Platelets and Alcohol

Hello all,

Well I am new here. I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease almost two years ago and I have a question or two since the doctor man does a heckuva blood workup every 4 months...well now every 6 months.

I was reading this thread because my celiac doctor (in the hematology/gastroenterology dept) seemed to be telling me there were "two separate issues" back in January this year: my positive Celiac numbers (which are now negative and not an issue) and my blood numbers (which creeped up enough into normal I guess to satisfy him). In general the platelet count in my blood work seems to hover around the "low normal" at 149-153 (in thousands). Back in January, at 149,000, he was a bit concerned, but at 153,000 (just a month ago) he seemed pleased, but I hadn't had a drink for six months. I saw a test last year that had platelets at 211,000, but that seemed like a one-time spike. Otherwise, since late 2010 when all the celiac stuff started my platelet count has hovered at bottom of that low normal range.

Not really educated on the blood work, I noticed my PT tests, whatever those are, always hover around the "high normal." In my head I combine this with the "low normal" platelet count I mentioned above and wonder if he's not watching something but not saying anything right now.

So my MPV is 12.8 (a hair over high avg) and my WBC is low normal (4.66). The WBC has improved a bit this last workup and doesn't have that "verified" notice under it.

I guess my question is can someone's blood work hover with all these different things around some readings "high normal" and other things "low normal" at the same time without real concern? My primary care doctor considered ALL the blood work normal even with the platelet count at 149,000 but did wonder I think why the specialist was getting the PT Sec/INR tests (I'm high normal in both those but those haven't changed in the two years I've been monitored since the Celiac).

I had been a drinker my whole life, I would say honestly on the "high moderate" side and I'm 46 now. Beer or light beer, never liked wine or hard liquor. Played in bands, the whole nine yards. Is there something in my blood work you guys see that I'm not aware of yet? I have cut WAY back this year (stopped for six months to see if the blood work would improve and it did) but would sure like to have three or four ciders if I go out.

There also might be blood things going on because I'm recovering from (or just because I have) Celiac now that I don't understand yet as well...but I know I'm negative now (two years ago my IgA was at 78 and last month finally got down to 14, the first time it had been under some magic number of "20").

There are some other details related to the celiac but my main question is about what my blood is doing and how it relates to ANY alcohol use. This "high normal" and "low normal" stuff in my blood work has me concerned, and my regular care doctor did tell me to stop googling these numbers in isolation. It is true I don't really know what I'm looking at or how to put the different tests together to understand what I'm looking at.

Ok thanks. Sorry again for the long post.

Hi, most doctors won't consider the platelet count abnormal unless it is below 100 so you are well within the normal limits. Platelet counts and other blood results do go up and down all the time. No two tests will be the same even if done on the same day.

Alcohol doesn't affect the blood unless you are in the alcoholic bracket when the liver becomes affected which then affects platelets and clotting and so on. I'm sure you've had liver function blood tests and if they haven't said anything to you then they must be normal so enjoy a few drinks. I do.

Well I have no liver damage (they did a biopsy when I first got sick). But he was certainly watching something. On my last visit my platelet count went up a couple thousand to 153,000 "which is good" was his quote but not drinking AT ALL for six months only yielded an increase of 4,000.

Maybe I just have thin blood, I don't know. Again, I don't know how recovering from the intestinal damage of celiac disease (which takes a couple years sometimes) affects blood readings.

Well drinking in moderation is the key and never a bad idea of course. I know alcohol slows down the intestine healing process, which presents a whole other set of problems.

Platelet counts of 147 and 153 are essentially the same. They vary like that from one minute to the next as platelets are constantly being made and others coming to the end of their life. So what your tests show is that your platelets are stable and drinking or not made no difference.

You need to be asking the other questions of your doctor. If you don't feel able to, then it may be time to find a doctor with whom you feel more comfortable. Lots here have changed doctors in order to find one they can trust and who communicated with them.

I agree with Ann 100%. Any bloodwork in the normal range, whether high norm or low norm, should not be of any concern. Well, I will take this as far as a CBC/platelet count because I do think that some labs, like B-12 and ferritin, should be treated at the low normal range.

I do not see anything in your labs though that seem to be a problem. I've had below normal results many times that righted themselves in time and were not a concern. Your platelet count is fine and the 147 and 153 is not really a difference at all. They can change that much in an hour in either direction.

I know this is an old thread but please let me ask one more question on the subject since it just came up in my mind recently.

I just found the results of some old blood work done right when I got sick 2 1/2 years ago...pre-Celiac or pre-anything diagnosis. All the doctor knew then was I was jaundice and my liver levels were way elevated, and something was really wrong.

I notice my platelet count at that time was 310,000. 2 1/2 years later and recovering from the effects of Celiac Disease, they hover around 147,000-165,000. That has nothing to do with ITP, but is it normal for platelet counts to drop in HALF like that over time? Any possible real early warning sign?

That's my only question. Thanks in advance.

No, there wouldn't be any warnings. Most people don't even know they have a low count until they drop low enough to have symptoms (bleeding, bruising) or it just happened to be caught on a CBC.

Your count did drop in half, but it's still in normal range and is not cause for concern. There are a few reasons why that could happen (medications, herbal supplements, etc), but a warning for a drop like that isn't necessary.

Mine vary from 200k to 400k all the time. I'd rather they be on the lower end.

Thanks for that insight. Much appreciated.