8.02.2010

The case of the disappearing platelets

Oh dear!
I had my weekly blood test today.
And guess what?


Only 12,000 platelets! (Normal is 150,000 to 400,000)

:(


I'm pretty mad.
Really mad!
I could NOT feel it at all! I thought I had tons of platelets this week!

I did get 3 new bruises yesterday, so that was a small hint.
But otherwise, no symptoms this time.
They went all the way from 146,000 to 12,000 in one week!

At first, the nurse said: "You'll need to come in for a bag or two of platelets this afternoon so we can get you into a safe range (the safe range is above 30,000)." But then she talked to the doctor, and the doctor told her the full background story about how the unit of platelets in the ER didn't work and it probably wouldn't work today. So instead, I get more Prednisone. Whoo-hoo.


ARG! I wanted to be off of the steroids ASAP.
I don't like them. And they aren't even really working. They just cover up whatever is making my immune system so nutty.

So that's the APU (annoying platelet update).

I'm just supposed to be extra careful not to get any kind of injury since platelets have the special responsibility of making the blood stick together. Without platelets, the blood doesn't have a way to stop coming out. Thankfully, I have a list of phone numbers I can call if I have questions. I'll have more bloodwork later this week and the docs will keep updating the plan. The nurse said it is safe to keep living a normal life - well, relatively normal, just super cautious. So that's good.

Okay, sure; no problem. I'll just skip my usual Monday rock climbing lesson and my dirt bike class later today. And this evening, I'll just hold off on my scheduled sky diving trip. And no monster truck racing until AT LEAST next week. :) Careful Girl, it is.

This is all so odd. I feel healthy.

I am healthy, I am healthy, I am healthy.

Previous Platelet Updates:

"Now that was a weird day."

"Well Darn"

"Silly Hospital Pics"

"Go Platelets!!!!!"


"The Plates"

Okay, Emily Anne. Back to work. Positive thinking, positive thinking.
There are lots of other issues and concerns and joys and people to think about.
Thanks for reading!

Time for my favorite quote:
"All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well." - Julian of Norwich

8 comments:

  1. Sorry your platelets aren't behaving themselves...hope you are back to normal soon! Sending good thoughts your way.

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  2. oh Emily! this is so scary! just read through all your plate posts. will be praying and checking back for more news! love you, friend!

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  3. My middle name is "Anne with an E" too!
    Praying for platelets!

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  4. Geepers! Darn platelets! I'm praying for you and I hope they figure out what is going on!

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  5. Thank you so much for the thoughtful comments! :) I really appreciate it!

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  6. My middle name is "Anne with an E" too!
    Praying for platelets!

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  7. oh Emily! this is so scary! just read through all your plate posts. will be praying and checking back for more news! love you, friend!

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  8. Geepers! Darn platelets! I'm praying for you and I hope they figure out what is going on!

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