joe2037
11-08-2004, 12:44 PM
About a month ago I had neck pain that felt like a stiff neck on the back right side, headaches, right eyelid twitches, fatigue, and anxiety. I went to the doctor last week. I thought this was related to a brain tumor, lyme disease, thyroid problem, or anxiety due to research on the net, so he sent me to get my eyes checked and to get some blood drawn. The eye doctor determined that there was nothing wrong with my eyes and even checked for bleeding but found nothing. I also went the same day to get bloodwork done and the results came back today. Everything was normal but there was one part of the test (platelete count I think) that said due to platelette clumping, they couldn't run the blood through. Now I have to re-take the test to see if there is a problem. I also have to see the Nurologist on Nov. 30. Does anyone have any ideas to waht this could be or if the clumping is normal? I still have all these symptoms!
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mel1977
11-09-2004, 03:01 AM
could be related to a disc. I have extreme fatigue, pain, and headaches and have a bulge in my neck as well as arthritis and a pinched nerve. Seeing a specialist is a good thing, you are already on the right track. Good luck and I wouldn't worry too much about the blood. You know I believe muscle twitches in the eye and other areas of the body are due to muscle fatigue-good luck-if it is a back or neck issue, there is a board on this site just for that. We welcome you to come visit!
ticker
11-09-2004, 10:26 PM
Hi joe2037. I am sorry you have been feeling crummy, I know it is frustrating. Please be aware that no Lyme test is completely reliable. Do you know which test was done? It is my understanding that the titer or ELISA is the least relaible and the one that most doctors run first.
The symptoms you describe can be from Lyme disease. When Lyme is a possiblity, it is very important to see a knowledgeable doctor. Many doctors do not understand Lyme and treat with outdated protocols. Besides Lyme, ticks can transmit several co-infections. It is important to be tested for these also. If you tell me which state you are located in, I will give you the name of the closest doctor to you that I know of.
For more information on Lyme and tickborne illnesses, see the "Lyme Disease Information" post on the Lyme disease board at this site.
Good luck.
The symptoms you describe can be from Lyme disease. When Lyme is a possiblity, it is very important to see a knowledgeable doctor. Many doctors do not understand Lyme and treat with outdated protocols. Besides Lyme, ticks can transmit several co-infections. It is important to be tested for these also. If you tell me which state you are located in, I will give you the name of the closest doctor to you that I know of.
For more information on Lyme and tickborne illnesses, see the "Lyme Disease Information" post on the Lyme disease board at this site.
Good luck.
joe2037
11-17-2004, 06:48 PM
Thanks for all your help. I live in NJ. I re-tested and still am having a platelet clumping problem. Now my doc wants to give me a referal to the blood doctor. I also went to a Nurologist on 11/12/04 and he did something like a sobriety test and told me that he didn't think it was a tumor. He did send me for the MRI because I told him that I still wanted it so I also took an open MRI on Friday.
joe2037
11-18-2004, 02:11 PM
The MRI results also came back normal so now I'm going to a hemotologist (I think that's how you spell it) to check my blood further.
ticker
11-19-2004, 10:02 AM
Hi Joe2037. There is an excellent Lyme doctor in Jackson, NJ: Dr. Emilia Eiras. I suggest you consider Lyme as a possibility. I have Lyme and have had the symptoms you describe.
Keep searching, you will find out what is wrong. Good luck.
Keep searching, you will find out what is wrong. Good luck.
joe2037
12-04-2004, 03:17 AM
I went to the hemotologist and they told me that yes my blood is clumping but that it was from the test tubes that they used. He said that there was a chemical in the tube that prevents the platelettes from clotting, but in my case, they don't react with the chemical so they end up clotting anyway. I don't really understand this answer. Should I get a second opinion? :confused:
kmtvon
12-04-2004, 12:39 PM
I went to the hemotologist and they told me that yes my blood is clumping but that it was from the test tubes that they used. He said that there was a chemical in the tube that prevents the platelettes from clotting, but in my case, they don't react with the chemical so they end up clotting anyway. I don't really understand this answer. Should I get a second opinion? :confused:
I did my extern at a hematologist, so I can think I can help with that just a bit. When blood is drawn, they use different tubes (with different color tops) to draw the blood depending on what they are testing for. Some tubes have certain chemicals that prevent them from clotting, and if your blood doesn't react with the chemical in the tube, the blood will clot. Usually if that happens with a patient, they will ask for a re draw to be absolutely sure it wasn't just operator error (when drawing the specimen). I don't know if that happened in your case, but if you are in doubt (at all), by all means, get a second opinion.
I did my extern at a hematologist, so I can think I can help with that just a bit. When blood is drawn, they use different tubes (with different color tops) to draw the blood depending on what they are testing for. Some tubes have certain chemicals that prevent them from clotting, and if your blood doesn't react with the chemical in the tube, the blood will clot. Usually if that happens with a patient, they will ask for a re draw to be absolutely sure it wasn't just operator error (when drawing the specimen). I don't know if that happened in your case, but if you are in doubt (at all), by all means, get a second opinion.
joe2037
12-07-2004, 06:14 PM
Yes that must be what happened, so that shows that it's a reaction between the tube and the blood but shouldn't they give a different type of test to count the platelettes? In my opinion, all they found out was that there was an error in this test that doesn't let us see the results.
kmtvon
12-10-2004, 11:58 PM
Yes that must be what happened, so that shows that it's a reaction between the tube and the blood but shouldn't they give a different type of test to count the platelettes? In my opinion, all they found out was that there was an error in this test that doesn't let us see the results.
Yes, they should. If there was an error in the test, that whole blood draw is invalid and they need to do another draw and test it again. Ask your doctor about that, and if they know what they are doing, they will ask for a re draw and test for other things as well. Hope that helps you just a bit.
Yes, they should. If there was an error in the test, that whole blood draw is invalid and they need to do another draw and test it again. Ask your doctor about that, and if they know what they are doing, they will ask for a re draw and test for other things as well. Hope that helps you just a bit.