What is your canary?

I've begun to think of my forearms as my "canary in a coal mine". That is, my forearms seem to be most sensitive to bruising when my platelet numbers drop. (Maybe I subtly bang them a lot and don't notice it??).

So I was wondering if this is a common experience? Are your forearms more sensitive than other bodily regions? Do you have a different canary?

Mark

My thighs were mine.

My shins. But I do a test on my upper inner arms - pinch hard there and if it doesn't bruise my count is good.
Erica

Mark, I get bruises on my arm all the time. Most of the time near my elbows.

Petichaie on my feet and inner thighs

A huge bruise on my stomach

My legs get bruised most often, and cover with petechiae. My neck got all spotty once.

I am very glad this topic is here. I saw an expert hematologist yesterday and she told me counts can drop from over 150 to under 10 within 2 days and said that there was no need to get tested more than once a week. I asked if there was anything I could do at home to get an idea where my count was at and she said no.

I have been trying a floss test out. My gums used to bleed when I flossed before I was diagnosed with ITP. I didn't floss at all until my counts were normal after diagnosis. For the past two months they have not bled hardly at all during flossing and my counts have stayed over 150. I usually don't even get red color on the floss string anymore. If my counts fall again, I am going to try to gauge my count by the amount of bleeding during flossing.

Well, I am surprised by the diversity in the responses.

Dave, I floss at all counts and never noticed much a difference – although I was much more gentle when counts were single digit. Interesting to hear how fast numbers can drop – I was curious about this and hadn’t heard any information about this…

Like Erica, I did pinch my inner arms during my one large single digit period and got a whopping bruise (just added to the other bruises already there). Since then I have used this “pinch test” several times (with no bruises because platelets are high).

Also, when I get bloodwork, I don’t use a bandage because it hurts when it takes hair with it when removed, but also, with numbers below 40 when it gets removed, it leaves a bandage shaped bruise. Instead of a bandage I apply pressure with gauze. I think I can roughly tell by when the bleeding from the needle stops where my values will be, at least if they are normal, in the 20 -40 range or single digits….

Mark

Bleeding during flossing can also indicate gum disease. It happened to me when I wasn't able to go to the dentist due to low counts. You can't always count on that.

I agree with the bleeding of the gums thing. The other day my gums were bleeding like all heck and went for my appointment the next day and my count was 155K. My teeth aren't great so I never count on that one.

Ahhhhh but that little yellow canary can change to a bird of a different feather.

When I was diagnosed I looked like I had been beaten in a back alley with a 2x4. When I crashed a few years back I had not one black/blue mark on my body, not even one little red dot on my body - it was just a "feeling" that made me call for a CBC.

Melinda

That's rather disturbing. What were your numbers?

I can agree with Melinda on that one. I used to be one of the people who thought that I always knew when my counts were down. I ended up being surprised by that thinking a few times. I was once covered in purpura on my chest at 50. At 10, I didn't have one bruise and no petechiae. Things can and do change.

Absolutely agree Melinda, I was in hospital when my counts first dropped. I was admitted for what the doctors called severe bleeding from fibroids and surgery for a hysterectomy was to be done four days later, counts at the time of admittance was fine, two days before the surgery counts started to drop and within 48 hours counts were at 2k so the surgery was cancelled, not a spot or bruise anywhere to be seen.
I questioned the doctor on if the bleeding would have caused the drop in platelets and he said that low platelets can cause the bleeding but bleeding doesn't cause low platelets.

for me it is petichea on my lower limbs first, debilitating fatigue next then i know i am in real trouble when my mouth gets blood blisters in it, and i can actually feel them popping up, but that is only when my count is less than 2 :S

I usually develop pet rash on my forearms... but by the time the rash shows up, appears my count is back around my "normal" T

When my counts were low, by forearms were my canary or I would say my barometer. But it was not bruises. My skin also dried out from a reaction to the Rituxin and the Benadryl. I would scrape my arms on anything, no matter how minor, and blood would ooze from the area. But I have not heard of any else with that response.

Interesting subject- I get bruises on my shins and calves, but they can pop up anywhere. I've noticed if I bang my shin I'll expect to get a bruise but often won't get one from injury. Then will get one somewhere else spontaneously. go figger.

It used to be that I didn't get bruises until my counts went below 20 and that was reliable. But then when I was on Promacta I was getting bruises at 40-50K I couldn't understand it.? I just read the "good article" that Sandi posted. It talked about platelets malfunctioning and that makes sense, might be what is happening.

Also I notice on Prednisone I get brown "old age spots" on my hands and forearms which I believe is a sign of low tired adrenals.

Petichaie on my arms and easy bruising, I guess ths would be my canary!

Thighs, shins and the tops of my feet are mine but it's always there. I haven't worn a skirt in years because of it. For some reason I'll wear capris, I guess because they're casual and ugly legs go better with casual. I know, kind of silly eh!