ITP and TIA (transient ischemic attack)

Does anyone have information about ITP and TIA?

I have had ITP technically for about 10 years with only the last 3 years becoming problematic.
A very quick summary: mid 30s female, typical counts of 50-100 platelets, always lower surrounding the 4 pregnancies. First 'issue' was 3 weeks after 4th delivery. Felt fine, no symptoms. Regular bloodwork came back at 15. Went to hospital, admitted and given IVIG and prednisone. I swear it was due to the MMR vacine given before maternity discharge as my bloodwork showed I no longer had immunity, but cannot be proven. Decent numbers in 70-80s for 2 years almost to the day! Noticed lots of bruising that week, checked bloodwork, was at 22. Given prednisone for 3 weeks. Got up to 50-60s. Started to drop few weeks later. Talk of spleenectomy. Booked it but then I cancelled few days prior (after I did the the vacines and the IVIG to prep for laproscopic surgery). That was in early November. I still had a minor laproscopic surgery to fix an umbilical hernia, since I had all the operation prep anyhow I figured. IVIG works really well for me. Platelets went to 200s and only now in mid-Jan to 88 and now up again to 102.

But, travelling back from holiday on Sunday, I had what I thought was an issue on plane related to ITP and now hearring it was a TIA. ER and family doctor think TIA. CT scan at ER was fine and EKG good. But this was done at least 6 hours later due to the travel. But stroke clinic nurse says she doesn't think TIA. How could I with a low platelet count? But trying to do some research today and coming across some instances.

Anyone out there have any information? Or what questions should I be asking? I don't even know who to deal with now? I have no follow-up with my hemotologist since I cancelled the spleenectomy and neurology appointment is 2 weeks away. I left a message with her reception but haven't heard back.

Still having some head pressure, small amount blood when I blow my nose (right side only) and general fatigue/unease. But I am stressed so who knows. I can't take asprin due to the ITP so just told to be careful. How? Of what?

Terrified at this point.

Note: I am in Canada so our healthcare, though great, I feel the downside is it can be slow to get appointments.

Any help well appreciated.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12565721

Some people with ITP are prone to clotting which can cause TIA's and DVT's. You could ask to be tested for APS and Factor V Leiden. It could also be due to platelet microparticles, but you can't test for those.

Your counts are pretty safe for the most part. I wouldn't consider splenectomy either with those counts. I take aspirin due to APS antibodies. People with ITP can take aspirin if counts are high enough if there is reason to suspect clotting issues.

Thank you. I will talk to my family doctor to check into these tests.

Trying to have patience but the wait and see approach just is not me with something like this that cannot be explained. I haven't heard any of this mentioned in the last few days from any doctors. The one nurse actually told me maybe I was having a migraine. I know that is not true as I have family who has them and it was completely different and no pain.

I have found this site to be wonderful. This was my first post though I have spent hours reading through. So much more information than I had ever heard from the doctors.

It is great to have a supportive community.

I wanted to give an update that I was diagnosed by Neurologist with a 'Silent Migraine with auras'. He also thought that overall health and age didn't fit with stroke plus the low platelets.
Might even be Hemiplegic migraine. They are rare.

Well, my husband jokes that it must be that then since I seem to always be a 'rare medical' case.

Overall releived to not have another very serious medical issue to deal with...though the long migraine episode was nothing to belittle.

On Nortriptyline for the migraine for 2 months which is now working and advised to take tylenol before all flights now just in case and let flight attendant know in case flying alone.

Platelets down to 51 2 weeks ago but this could be from anything.

Still going to check on the tests below just to cover all bases.

Thanks again to the community. This is a great resource.

Since you didn't describe the incident, I don't know if it was a TIA or migraine with aura. My son has ocular migraines and he loses vision for a while in one eye. It can be quite scary.

Lower than normal platelets and age have nothing to do with the possibility of a stroke or TIA's. Some people with ITP are at greater risk for strokes and blood clots. Many doctors do not even know that. I have seen some young people here, with low counts, have very serious blood clots that required blood thinners. I'm not saying he is wrong about the diagnosis...I couldn't possibly know. But he is wrong about the statement he made regarding age and platelets.