Hello again and rollercoasters!

Hello again! I'm Liam's mom and he's had chronic itp since he was 9 1/2 -- for nearly 5 years (lucky us). He's been managing pretty well on dexamethasone but he's slipped down recently to between 50 and 80k. He wants to go to Universal Studios this week with a friend and I told him I would check to see if anybody knows the minimum for roller coaster riding? I swear I used to know this but have forgotten. Of course, if you ask me, he should have 5 million platelets before he gets out of bed in the morning but that's just mom worrying. What have your doctors told you?
Thanks, Nan

Hi Nan

I've asked this question myself of several doctors on behalf of my asymptomatic 12 year old son! It goes without saying that I've had several different answers ranging up to about 80K, but the best (lowest) was 30K from a really experienced haematologist at Manchester Childrens Hospital. We got a count the day before we were planning to go, and, from memory, I think it was 41K. All was fine. Hope Liam has a great time.

Ali

Our hematologist says 80K for ITP kids to ride rollercoasters and other spinny rides.
Norma

As I always say, if you ask 4 different hematologist about ITP, you will get 10 different answers. That is not a knock on Doctors, it is just what ITP is. In our case, our Doctor has less worries about bleeding problems at a count over 50k, but is very comfortable at 100k. Just another Doctor's opinion.

Good Luck,

JJ