Looks like i'm training my new doctor

So I'm seeing symptoms that tell me my count has dropped lower than my last 90. With my history I'm surprised I hadn't dropped sooner. Went for platelet count this am ... Called a short while ago to get my results secretary/ nurse puts me on hold. I wait and wait she comes back on the phone and says sorry for the wait had to talk to the doctor. Your count is 14 and the Dr recommends you go to emergency room right now.


Now I remember why I liked my old doctor he did not have a "panic" button . . . . Time to train my new doctor and become the non-compliant patient again.

Yes I have bruising but with a platelet count of 14 I am going too. I rearranged my living room which explains for most of my bruises. Small amount of petechiea, no bleeding gums or signs of internal bleeding. I am tired but not exhausted.

My treatment level is covered in petechiea, bruising and gums that bleed continuously and or signs of bleeding inside.

Informed the nurse that I have worked with counts as little as 4 and 5 before and than I just came off nights and work tonight and tomorrow night. I did inform her that if the bleeding got worse I would seek medical treatment.

That made my day!

“Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.“
― Winnie the Pooh

I wouldn't have gone either. I'm glad you are comfortable enough to know when you're in trouble and when you're not. If need be, will you treat with Rituxan again?

Julia,

You know I am going to lecture you!

Mr. Jeffrey

Rob - Winnie the Pooh love those quotes!

Sandi - when I treat it will be Rhogam not Rituxan I want Rituxan still waiting to find out if and when I will get an appointment with the study doctor and than the wait will be to see if he can get me Rituxan till than Rhogam the treatment with the least side effects.

Jeffrey - look the pot calling the Kettle black! hehehe I look forward to your lectures!

I will not go to the ER with the count of 14k...my hema does make me go if I'm below 10k...which I still don't like...but I usually don't fight him with this. I do however fight him to get discharged once I get my platelet transfusions. My hema knows me and how I'm going to react to his opinions.

Slammed - I've never had a platelet transfusion.


Makes me wonder what shape I would have to be in to get one. I've been to zero and have been told a couple of times that I was bleeding internally and yet they have never given me platelets!

Mainly I just want people to stop pressing their panic buttons. I was hoping being that this doctor was a hematologist things would be better. Guess I was wrong!

Internal bleeding would be a valid reason for a platelet transfusion. Generally, low counts is not.

Considering the low platelet count 3k, today we went to the hospital today buy this time to a different hospital than we usually go and hematologist there told us the same thing don't go with the count, check on the bleeding symptoms.

Just wondering if we always should wait for that situation. Not a good idea, but all doctores have different view on this.

You should do what makes you feel comfortable. When newly diagnosed, most people are more prone to act according to the count. After having ITP for a period of time, people usually tend to use symptoms and not counts as a guide.

Yes, all doctors are different. The ones with the most experience with ITP will go by symptoms.