I'm not sure I belong here because my husband's problem is not too few platelets, but platelets that don't work. The hematologist was vague and just called it "a platelet disorder".
The problem is delayed bleeding. It's been a life-long and, at times, a life-threatening disorder: a blood transfusion after a tonsilectomy when he was seven, delayed bleeding that was closing down his windpipe after thyroid surgery, severe bruising from his waist to his foot after a knee replacement in February. Last month he had "manipulation under anesthesia", in which they broke the scar tissue from the knee replacement, scar tissue that had apparently formed over dried blood. He had two units of platelets just before the procedure, and there was no bleeding.
Right now he's coping with a detached retina that doesn't want to attach. He's had two procedures and there hasn't been any obvious bleeding; however, I wonder if it's there and preventing the attachment. The doctor ignored me when I suggested that he talk to his hematologist before the surgery. What does an old woman know? For starters, she knows her husband, his history and how he reacts.
My obvious question is: Is this forum the right place for me? The result seems to be the same - bleeding - whether the cause is too few platelets or platelets that don't do the job. My second question - how do you get doctors to listen to you?
Thanks for listening. Thirties Child aka Donna the Concerned
