Diagnosed with Thrombocytopenia

[bruin]

Have always had an off and on again history with being anemic, never any symptoms related.Now the numbers h ave dropped into the level of Thrombocytopenia. multiple test and scans, no cancer, they want to perform a marrow biopsy which is something that I would rather not go for at this point in time.

Do not exhibit any symptoms associated with this dx, is there something I should be attempting to do outside of the regular Dr. visits and testing?

 

[sammmy]

COVID and the COVID vaccines can cause thrombocytopenia, in some cases fatal.

You should should not neglect it - it can be fatal and may be caused from infections to leukemia. The earlier they find the cause and give you some treatment, the better for you.

Not having symptoms now does not mean it is safe to neglect it.

 

[sammmy]

Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) - Symptoms and causes

 

[Nelson Vergel]

I don't know if this would help:

Low Platelets, how to increase them?

I always had low platelets, low normal, but my last BW showed lower than normal. is there a way to increase platelets without drugs?

www.excelmale.com

 

[Nelson Vergel]

Have always had an off and on again history with being anemic, never any symptoms related.Now the numbers h ave dropped into the level of Thrombocytopenia. multiple test and scans, no cancer, they want to perform a marrow biopsy which is something that I would rather not go for at this point in time.

Are you on TRT?

Have you been tested for auto-immune disorders?

What medications and over the counter supplements/meds are you taking?

 

[Cataceous]

My situation is similar. Except for times I've been on higher doses of testosterone my platelet counts run 120-150 x10^3/uL, which technically might be considered thrombocytopenia. However, Wikipedia notes "Values outside [of 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood] do not necessarily indicate disease. One common definition of thrombocytopenia requiring emergency treatment is a platelet count below 50,000 per microliter.

At one time, maybe 10+ years ago, I was referred to a specialist who wanted to do a marrow biopsy. But I was and am still asymptomatic, so I ignored him. Not advising you one way or the other, just my experience.

 

[FunkOdyssey]

My situation is similar. Except for times I've been on higher doses of testosterone my platelet counts run 120-150 x10^3/uL, which technically might be considered thrombocytopenia.

I've had a mildly low (120-140) platelet count also for my entire life. There have been occasions after taking antibiotics where my platelet count would briefly rise into the normal range which I thought was significant and interesting.

My mother suffers from sjogren's syndrome and fibromyalgia and also had the same low platelet count until she started taking prednisone regularly.

 

[sammmy]

I've had a mildly low (120-140) platelet count also for my entire life. There have been occasions after taking antibiotics where my platelet count would briefly rise into the normal range which I thought was significant and interesting.

My mother suffers from sjogren's syndrome and fibromyalgia and also had the same low platelet count until she started taking prednisone regularly.

Platelets can be low if they are destroyed due to immune system activation by infection or auto-immunity.

Since yours rise after antibiotics, this is suggestive of some subclinical infection going on that is temporarily suppressed by the antibiotics: Immune thrombocytopenia and antibiotics.

In your mom's case it is autoimmunity. The cause of autoimmunity is not currently known in most cases of fibromyalgia but it is suspected either a past infection triggering it, or a persistent subclinical infection.

 

[FunkOdyssey]

Platelets can be low if they are destroyed due to immune system activation by infection or auto-immunity.

Since yours rise after antibiotics, this is suggestive of some subclinical infection going on that is temporarily suppressed by the antibiotics: Immune thrombocytopenia and antibiotics.

In your mom's case it is autoimmunity. The cause of autoimmunity is not currently known in most cases of fibromyalgia but it is suspected either a past infection triggering it, or a persistent subclinical infection.

My theory has been that there is some noxious element of my microbiome that causes the platelet destruction, whether it's via molecular mimicry or some other mechanism. There is an association between h. pylori and thrombocytopenia, and case reports where h. pylori eradication resolved the low platelets. I've been tested for h. pylori and don't have it, but other microorganisms can probably have the same effect.

 

[ajax31]

If you guys need an A+ platelet donation, just ask. I’ve got plenty for everyone.

My phone is blown up with dozens of texts and voicemails from the local blood bank.

 

[Systemlord]

My phone is blown up with dozens of texts and voicemails from the local blood bank.

Same here. I always view those texts as an attempt to scam me.

 

[bruin]

COVID and the COVID vaccines can cause thrombocytopenia, in some cases fatal.

You should should not neglect it - it can be fatal and may be caused from infections to leukemia. The earlier they find the cause and give you some treatment, the better for you.

Not having symptoms now does not mean it is safe to neglect it.

My primary, a hemotologist oncologist, put me through scans and x rays and came up with nothing, except there is a cloudy segment in one lung, so today the operative questions is if I had COVID. Did not have COVID but a very severe case of H1N1, which is what they subsequently said was the result of the xray.

Treatment? was not suggested and treatment protocol, just an additional test of a bone marrow biopsy. Which the new primary said is not warranted.

 

[bruin]

My situation is similar. Except for times I've been on higher doses of testosterone my platelet counts run 120-150 x10^3/uL, which technically might be considered thrombocytopenia. However, Wikipedia notes "Values outside [of 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood] do not necessarily indicate disease. One common definition of thrombocytopenia requiring emergency treatment is a platelet count below 50,000 per microliter.

At one time, maybe 10+ years ago, I was referred to a specialist who wanted to do a marrow biopsy. But I was and am still asymptomatic, so I ignored him. Not advising you one way or the other, just my experience.

I had ultimately the same comment that the next step was a bone marrow biopsy at which time I asked what would it actually mean, we already know this is at some level a bone marrow insufficiency?

 

[bruin]

Are you on TRT?

Have you been tested for auto-immune disorders?

What medications and over the counter supplements/meds are you taking?

I am on TRT, past 15 yrs, absolutely great regimen, ZERO side affects.

I have AIDS dx, undetectable
Truvada, Nevirapene

I take Zinc, C, folate, saw palmetto, niacin, doxasin
pre workout creatinine

 

[jdthoosier]

I was first diagnosed with this condition about 28 years ago when I was referred to an oncologist. He performed a bone marrow biopsy that came back clean. The oncologist then looked at my prior medical records and said it's been going on for at least 15 years before I came to him. So now I've had this condition for at least 40 years and still asymptomatic. I've been back to an oncologist sporadically over the past 10 years but it's been basically a waste of time - nothing new.

 

[sammmy]

What are your current WBC, Lymphocytes, Neutrophils, CD4, RBC?

 

[tareload]

120-150 x10^3/uL, which technically might be considered thrombocytopenia. However, Wikipedia notes "Values outside [of 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood] do not necessarily indicate disease. One common definition of thrombocytopenia requiring emergency treatment is a platelet count below 50,000 per microliter.

At one time, maybe 10+ years ago, I was referred to a specialist who wanted to do a marrow biopsy. But I was and am still asymptomatic, so I ignored him. Not advising you one way or the other, just my experience

Same here
Hashimotos and some other autoimmune stuff. No concern from hematologist.

 

[jdthoosier]

What are your current WBC, Lymphocytes, Neutrophils, CD4, RBC?

Not sure who you are asking, but for me:

WBC - 4.0 (this is high for me - almost always between 3.4 and 3.7)
RBC - 5.72
Platelets - 124 (fluctuates between 100 to 125, I was low as 72 years ago).
Neutrophils (absolute) - 2.4
Lymphs (absolute) - 1.1

I'm not sure what CD4 is.

 

[sammmy]

Your Lymphocytes and platelets are low, but my question was to bruin.

 

[bruin]

What are your current WBC, Lymphocytes, Neutrophils, CD4, RBC?

CBC (INCLUDES DIFF/PLT)​

NAME VALUE REFERENCE RANGE LAB F WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT 4.5 3.8-10.8 (Thousand/uL) EN F RED BLOOD CELL COUNT 5.01 4.20-5.80 (Million/uL) EN F HEMOGLOBIN 17.1 13.2-17.1 (g/dL) EN F HEMATOCRIT 49.8 38.5-50.0 (%) EN F MCV 99.4 80.0-100.0 (fL) EN F MCH 34.1 H 27.0-33.0 (pg) EN F MCHC 34.3 32.0-36.0 (g/dL) EN F RDW 12.8 11.0-15.0 (%) EN F PLATELET COUNT 66 L 140-400 (Thousand/uL) EN F MPV 12.8 H 7.5-12.5 (fL) EN F ABSOLUTE NEUTROPHILS 2133 1500-7800 (cells/uL) EN F ABSOLUTE LYMPHOCYTES 1931 850-3900 (cells/uL) EN F ABSOLUTE MONOCYTES 365 200-950 (cells/uL) EN F ABSOLUTE EOSINOPHILS 32 15-500 (cells/uL) EN F ABSOLUTE BASOPHILS 41 0-200 (cells/uL) EN F NEUTROPHILS 47.4 (%) EN F LYMPHOCYTES 42.9 (%) EN F MONOCYTES 8.1 (%) EN F EOSINOPHILS 0.7 (%) EN F BASOPHILS 0.9 (%) EN F COMMENT(S) Review of the peripheral smear reveals decreased numbers of platelets. EN   - Review of peripheral smear confirms         - automated results.