Should I be worrying?

Dougie (the one with ITP) looks great at the moment. 3 whole weeks without much in the way of symptoms. Got home from his grandma's tonight and has no symptoms at all.

Roger (the one without ITP but who seems to have some blood issues at the moment) came to talk to me just now because he has a "rash" all over his lower legs. It isn't a rash of course, its petechiae...... looks EXACTLY like Dougie gets when he is getting low. This can't be happening can it?

I don't know what to think. He says he has never had it before. Should I go and ask a doctor about it, or just leave him and wait for it to go? Do petechiae mean anything in themselves, he hasn't got any bruises? Argh!

Ali :S

Tough call Alison. Does Roger take meds that might cause thromobocytopenia to treat his condition? If so, then I'd say you need to get him and get it checked. Otherwise, what was his activities before they appeared? I can have the "spots" on my lower legs at high counts if I've done activities with impact (lots of walking on concrete, etc).

Doesn't take any medicines - they are just keeping an eye on him at the moment. Got to take him back for another blood test in 8 weeks. He's done virtually nothing this week; it was the first week of the school holidays, and he has slobbed out in front of the TV or the PS3 for most of it. Maybe its too much sitting down eh? I should tell him that so that he gets up and does something next week!

Ali

Hey Ali, Its Karen from the other thread..Cade's mom. What happened with Roger?? I 'm reading this in disbelief!

Hey, I'd almost forgotten about this - was it only a week and a bit ago? He hasn't had any problems since. I took him to see the GP and she agreed that they were petechiae, but she didn't seem overly concerned. Going for another FBC in late August, so we will see then. Roger had nosebleeds on and off for ages, and I finally made him an appointment to see the ENT bloke. He only tested his blood because of Dougie, and every count since April has been a little bit low on platelets, and a lot low on various sorts of white cell (first lymphocytes and then neutrophils). He's been referred to a haematologist who isn't particularly worried about it, so I am trying to take my lead from her.

I think I went through a period of worrying about everything a few weeks ago, and I've calmed down since. Until someone tells me otherwise, we've got 4 very healthy kids for which I am thankful!

Ali

Ali,
I would check it out. Petech. can be a symptom of many things, some serious, others not. With is other blood issues, I would check it out just to be safe.

Donna!!!!!

I'd begun to think that you were a figment of my defective memory! Did you have a good cruise? And how are your kids doing?

Rodge has a blood test on 20th September, so we will see then I guess. He hasn't had any more petechaie, but I have noticed him being a bit like Dougie in other ways (has had some marking on his skin like Dougs gets if he knocks himself when his count is low). However, the thing me and Roger have both noticed is that he seems very very slow to heal if he cuts or grazes his skin. Maybe to do with low white cells???? I don't know? Dougie isn't like that, although he does have a wonderful array of bruises again this week, so I am guessing he is on a bit of a dip. Roger went to see the ENT bloke yesterday and has come home with a whole heap of sachets of stuff you are supposed to do a sinus rinse with twice a day for the next 6 months - he is completely grossed out by the whole thing! Apparently the cauterising still hasn't healed completely, so he needs to try and prevent colds and coughs. The good thing is that the nosebleeds have completely gone at the moment.

Dougie started high school this week - poor child has to wear a proper uniform with a blazer and a collar and tie. He can't do up his tie very easily, and I seem to have overestimated the amount of growing he would do over the summer, cos his blazer swamps him! Its weird, cos UK schools nearly all seem to have uniforms of stupid proportions now, whereas when I was a kid, I only had a uniform at infant school in Scotland, and not at all at junior or secondary school.

Ali

I'd be a little concerned, but i'd try not to worry too much until i knew there was something to worry about, of course i think thats easier said then done. I think that is just a mother's natural instinct, to worry about their children and there is nothing wrong with that at all. I hope his blood results are all fine, if your really concerned and don't feel u can wait till the 20th, you could maybe bring the blood test forward.

Aww, that sucks that Dougie has to wear all of that, do they have to wear the blazer and tie in summer as well? I'm sure he will get used to doing the tie up, it will give him practise for when he is older.

I hope everyone else's kids are doing well at the moment too