ITP and Motorcycle Riding

After my recent diagnosis of ITP, my wife has become very paranoid about me riding my motorcycle. I understand why, of coarse. Are there any others out there who have ITP and still continue to ride? I'm aware of the dangers of riding. I protect myself by wearing Full gear and Helmet. I also understand the bleeding risks if I were involved in an accident.

I would like to hear ya'lls opinions on this. My counts right now are in a "safe zone". So I am riding. So, how low, is too low, to risk riding?

David.

David:

That would definitely be a question for your doctor. If your counts are above 150, there is no reason you couldn't ride like a 'normal' person. If counts are below that, you probably could ride, but I'm not sure at what count you and your doctor would be comfortable with. A lot depends on the area (busy highway vs rural road) and speed at which you attempt all this. I'd let you ride around your driveway with counts under 50! :laugh:

Under 50, I probably wouldn't risk it on the road. Above that, it's iffy.

If you're not planning on having an accident, I don't see what the problem is at any count. But that's just me. If we were to fall down stairs we'd be in trouble but we don't avoid stairs etc.

If you're not planning on having an accident, why wear a helmet?

No one plans to have an accident......I could fall down the stairs or even slip and fall in the shower. No I wouldn't wear a helmet in the shower.... I personally don't see a problem with riding. Wearing a helmet on a motorcycle is just good common sense, whether you are sick or not.

I'll have a talk with my doc and find out how he feels about it.

David.

Mark do you wear a seat belt while riding in a car? Same thing as wearing a helmet. I don't think you plan on having an accident when you get behind the wheel of a car or get in the passenger seat do you? Sorry but that was a silly thing to say.

David I'm proud of you - helmet, full gear, good for you!! You never know when that idiot behind a car wheel is going to do something stupid which would involve you.

Melinda,
Ann said it, Mark was making a joke.
Erica

People can get pretty mangled in a motorcycle accident. You can hit your head falling down stairs, but there usually isn't much that can cause blood to spurt out of arteries. The force of trauma to the head in a motorcycle accident can render the helmet useless at times. Just watch the news.

It's a matter of tempting fate. I agree that you have to live your life and I never let ITP stop me, but then I didn't do anything much that was risky other than driving where I needed to go.

eklein wrote: Melinda,
Ann said it, Mark was making a joke.
Erica

And it wasn't supposed to be taken literally.. sigh.

Mark wrote: If you're not planning on having an accident, why wear a helmet?

Because it's illegal not to.

I think riding a bike of any sort is a personal judgement call just like riding a motorbike is for anyone. I also don't think it's a medical issue per se so a doctor can't give a medical opinion, just a personal one.

Sorry for the kerfuffle! I was indeed joking and maybe being sarcastic. I guess isn't always obviousto all in email.

I agree that all should wear seatbelt (saved my life when my car spun upside down going 85 once in an accident on highway 95, neat Baltimore. My chest was crisscrossed with bruises, platelets were about 30). I also agree about motocycle helmets- although I am not , nor will I ever a motocycle driver- (I did wear a motorcycle helmet while in a *car* when platelets were 2).

Again, I apologize.

Talk about everyday dangers. The other day I absentmindedly walked into the open door of a SUV. You know how it opens "up" in the back so that, when open, it is a vertical piece of metal, about 6 and half feet in the air?

I know how high because that's how tall I am. I scalped myself, a little. Blood was everywhere! - down my face, dripping onto the ground.... but platelets are now at 350. So whats a little blood? A few stitches?

M

I horseback ride, (always with a helmet), my doctor likes me to be over 50K. My rule is over 70K because my platelets fall so fast. Fortunately, since I've been on N-plate they have been over 70K each week (though I didn't ride the week they were 70K)


P.S. My boyfriend doesn't like me riding so much either, but knows it helps my mental health more than any therapy can so as long as I'm above 70K he is cool with it. And I in turn let him ride his Vespa type scooter and not complain as long as he doesn't describe any near misses he has.

My doctor agrees that 50k is the deciding factor. Under that and I am at a very high risk. Interestingly he didn't base this on his personal opinion of riding a motorcycle. I asked him if he was or not and he said he wasn't. He said he personally would never ride. So, be safe, but don't stop living. If you stop living your life as normal than ITP has already won. Unless of coarse you are a bull rider or something extreme like that lol.

That sounds reasonable. It doesn't matter how experienced you are. You never know what other people are going to do.

Same goes for driving a car. People are very inattentive these days while they are driving. I used to just worry about the Drunk drivers, the inexperienced teen and the occasional elderly person. But with technology at it's peak, we have to worry about all of the above trying to text at the same time.

Hi David. Scott here. ITP is my diagnosis until the hematologist reveals the results of my bone marrow biopsy tonight. Only one month into this and was admitted to the hospital with a count of 1,000. At the end of first line treatment (steroids) and will discuss second line treatment with the doctor tonight. If ITP is it, this will be a big issue for me. I live in Thailand and use a motorbike most of the time due to traffic and a lack of good parking for vehicles. My wife feels the same about me on my bike. I have three children and we are a close family. Living in Thailand for ten years and using a bike 90% of the time I need transportation puts me at high risk with a low count. Not sure what a healthy count would be for an ITP rider but when you consider 150K-450K is normal living riding, it scares me a bit. The traffic here in the city is heinous. Easy to get sideswiped by the thousands of other bikes and the chaotic flow of heavy vehicle traffic. I have had two wrecks on my bike---both requiring stitches. One on the wrist just 4 months ago (14 stitches) and one not the head two years ago (7 stitches). Took the helmet off too early cause of the heat. Stupid. I know. Anyway, whether it be a total wreck of the bike resulting in major bodily injury or a simple dump resulting in a few stitches, the thought of bleeding out because I didn't want to use the truck or car makes me consider what is smart and most important. I want to be with my family. Even in the vehicle you can get cut in accident, or cutting vegetables for dinner or... . The real question is the bike. Tough one for me to.