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ITP and High levels of stress

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12 years 4 months ago #38474 by judy.wu
ITP and High levels of stress was created by judy.wu
Hello Everyone,

I'm just coming back home. I was hospitalized with 7000 platelets count after almost 2 years and a half of "perfect" scoring (60 000 - 80 000 platelets) using prednisone 10 mg.

Turns out that now not only my platelets are low but also my blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit.

I was put on Dexa 40 mg for 4 days and two days of immunoglobulin G infusion plus 25 mg of prednisone now and my hematologist highly recommends me to control my stress levels.

This makes me wonder, can stress trigger this? :unsure:

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  • Sandi
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  • Sandi Forum Moderator Diagnosed in 1998, currently in remission. Diagnosed with Lupus in 2006. Last Count - 344k - 6-9-18
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12 years 4 months ago #38476 by Sandi
Replied by Sandi on topic ITP and High levels of stress
Wow - that's a heck of a lot of meds.

I do think that stress can wreak havoc on the body and cause any kind of problem, from heart attacks to colds to autoimmune problems. I don't know of any way to control stress since life seems to throw it at you no matter how you try to avoid it. Maybe learning meditation or some other relaxation techniques would help.

Did he tell you why your hemoglobin and hematocrit are low? Did he do any testing for that?

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12 years 4 months ago #38670 by judy.wu
Replied by judy.wu on topic ITP and High levels of stress
Hi sandi,

After a week away from the office and a lot of steroids my platelets are going back to acceptable ranges. Yes, they are evaluating low hematocrit and hemoglobin, luckily they went back to normal in today's hemogram. :)

We are now re- considering splenectomy but also has to be carefully evaluated as I have several liver hemangiomas and my hematologist is not sure if part of my ITP is being caused by my liver. Have you heard about anything like it?

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12 years 4 months ago #38672 by ashybobashy
Replied by ashybobashy on topic ITP and High levels of stress
It's hard not to stress when you are sick, so it's easy for a doc to say that. I would think stress causes a fluctuation not trigger it. I have been prone to dots on my hands when I'm under mental stress so I say yes there is an element but stress through colds etc like the stress viral illness have will lower your count. Def try not to worry, it's hard but I'm telling you there is truth into the role stress plays on our health. It's not the full picture by any means but it plays a part . Hope this helps Judy:)
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  • Sandi
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  • Sandi Forum Moderator Diagnosed in 1998, currently in remission. Diagnosed with Lupus in 2006. Last Count - 344k - 6-9-18
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12 years 4 months ago - 12 years 4 months ago #38680 by Sandi
Replied by Sandi on topic ITP and High levels of stress
I've read that some liver problems can cause low platelets, yes. I'd want to be very sure that it isn't the liver causing the platelet problem before having a splenectomy.

Splenectomies can be avoided in most ITP patients. There are many options to try and usually, something will work. You just have to keep trying.
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12 years 4 months ago #38700 by openhanded
Replied by openhanded on topic ITP and High levels of stress
Part of me really does think that the stress triggered my itp because I was under insane amounts of stress that I had never experienced before in my life, but there isn't much with regards to research that can back up that claim. My hematologist dismissed the idea.
Diagnosed: August 2013, lowest count 2k.
Treatments: IVIG, Prednisone, transfusions.
Current Count: 233k, 12/23/2013.
Currently: Watching/waiting.
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12 years 4 months ago #38704 by judy.wu
Replied by judy.wu on topic ITP and High levels of stress
It is nice to know that some how we are all in the same boat. I guess stress is part of the everyday so will definitely look for some balance and try to rest during the holidays.

As for the splenectomy, I'll dig some more about it. Any info will be welcome :lol:

Thanks for your comments !

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12 years 4 months ago #38723 by Slammed
Replied by Slammed on topic ITP and High levels of stress
Personally, I do believe that when I have lots of stress, my counts do drop. As my hema says, any level of stress is not good for the body.

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