Charting Platelets

Hello all,

Was wondering if anyone charted their platelet counts and if they used a graph of some sort that they would be willing to share?
I am wanting to chart my son's numbers on the computer instead of having misc. papers and numbers written on calendars..

Thanks!!

Julie

I am a minimalist. I chart it in notepad on my phone. I periodically email the list to myself as backup. My list looks like this:

2010
01/23. 35k
02/14. 46k
03/02. 56k
03/08. 90k *after 5 days of 20mg/day pred.
11/12. 34k

The numbers are made up, but you get the idea.

That's how I do mine too, nothing special

I tried to post an excel chart, but the board won't accept .xls files.

I also use an excel to keep track. Here a small part I cut and pasted. To the left are the dates and across the top are the names and "safe" ranges. I also color coded it. Red is a high number, blue is a low number and black for normal readings. It makes it easier to read. I like having it all in one place! I'm weird that way!




WBC RBC HGB HCT MCV MCH MCHC RDW PLATELET
3.6 3.8 11.1 33.4 81.0 27.0 33.0 11.5 148
10.8 5.2 15.7 46.0 99.0 31.0 37.0 14.5 402

2.11.10 20
2.17.10 15.4 4.0 9.7 30.3 76.5 24.4 31.9 17.9 27
2.26.10 20.2 10.6 32.5 11
3.01.10 9
3.03.10 8
3.04.10 38
3.05.10 14.5 4.4 11.1 33.7 76.9 25.2 32.8 20.4 32


EDIT: I see that when I posted it it got all squished together. and having the grid lines makes it a whole lot easier to read too!

Some of my patients send me Excel spread sheets, noting all of their CBC components, and also add on a column to put in any treatments given, and another one for any illnesses or other events that might account for a rise or drop. I think that's important, to be able to keep an overall view of what is happening, and what might be influencing it.
If you can figure out how to make one, I think a line graph gives a very good visual, and can help to easily identify a pattern, if any. I find the graphs easiest to use.

Being a bit techno-challenged, I can't offer any help with doing this, but I bet any junior high or high school kid could show you, if needed.

April

I started charting my platelet count in 1980, but stopped when all treatments, including a spleenectomy, eventually failed. Note the "downward trend" each of the "peak" counts getting lower and lower. ( Attached chart is 1980 to about 2008 )

I keep an email to myself updated with count numbers, meds, dosages, etc.
Other than that, I don't really think about it.
My GP and Hema are both in the same hospital network and electronic record system, so the historic info is there at a glance for them (for me as well).

I use a Word table--pretty simple, but it works. Ist small column is date, 2nd is platelet count, 3rd is pred. dosage.

12-15-10 28K 20
12-22-10 63K 15
12-28-10 36K 14
1-3-11 31K 14

I use google health to keep track of all my numbers. It allows you to add notes and put in treatment dates, and is accessable through any internet connected computer. I just log in and can update my counts wherever I am.

Thanks for the ideas!!
I will definitely check out Google health.

Julie

I just write it on the calendar on the day I went. I like simple too.

Debbie D