Hi everyone. I am just starting out with finding out I have...according to the dr....a high platelet count of 442. She said back in 1999, it was 420 and it was reccommended that I meet with hematology but that message never it to me so I never met with them. Now it is 442 and I have an appointment with them on the 13th. I am also going for another platelet count tomorrow.

My question is, I have been taking 2 excedrin migraines a day for about 6 months to a year. Each excedrin has 250 mg of apirin and I take 2, and sometimes I take another pill later in the day if headache is still hanging around. So I take atleast 500, sometimes 750 mg of aspirin a day. If aspirin thins the blood, my 442 count is probably higher if I wasnt taking this aspirin, right?

Asprin acts as an antiplatelet drug or anticoagulant. It does not decrease the number of platelets, but their ability to "stick" to each other. This in turn reduces the chance of blood clots in patients who have a high risk for this occuring.

A platelet level between 420 - 450 is slightly elevated, but not HUGE. I think your doctor is referring you to a hemotologist just to be on the safe side, due to you are consistantly running on a higher count. Platelets are fragile cells, and flexuate the most. But you have pulled slightly elevated counts 2 separate times and a consult is in order. I would be concerned, but not overly. But still follow up with a consult to be on the safe side.

sorry amy, aspirin has nothing to do with the platelet number, it simply keeps the blood flowing better if you have high platelet count. your numbers are not too high, actually they are at the high end of normal, but i have seen my counts swing from 388 to over a million the last 6 years....no reason.. except I believe when there is an infection or inflamation of some sort going on. Good luck, hopefully yours will stay low!

I have recently learned that the platelet counts go up with anemia also. When the anemia is resolved they go down again. FLFLOWERIRL:)