GRRRRR....Welcome back paranoia!

Hey guys,

So...I have been laying around the house all day today enjoying my freedom (hello summer!). I ended up falling asleep for 2 hours on the couch and woke up with *cue the music* a nosebleed!!!!! We all know the feeling. You start to stir and you feel the blood trickle down your throat. So immediately I sat up and got a kleenex. It didn't bleed very bad (nothing compared to what I was used to) and it only persisted for less than a minute. But...as you all know me, I am FREAKING out about it. I have had such great counts, but I haven't had a CBC in 3 months. I go on the 25th of this month. My last count was 242 in March. So, my question, do any of you get "nuisance nosebleeds" when you have high counts? Should I go get a CBC early? Should I stop freaking out, relax, and not worry about it too much? Any response would be greatly appreciated!

Natalie

My son, Brady, gets small nosebleeds sometimes, even when his count is decent. If he starts getting BIG nosebleeds, lasting more than 15 minutes, then I know we should get a count. But a small nosebleed here and there doesn't seem like something to worry about. I know how you feel, though - my stomach drops even when Brady has a small nosebleed or a big bruise or something. If I were you, I'd wait until the 25th unless you just can't relax or you get more symptoms.

I don't know where you live, but we have terrible pollen issues, etc. where we are (Northern Virginia). So Brady has had a couple of nosebleeds lately - sometimes that or weather patterns will cause a nosebleed too!

Beth - mom to Brady (age 13, diagnosed 1/18/02)

I"m thinking if that's your only symptom then wait. But as you know, it's totally up to you. If your uncomfortable enough, then go now! We support you no matter what you decided.

Is less than a minute considered a nose bleed?

Others may say to wait until the 25th - you know you so you should do what you feel is right for you. If you are going to freak then yes by all means go get a count - please see the one quote in my signature.

Good luck!

Natalie:

Whether or not you go for a count now is up to you. But tell me, what is the exact reason you are freaking out? Try to explain why the thought of lower counts would make you freak.

You guys are too funny! Thanks for putting things in perspective for me...I'm going to wait until the 25th unless I have other symptoms. And to Sandi...you know i FREAK about everything! I hate the thought of Rituxan not working for me the second time is overwhelming! Anxiety meds may be in my future! And Melinda...I am going to "suck it up." Oh and...I wish I had a cupcake right now. lol!

Natalie

Natalie you sure put a smile on MY face! I didn't mean the "suck it up Cupcake" quote, I meant the "Instead of wasting your time worrying about symptoms, just get it checked out. -Nieca Goldberg, MD" quote. Thank you for the smile Natalie!!

And I'd like a cupcake right now too - I'm on 60mg of prednisone [ear, not platelets] for a few days before tapering to 20 and then none, I'm trying to behave myself and you had to mention cupcake

The reason I suggested that if you are going to worry like crazy to go ahead and get a count is because of what happened to me - back before I knew about this group or any treatments but pred & surgery my count crashed and I knew, I just knew, I'd have to go on prednisone again and I worried so much about that [not my count but the darn prednisone] I got a case of shingles. I don't want you worrying yourself into a frenzy so it would be better to get a count done then to worry!

Take care!

You two are cracking me up! I'd rather have a canoli.

Natalie - if you responded well the first time, chances are, you will again if need be.

I like a good canoli however they are rather "heavy" so a nice light chocolate cupcake would do the trick - if I wasn't behaving myself.

How come my ENT [yes I just got another specialist] told me to take pred with food & take antacid when my hematologist in '89 never told me that. And my ENT & his PA know what ITP is - I like this guy!

Get that cupcake Natalie - a chocolate one

Ahh all this talk about cup cakes and canoli is making me want to come over there and visit Buddy the Cake Boss mmmmm! Melinda i read the suck it up cupcake-i thought you ment your new quote
Everyone with or without platelet problems get nosebleeds and bruises. Try not to worry without other symptoms and look at yourself as being (normal).
By the way that 2hr afternoon nap sounded lovely!
Julia

All this talk about cup cakes is going to make me enjoy my frosted cinnamon bun from Timmy's all the more! Thanks for the pep talk, guys!

I'm laughing out loud right now. This entire thread is so entertaining. We go from nose bleed to hmmm...cupcake.. then canoli...
I'm liking this! I would LOVE either one right now! (not including the nosebleed, obviously!) Well, I've sucked it up and moved on. It's out of my mind for right now! And I went to Outback last night (oh, how I love that place) and ate cheese fries. So, I feel better! hahahahaha! MmMmMmM!!!! All these cravings and I don't have pred. to blame! LOL! But that is OK with me!

Natalie

I love the Blooming Onion at Outback but it is so bad for you - I figure a little of one once a year is ok.

No chocolate cupcake?

Once a year??????? Try twice a month! LOL! My family and I go to Outback for everything. We are pretty much obsessed with it. It never gets old to me! And there is nothing at that place that I wouldn't eat! LOL!

Oh, and no, I haven't gotten my cupcake yet! Soon!

Natalie

Just a little of the Blooming Onion once a year - we like Outback too, have to get there fairly early or else have a long wait as everyone else likes it too.

I haven't had a cupcake yet either.

I've been to Outback once. The salad was good.

Going to Carlo's Bakery is on my bucket list.

Natalie - what's the hold up on the cupcake?

Melinda - what is Blooming Onion? i love onions, just had to ask.

Sandi - Im sooo addicted to the Cake Boss on tv its a def to visit on our world tour mmmm. Im going to have a go at decorating our anniversary cake tomorrow, buddy is such an inspiration.

Julia

Julia this is from the Outback website:
Bloomin' Onion®
A true Outback original. Our special onion is hand-carved by a dedicated bloomologist, cooked until golden and ready to dip into our spicy signature bloom sauce.

It is a huge onion and it's sliced down from the top to almost the bottom, and it's breaded and then you take off a piece and dip it in their sauce or catsup or just eat plain and it is soooooooooo good.

Found a photo
media.photobucket.com/image/outback%20bloomin%20onion%20photo/phoebebuffay328/bloomin-onion.jpg

I love onions too - right now Vidalia onions are in season, they are from the state of Georgia and so good. I have a little onion shaped microwave cooker for them or any onion - cut it in 1/4s but not all the way down, put a little butter and brown sugar on the top and nuke for about 4 minutes, it stays crisp and just is delicious!

My grandma used to make fresh onion rings for me when she would visit using the red onions.

Good luck decorating your cake - and Happy Anniversary!

A blooming onion is something like this - take a whole onion. Slice almost to the stem but not quite, so it doesn't fall apart, and so the slices are sort of like flower petals. Bread the whole thing and deep fry it. Hope that makes sense! I think they serve it with dipping sauces, and you pull a 'petal' off to eat.
Erica

Wouldn't we be SO LUCKY if Outback's Bloomin' Onion raised platelet counts!!! HAHAHAHAHA! I think I could deal with that treatment option! They could name it Bloomuxan or OnionPlate. LOL! What is wrong with me? lol! (Besides ITP of course). Isn't the bloomin' onion much more fun to discuss...makes me hungry though!

Natalie :0)

Erica what do you mean when you say bread the whole thing.. what is to bread something?

loo, you guys are funny. Do you have any idea how bad those bloomin onions are for you. Ugh....it seems almost everything that tastes good is not good for you though!
Ann, to bread something means to coat it with egg or milk then coat it with flour or breadcrumbs and then usually fry it. Yummy!

Natalie, that's really funny. You cracked me up!

Ann, it's always interesting to learn how our vocabulary is different! I know most of the words you guys use, like 'knackered', or can figure them out in context. Occasionally I'm totally flummoxed. And I never realized 'bread' as a verb didn't cross the ocean. The fish in fish and chips is usually 'breaded'.
Erica

It's not very healthy [that's why I said part of one once a year ] but darn is it good!
www.livestrong.com/thedailyplate/nutrition-calories/food/outback-steakhouse/blooming-onion/

Natalie you are a riot!

Guess where I went last night......OUTBACK! LOLOL! I didn't have the blooming onion, though. I should have in honor of you guys. My little brother wanted cheese fries (oh the compromises we make). They were bangin' though! I also had some steak...dang it was good! Just thought I'd share! And to Ann... "breaded" = "tasty deliciousness" =0)

Natalie

MMMMMMM! Ive put them on our list for the world tour, it doesn't look like an onion but my mouth is watering just thinking of it.

Melinda i was chuckling away when you said you have an onion shaped microwave for your onions! I like your style! Im going to try & make the onion though.

Natalie, did you feel like you missed out not getting the blooming onion. I know what breaded is but i live in the North of England, some words are different up here.

Julia

Well, I think I'm missing out because we don't have Outback here. Moving on because I'm too hungry...

Lily

Well, I have to say reading all of your posts have really made me crave Outback!! haha

He's your little brother - you have more clout than him - next time you get the blooming onion and he can pine away for cheese fries!

Julia that little microwave onion cooker is so cute - and it just steams that onion perfectly. Yum!