I guess i need some reassuring,......

Hey everyone,
I am recently diagnosed ITP.....i was taken to the hosp, because of an abnormal EKG and very high blood pressure...which i have never had a problem with. I was on no meds what so ever before Feb 22nd of this year.

During routine blood tests, I only had 35,000 platelets. All my other counts appeared ok.
I was in the hospital for 3 days, after blood work, etc...and testing...the Dr. advised it was ITP. My biggest concern was I lost my dad a year ago today to multiple myeloma and my 55 yr old sister in October to the same, which is a blood and bone cancer. So when they told me it was a bone marrow/platelet disorder, I was a little panicy.
I have been here reading all week....
By the time I left the hospital, my platelets were up to 95,000. 6 days later i went back for blood, and they were at 185,000. ...I left hosp on 80 mg of prednisone, so they redcued me to 75mg for 3 days, then 70 for 3 days...I went back last Wednesday, which was 6 days later and they were down to 127,000......Is this because of the drop in the prednisone? I was really upset about this...They didnt reduce the prednisone, and I am still on 70 mg, and go back tomorrow for more blood ..( 5 days since last one)

I am new to this, and guess i just want others experiences!
I am a 52 yr old white female....and was on no meds before this.
I had a real bad tooth infection back in october, and looking back, i can remember having some terrible bruises on my hips.......I was on two antibiodics for the infection in my mouth after a tooth extraction, and cant help but wonder if that didnt have something to do with it......

Thanks so much everyone for sharing your experiences, IT does help me.....
This is a great place to come!

Hi there. I think I understand your anguish! It is a difficult road of uncertainty for each of us... but with your family history aswell, I really feel for you.

Thanks for opening up about how you're feeling. Because life is never a straight forward thing hey. There is health, and there is life experience and family, and emotions are tied up in there too... I hope you have some good friends around you to reassure you, that today you are doing ok. And sometimes all you can do is put one foot in front of the other. One step at a time, and not take the next step, until it's time.

Keep talking my friend. We're here for you too.

Jules

My son's platelets would drop with each reduction of pred, but would eventually go back up on their own. He had 2 months of pred and has kept a very stable count since then. he only drops on occassion but manages to get better without drugs usually.

Jules, thanks so much for responding to my post. It sure does help me.......
I replied to this earlier, and it hasnt shown up, so if u get two replies.....dont think i am crazy..yet! U are so right, one day at a time is all i can do...I will keep on talking, please keep listening! thanks again!
Denise

Thank you! this is reassuring. I hope mine are back up tomorrow.
Thanks so much for taking the time to post. It sure helps and is very comforting to me.
This is all new and scary to me still.

Denise

Denise - good luck withyour blood test today.

Trust me - we all understand how scary this can be, and I am glad that people on this site can give you some reassurance. I don't know what I would have done if I had never found this. It is nice to get information "first hand", rather than just what the doctors tell you.

Keep us posted.

Michelle - mom to Danica

Thank you Michelle.
I just got back from the doctor's office, and the platelets are at 108,000 down from 127,000 6 days ago. She told me not to worry, it may take time to stabilize, so i am trying not to worry.
She dropped my prednisone from 70,000 to 65,000.

I appreciate your post, and you are right, it does help to get first hand information, and to hear from others going thru the same thing.
WE are never alone.

Denise

I def wouldn't worry yet. Weaning off pred can put you on a platelet roller coaster for a while but at the rate you are going I bet they will stabalize in no time after you are weaned off. 108,000 is still a blessing!

thank you!! i hope you are right! they are definately better than the 35,000 i had in the hospital...but 10 days ago, they were 186,000.............
so that bummed me out....but....i guess i better hang on for the ride, huh?????
thanks for your post and your support!

I guess i shouldn't say don't worry, DUH! of course you're going to worry! But do hang in there!

thanks! i am hanging........and the more i read on here, the less worried i get, because i see that others have gone or are going thru the same thing.
I lost my dad March 14, 2009 to multiple myeloma...and my 55 yr old sister October 25, 2009..to the same...blood and bone cancer.......so it scares me. But the more i read, i am trying to understand that everything else with the blood work was normal...so i am trying not to worry...and it isnt hereditary...but u have a hard time convincing me of that after losing both of them with in 6 months!!!
I am hanging in here!!!!