her low platlets.  I never knew anything about this until she got sick, and this ultimately was the reason for her fatal stroke.  low platlets = thick blood = stroke potential.  that's why I am here... to help others, so no one has to live through what we did with our mom.

not here to cause problems.. not here to blame... her to help.  i'm hoping in my story that can be achieved.

[michniak]

no one knows for sure what caused her illness after taking Solvadi / Olysio.  All we know is that as of January 2014, her lymphoma was in full remission, and we were never told she had sever cirrohosis.  Her hep doctor put her on Solvadi / Olysio and not really looking into it, we just trusted him and said sure.  Biggest mistake of our life.

I

[Dee1956]

Thanks for the reminder that there is a difference between anemia and low platelets. I often forget. :)

[Dee1956]

Linda the good thing about treating is they will keep a close eye on your platelets while you treat. Mine were tested every week while on Incivek.
Lynn I am so happy to hear you platelets are so close to normal for the first time in years. Despite being on tx you are doing great!  You go girl :
Mic . I would like to express my sorrow to you again over losing your Mom. I am so sorry.  I still remember the woman that came on here to say she lost her husband during Incivek.  It was a shock

[AugustineMama]

I have pretty low platelets and eventually though I probably have cured the hepC as I was 12-week EOT UND my platelets continue to go down; at 85 now and I also have enlarged spleen. I was told this goes hand-in-hand with stage 4 cirrhosis also which is where I am at . Too early for transplant, but just hoping something kicks in and liver bounces back some, even though they are not very assuring that it will. I will still hope though.