High Platelet Count

[bdonahue7]

Hey all, My Dr. just emailed me saying my platelet count is steadily going up and she wants to run more tests. Has anyone had this happen while being treated for lyme, Bart and babs? Feeling kind of scared that this may have something to do with my heart or..... I sure as heck don't need something else to add to my list:(

[bdonahue7]

Thanks Jackie and Cave76,
I will ask the Dr. about having a d-dimer blood test. Once again my Dr. sent this email at 5:30pm on friday. She asked me a few questions which I promptly replied, but it looks like no answer till Monday. Oh well other than the friday night emails I do think she's a good Dr.
Thanks again, and enjoy the holidays!

[cave76]

I'm offering this, not as a diagnosis but as a heads-up. And I'm only doing this because I had pulmonary embolisms, caused by blood clots------ so it's just something to ask your doctor about.

Ask your doctor if s/he is planning on  having a d-dimer test done. A d-dimer blood test isn't an infallible test but it's a good start on looking for clots that just might break free and travel to the lungs or heart.

If there's any doubt in your doctor's mind then s/he might perform an ultrasound on the legs, the most common place for clots to form, but NOT the only.

Since being in the pulmonary embolism club :( I'm amazed at how many doctors miss this big problem!

It may (most likely?) have nothing to do with your higher platelet counts----- but it's really easy to rule out. Please ask your doctor about this.

As far as it being connected to Lyme? I don't know. I do know that Lyme does some really crazy things to our bodies.

[JackieCalifornia]

I'm no expert in this area, but don't be frightened.  It's good the doc is keeping a lookout generally, and is willing to chase things down to see if anything needs more attention.  

Platelets are the tiny little bits in your blood that help it clot, and platelet counts can be depressed in some illnesses, leading to bruising.  In other situations, more platelets can be produced for various reasons.  It's good that your doc is looking into the situation, but don't freak out yet, okay?  It may well just be your immune system's reaction to what your body is going through fighting Lyme, bartonella and babesia.  

Someone in my family had the opposite when young (and had too few platelets), but it sorted itself out and all is well.

Try to just put it to one side in your mind till your doc has more data, okay?  It doesn't necessarily mean something bad is happening, from what I have read.  Keep us posted, okay?  And take care.