Aa
Low platelet count - how low would make you worry
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
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
I believe low hemoglobin is anemia while low platelets is called thrombocytopenia.
My platelet count runs about 80 -90 due to my cirrhosis and portal vein hypertension which all result in an enlarges spleen due to the sequestration of platelets
from web md
If you have thrombocytopenia, try to:
Avoid activities that could cause injury. Ask your doctor which activities are safe for you. Contact sports, such as boxing and football, carry a high risk of injury. Other sports that your doctor may ask you to refrain from include horseback riding and downhill skiing.
Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. Alcohol slows the production of platelets in your body. Ask your doctor whether it's OK for you to drink alcohol.
Use caution with over-the-counter medications. Over-the-counter pain medications that can affect your platelet function include aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others).
also found this it is about thrombocytopenia induced by chemo but it looks like it has some good info
http://www.oncolink.org/treatment/article.cfm?c=145&id=69
"A normal platelet counts ranges from 150,000 - 400,000 per mm3 of blood. While receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy, your platelet count may drop. Your platelet count will be checked throughout the course of your treatments. Any time your platelet count drops below 50,000 per mm3 you are considered to be at increased risk for bleeding. If your platelet count drops below 10,000 per mm3, you may require a transfusion of platelets."
about Zantac: Ranitidine-induced thrombocytopenia: A rare drug reaction.
Drugs that can affect plate count:
There are several drugs that can affect the results of platelet function tests. Some of these include:
Aspirin and aspirin-containing compounds (salicylates)
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and any over-the-counter medications that contain NSAIDs
Tricyclic antidepressants
Antihistamines
Some antibiotics
My platelet count runs about 80 -90 due to my cirrhosis and portal vein hypertension which all result in an enlarges spleen due to the sequestration of platelets
from web md
If you have thrombocytopenia, try to:
Avoid activities that could cause injury. Ask your doctor which activities are safe for you. Contact sports, such as boxing and football, carry a high risk of injury. Other sports that your doctor may ask you to refrain from include horseback riding and downhill skiing.
Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. Alcohol slows the production of platelets in your body. Ask your doctor whether it's OK for you to drink alcohol.
Use caution with over-the-counter medications. Over-the-counter pain medications that can affect your platelet function include aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others).
also found this it is about thrombocytopenia induced by chemo but it looks like it has some good info
http://www.oncolink.org/treatment/article.cfm?c=145&id=69
"A normal platelet counts ranges from 150,000 - 400,000 per mm3 of blood. While receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy, your platelet count may drop. Your platelet count will be checked throughout the course of your treatments. Any time your platelet count drops below 50,000 per mm3 you are considered to be at increased risk for bleeding. If your platelet count drops below 10,000 per mm3, you may require a transfusion of platelets."
about Zantac: Ranitidine-induced thrombocytopenia: A rare drug reaction.
Drugs that can affect plate count:
There are several drugs that can affect the results of platelet function tests. Some of these include:
Aspirin and aspirin-containing compounds (salicylates)
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and any over-the-counter medications that contain NSAIDs
Tricyclic antidepressants
Antihistamines
Some antibiotics
As cirrhosis increases, you become more anemic and the platelets go down. Normal is 150. As can-do said, bleeding after an injury can be serious. You also have to watch for esophageal bleeding.
Spontaneous bleeding can happen if your platelets are very low. So I once asked one of the hepatologists how low do platelets have to be to spontaneously bleed and whether he'd seen somebody spontaneously bleed. He said around 10 or 15 and he had seen a few patients spontaneously bleed but they were very ill people who were in the hospital at the time.
Some medications can lower platelets. For example Zantac which is an anti acid med can lower platelets. So check to see if any of the meds you take can lower platelets.
Also, H.Pylori infection can cause low platelets.
Co
Spontaneous bleeding can happen if your platelets are very low. So I once asked one of the hepatologists how low do platelets have to be to spontaneously bleed and whether he'd seen somebody spontaneously bleed. He said around 10 or 15 and he had seen a few patients spontaneously bleed but they were very ill people who were in the hospital at the time.
Some medications can lower platelets. For example Zantac which is an anti acid med can lower platelets. So check to see if any of the meds you take can lower platelets.
Also, H.Pylori infection can cause low platelets.
Co
But is one in any danger when it gets below 50?
And, are there indications besides blood tests that platelets are getting lower?
And, are there indications besides blood tests that platelets are getting lower?
Hey there, when I was first diagnosed with HCV it was brought to my doctors attention by my platelets being low at 67, I also had odd shaped red blood cells. She sent me to a blood specialist who dx me with HCV.
At the time I was taking a lot of Advil for a torn tendon. I stopped the advil, aspirin and my platelets went up. At the time they had to be at least 100 to start a HCV trial. I got that high. Once I was SVR my platelets came up to within normal limits. During tx they can go as low as 50 before they think about stopping tx. Some specialists will let it go even lower.
At the time I was taking a lot of Advil for a torn tendon. I stopped the advil, aspirin and my platelets went up. At the time they had to be at least 100 to start a HCV trial. I got that high. Once I was SVR my platelets came up to within normal limits. During tx they can go as low as 50 before they think about stopping tx. Some specialists will let it go even lower.
hmmm
Clearly I need to do some research about low platelets. The good news is that I never seem have a difficult time with blood clotting despite what one would expect from my MELD scores
I am cirrhotic as well
Clearly I need to do some research about low platelets. The good news is that I never seem have a difficult time with blood clotting despite what one would expect from my MELD scores
I am cirrhotic as well
Low Platelets on treatment is caused if one is taking Interferon. Low platelets and anemia our two different things. Anemia is mainly due to Riba and no there are no symptoms of low platelets as their is when one is anemic. And yes yours are very low. Mine run around 60 due to being cirrhotic. Could there be a problem only if one would have an accident where there is a lot of bleeding. Always make sure even if you go to the dentist they are aware of your low platelet level.
As for anything one can do to raise them not really. Once treatment is over and there is healing it could be possible they will go up. Good luck
As for anything one can do to raise them not really. Once treatment is over and there is healing it could be possible they will go up. Good luck
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community
Learn about this treatable virus.
Getting tested for this viral infection.
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
4 steps to getting on therapy.
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
How the drugs might affect you.
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
