Low platelet count

Good morning all,

I’m querying other people’s exoeriences with ITP..

I’ve had a history of ITP which was first identified in 2016...platelet count has since fluctuated from as low as ten and up into the ‘healthy range’ and I have previously been on a course of oral prednisone to bring up my platelet count. Recent blood tests show a platelet count of 88 with all other information from blood test deemed as ‘healthy’. Does anyone know if ITP can be triggered by stress? Its the only thing I can think of...It was also evident that I once had an EBV infection.. can stress re-trigger EBV (mono) which can cause low platelets? I’m really at my wits end here. I have another specialist appointment tomorrow, but I’m interested if other people have had similar experiences. Thank you ..

Hi Nick: I've had ITP for 6 years now, and I guess it is kind of inevitable that we all start out seeking "THE Cause." In my case, I pretty much tried to exclude everything--from alcohol to meats to bread--you name it, I tried to isolate it as the cause. I've only seen one post of someone who "succeeded" in finding his purported cause, something to do with the air conditioning system in his Florida home, but that is the exception. The bottom line is that it is named "Idiopathic" for a reason (meaning "no known cause"). I'd advise you not to beat yourself up as to what "you have done" to bring it on; sometimes illness just happens.

On the bright side, many people report excellent results with Promacta, which I have personally taken for 5 years. While my numbers tend towards the low side--often in the teens--I have not had any side effects, and have had minimal changes to my lifestyle (although I am 67 years old). If you are much younger and want to continue challenging sports (e.g. skiing, mountain biking etc) then you may want to consider the Splenectomy option, although many people have opted to stay with the medication route rather than surgery.
I hope this addressed some of your concerns; as ITP goes, it is certainly more "livable" than many of the diseases that several of my friends have had to live with--not a great solace but something to think about. Good Luck and hang in there!!

4 years after my husband's sudden death which resulted in PTSD and anorexia, I had an horrific bout of viral sinusitis. 6 weeks later I had ITP diagnosed.

I am not sure that stress can cause ITP but I believe that it can be a trigger for someone who is susceptible or already has it. Last year my husband passed away on November 29, 4 weeks later I started having fatigue symptoms that I get with ITP and then bruising and petechia. I have had ITP since 2005.

I believe that stress can trigger an autoimmune disorder. If it can exacerbate one, it could cause one. Long-term stress can do horrible things to the body.