Ok, why is my platelets sometimes in the low normal range and sometimes below normal? This is very frustrating. The lowest they have ever been is 115,000. 4 days later I had them rechecked and it was 142,000. Last year at this same time of the year they were 173,000. Yesterday I had them checked and they were 130,000. It's been like this for a very long time. Up and down.
Platelet counts aren't static. They normally do fluctuate as much as that.
If you feel otherwise healthy, a low-normal count is probably just your normal and nothing to worry about.
Counts don't become dangerously low until they dip to below 30K.
__________________ "We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses." Abraham Lincoln
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You may have what is called ITP, which can be chronic, or acute. Acute ITP is severe, where your levels drop suddenly in 1 day and cause bleeding ulcers on legs, arms, etc.
Chronic ITP is where your platelets always may be a little below normal, but don't dip severely low, such as below 100,000. I've been told that this is just my normal. I fluctuate also, but not drastically. I do note a correlation between my platelet levels and eating regular healthy meals, and when I eat at irregular times lots of junk food. I was told by my hematologist to not wait too long to eat between meals, and to watch what I eat. Also they can dip with a lot of stress and when your immune system is low. Your levels don't sound that bad, but you should have this documented with a hematologist or your regular doctor, because then, if you ever need surgery, they will be more careful about cutting you, and for planned surgeries you can ask for safe non-blood products such as erythopoiton, which builds your blood naturally. There are many options available, you just need to ask and have a plan.
Best wishes, K.
I don't eat healthy, that much is for sure. I lost over 20 lbs but not the healthy way. Stress?? Oh yeah I have lots of that as well
Quote:
Originally Posted by kanded
You may have what is called ITP, which can be chronic, or acute. Acute ITP is severe, where your levels drop suddenly in 1 day and cause bleeding ulcers on legs, arms, etc.
Chronic ITP is where your platelets always may be a little below normal, but don't dip severely low, such as below 100,000. I've been told that this is just my normal. I fluctuate also, but not drastically. I do note a correlation between my platelet levels and eating regular healthy meals, and when I eat at irregular times lots of junk food. I was told by my hematologist to not wait too long to eat between meals, and to watch what I eat. Also they can dip with a lot of stress and when your immune system is low. Your levels don't sound that bad, but you should have this documented with a hematologist or your regular doctor, because then, if you ever need surgery, they will be more careful about cutting you, and for planned surgeries you can ask for safe non-blood products such as erythopoiton, which builds your blood naturally. There are many options available, you just need to ask and have a plan.
Best wishes, K.
I don't eat healthy, that much is for sure. I lost over 20 lbs but not the healthy way. Stress?? Oh yeah I have lots of that as well
I was also recently diagnosed with low platelet count. A month ago it was 131,000, then this week it was 118,000. Doc is sending me to a hematologist, i made the appointment for January. All the other bloods, including Hemoglobin, RBC and WBC and a zillion other tests he took, were totally normal.
I was a little freaked out about it (no, a lot freaked out), so i did some internet research on it last night, and found a number of documents that confirm that niacin is known to lower platelets. I am on 2000 mg a day of Niaspan, a prescription strength niacin, so I am wondering if i should talk to doc about cutting down. And if he should have know that.
This time my doctor used a different lab and they were even lower. LOL I think I like the other lab better. This time they came in at 121,000 with normal being 130,000. I am sick of going to doctors.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pratoman
I was also recently diagnosed with low platelet count. A month ago it was 131,000, then this week it was 118,000. Doc is sending me to a hematologist, i made the appointment for January. All the other bloods, including Hemoglobin, RBC and WBC and a zillion other tests he took, were totally normal.
I was a little freaked out about it (no, a lot freaked out), so i did some internet research on it last night, and found a number of documents that confirm that niacin is known to lower platelets. I am on 2000 mg a day of Niaspan, a prescription strength niacin, so I am wondering if i should talk to doc about cutting down. And if he should have know that.
Do you drink alcohol? It can lower your platelet count. I think your numbers look okay. If you do drink try not to drink for nine days before you go for tests. Good luck!
Do you drink alcohol? It can lower your platelet count. I think your numbers look okay. If you do drink try not to drink for nine days before you go for tests. Good luck!
I just got my test results back and my platelets are at 92! After reading this I'm afraid of what might be going on.. I called my primary doctor and she said that is was nothing to worries about. I think I need a second opinion so if you have found out anything about this please let me know.
Hi:
If you are under a lot of stress, have poor eating habits or are pregnant, those can all be contributing factors to low platelets. You probably should go to a hematologist who is a blood specialist and is better informed of what your numbers mean than a regular doctor. Depending on your insurance you may need a referral from your regular doctor. if your doctor won't refer you, then you may need to go to a different doctor. Usually platelets should be between 130,000-200,000 at least. They may occasionally dip due to certain factors, but they shouldn't stay that low. Your doctor should have at the very least said he would recheck your platelets in a few months.
If you have chronic ITP, they may stay low, but there are things you can do to boost your levels. Basically it means taking better care of yourself.
K.
I had two visits with the hematologist. He took different types of platelet tests. Said something about sometimes platelets stick together and 2 or three get counted as one by the machine.
Mostly the tests were all low normal, a few tests were just below normal.
He said nothing to worry about, might have chronic ITP, so just recheck in 3-4 months (which is next month)
Ok, why is my platelets sometimes in the low normal range and sometimes below normal? This is very frustrating. The lowest they have ever been is 115,000. 4 days later I had them rechecked and it was 142,000. Last year at this same time of the year they were 173,000. Yesterday I had them checked and they were 130,000. It's been like this for a very long time. Up and down.
Doctors will not treat until they are under 50k, my last count was 83k and I have I.T.P.
My lowest count was 7k and that was April 2012 and the highest its been was 105k. Had 8 rounds of Chemo topped out at 105k and its been going down from there. I don't have to go back to the Oncologist until it drops below 50k.
