Question about appointments

Hi,
I am new here so please bear with me. My platelet count is low; it was 49K in July 2012 and "a bit higher" in August. My PCP (primary care physician) did not tell me actual count the next time, and he said that liver and kidneys appear normal. He asked me to set up an appointment with a hematologist in the same hospital.
Problem is, this hematologist is extremely busy and the next date they could find is in end of October. In the meantime, I see a few petechiae on my shoulders and arms and I am freaking out now.
(1) Is it normal to wait so long for appointments? Even an appointment with my PCP requires a wait of at least a week or more.
(2) Right now, I feel like I should know my counts. I just don't want to wait that long for a CBC and hematologist consultation. I read some of the stories in here and I am really scared now. I live all by myself and sometimes I think I'll bleed to death in my sleep.
(3) Is it okay to "change" PCPs or hematologists? Note that I've met my PCP a few times, but no hematologist yet.
(4) Does anyone know of a good hematologist in Manhattan, NY with whom it is easy/quick to set up an appointment?

I am feeling fine in general, but this anxiety is killing me. Please help me with any information.

Thanks,
Tyler

Tyler:

No freaking allowed! A count of 49 or higher is considered a safe and acceptable count. Most would not do anything as far as treatment with that number. It is highly unlikely that you will bleed to death in your sleep. Do you have any large black bruises? Bleeding gums? Blood blisters? If not, you are fairly asymptomatic which is good. A few petechiae are nothing to stress over.

I don't see the harm in waiting for the appointment, but you could ask your GP for a count once or twice between now and then. If it's really low, maybe they will bump the appointment up.

Hey Tyler,
Yes it is low, but 49 is still considered a Safe count. So RELAX!!!

1. It is normal to wait a week or two to see a Dr. It depends on the Dr's Patient load.

2. You are NOT going to bleed to death in your sleep! So, get that thought OUT of your head!!!
If you are not having any of the things Sandi mentioned, then you will be fine to wait.

3. As far as changing Physicians/Hemos, that is up to you. If it will help you mentally to see if you can get a sooner appt with another Dr. you could try or just see if you can have a CBC done before the appt if it will ease your mind.

You are feeling fine, so please relax!!! Stressing over it does not help.

Also, if you really want to (torture yourself and) know your counts, you could ask the PCP to fax orders to a local day clinic for JUST a CBC with permission to give you results and fax results to her/him. If they have dropped significantly, the PCP may push to get you in sooner to see the heme doc. It never hurts to bring these concerns up with your primary care doc (or more likely her/his nurse who will relay these concerns).

On a personal note, I went an extended period of time with <5000 platelets and am still here. It can get pretty scary, especially driving in the rain in Mississippi, but it is do-able. I did wear a medical alert bracelet in case something happened during that time.

Thank you Sandi, Dean and JJBDVM10 for your encouragement. I feel much better now; I am really lucky to find this website and get the support of people who've been on that road.
I can't say I haven't shown any of those symptoms. There used to be slight bleeding of gums while brushing. Happened a couple of times and then stopped. I was actually referred to the PCP because of high blood pressure. I waited 2 months for the appointment, and since I was waiting, I fixed my diet and exercised, so by the time I met him my BP was normal. But a CBC picked up the low platelet count.
Recently I noticed that carrying my grocery bags a few blocks would leave depressions/lines on my palms. They would go away in a short while once I reach my apartment.

In any case, I have an appointment on Monday afternoon, and the doctor should be able to bump up the hema appt based on the CBC results. I'll ask for a Vit B12 deficiency test as well.

Sandi: your sticky post "Excellent advice" is invaluable, and should be made mandatory reading for every newcomer here. A printout of it (and of the one in bold letters on the same page), hangs on my fridge now.

Dean: I went through many of your posts, and I like your attitude towards life. Like you, I believe stress to be a major factor for my ITP.

JJBDVM10: You certainly are tough and patient!

We may not be able to help with the ITP itself, but if we can ease the anxiety/stress of it, that can really help physically. I was sort of relieved when I was diagnosed but scard at the same time due to not knowing what is causing it. This site has helped me alot. Knowing that I was not alone (which is what I felt like at first) was of great help!!! Now I am glad to share my experience with it and let people know that it will be OK!!! Personally I feel my ITP was triggered by a virus and was ever further due to stress from the diagnosis and moving.
Good Luck with the appt Tyler!!