I'm new here and newly diagnosed

Hello all,
My name is Karen. I live in Houston, TX. I have been married to my husband David for 30 years and have two beautiful adult daughters, two cats, an African Grey parrot and a Doberman.
I have been recently diagnosed with ITP and it has just sent me into a tailspin. I only started going for annual physicals in the last 3 years because I have always been very healthy, so I thought. My low platelet count was discovered during a routine annual physical a year ago. Not sure how long my count has been low and for all I know they have been low for years and I just never knew it. I may have a beer every two weeks and I take absolutely no medications. Is low platelets a common thing?

So a year ago my platelet count was 80,000. When tested again a couple months later it was up to 100,000 but then dropped back down to 80,000. Just had a blood draw today and I am at 70,000. My hematologist has been monitoring my platelet count and does not recommend treatment unless my platelets drop to 30,000 God forbid. I feel great. No bleeding, bruising, or rashes, etc, etc.

I am curious to hear from others with similar platelet counts.

I am so worried about my count dropping to the point I need treatment. The treatment option scare the bejesus out of me. What treatment are you on, are the treatments working, how do you feel, any side effects, how long is your recommended treatment.

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Hello. There are some people who have counts in your range and they never need treatment. It's just the norm for them. Your doctor is doing the right thing. Please try not to worry about having to treat; we've all been there and have managed. It's not always pleasant, but life can still be normal.
If you read through the posts, you will see the different treatments used, the responses and reported side effects.

Sandi wrote: Hello. There are some people who have counts in your range and they never need treatment. It's just the norm for them. Your doctor is doing the right thing. Please try not to worry about having to treat; we've all been there and have managed. It's not always pleasant, but life can still be normal.
If you read through the posts, you will see the different treatments used, the responses and reported side effects.

Thank you Sandi,
I will for sure be doing some browsing around. Thanks again

Karen, once upon a time there was a guy on here named 'weirdjack'. In one post he described the psychology of ITP with amazing clarity.
pdsa.org/discussion-group/6-general-itp-discussion/28044-does-stress-effect-your-itp.html#40943

Hal9000 wrote: Karen, once upon a time there was a guy on here named 'weirdjack'. In one post he described the psychology of ITP with amazing clarity.
pdsa.org/discussion-group/6-general-itp-discussion/28044-does-stress-effect-your-itp.html#40943

That's pretty funny and unfortunately probably very true. I guess stress can wreak havoc in so many ways. I tell myself not to stress and I have calmed down since my diagnosis.

It can take some time to get used to it and to feel comfortable with it, but you will eventually if it becomes long-term.