Skiing

Feel like I've just taken a big leap of faith as I've booked Dougie onto the school skiing trip in February!

The doctor last week said that his count only had to be above 50 for this to be safe (does this sound right?), and if it wasn't they would treat him with IVIG and/or steroids to get him there.

The teacher arranging it wasn't 100% about taking him, but seemed ok when I said that the consultant had ok'ed it subject to Dougie wearing a ski helmet all of the time.

Just gotta hope he gets there now...........

Ali

Ali,

It's great to hear that Dougie is at a good count all on his own - you must feel really relieved!

Brady's doctors (we went to one practice for 6 or 7 years and then changed to his current hematologist about 2 years ago) both say 100k is the count they recommend for skiing. That's why we've treated Brady several times in the December/January timeframe - so that he (we) could all go skiing. But it probably also depends on what type of skiier the person is. Brady isn't really aggressive and will ski some diffiult slopes but not the most difficult, double black diamond (I stay away from those, but I think that's what the most difficult are rated!). So we ended up going last year when his count was just above 75k. Of course, all the kids wear helmets and I'm always a bit nervous.

It's interesting how much variety of opinion there is on activities. Brady's doctor says 75k for an amusement park but I remember that Dougie's consultant was fine with him going at a lower count. Just goes to show that nobody really has the answer and we just have to gather information and make our own decisions.

It's good that they are willing to treat Dougie if his count is too low when the skiing trip comes up, so he can definitely go. But here's hoping that Dougie's count only goes up and then you won't even have to think about it!

Hi Beth,

Yes, I am very relieved that Dougie's count has finally picked itself up off the floor - I don't want to look too hard now just in case it breaks the spell and I see bruises again!

It is really strange how there are different views about what counts are safe for activity. Dougie's doctors generally seem to be very relaxed - most things above 30 and almost anything above 50. You are right about the theme park thing because the advice that we've always had is that any count above 30 is ok. The skiing trip is to Italy, and I think kids have to wear helmets there by law, so it should be pretty safe (one of of my other kids went to Austria a couple of years back, and its not legally required there, so it was a struggle to get him to wear a helmet when his mates weren't). Dougie is really really excited about the trip.

Now I've just got to venture into the attic and try and find all the clothing and stuff we got his brother so that we don't have to shell out again........ Don't know if I can face the spiders though!

Ali

I hope Dougie's count stays high enough to go. He must be so excited that you have booked the trip.

This is probably a silly question, but why do you need a certain count for an amusement park? people don't tend to have head injuries or hurt themselves do they? We have taken Hannah to Legoland lots with a count of less than 20, wonderingg if I shouldn't have?

Unless Hannah is a real thrill seeker, and given that she is only 4, I think you are probably ok. Do you go on the wilder rides with her or does her height rule her out of those? I think the concern is the g-force, and the knocking around that your head gets on some of the big rides (I am thinking along the lines of Rita Queen of Speed at Alton Towers).