1 step at a time

As the topic says 1 step at a time. Sometimes we try to do too much to fast. Than in the end the picture becomes so cloudy it is hard to find the answer.


Beginning of story: "I want to get back into exercising. Platelet count low. Work bugging me to get the flu shot. *excuse low count*"

I get treatment Winrho brings counts above 300k. So I decide now is a good time to get back into exercising. Learning to chi running/ walking. Than figure counts good get the flu shot work will leave me alone.

Have a possible reaction numb tongue trouble swallowing some facial swelling and SOB. Since I was at work couldn't leave self medicated. Continue to work out pretty much daily starting to feel more energy. After a few days start having pain in legs decide probably from working out or maybe flu. Just need to push through it and keep going.

Pain in the legs gets severe feels like they are being squeezed and having some issues walking (co-workers notice) Swelling in the lower limbs. Go to urgent care can't take it anymore Doctor feels could be 1 of the following:

Muscle damage too much working out?
Reaction to the flu shot?
Possible clotting (due to symptoms and family history)?

They start running blood tests Platelet count now half what it was a week or so ago. Now in the low 100's. electrolytes good (been using a product called NUUN to help replenish after my workouts). Do not know the results of the INR they ran.

Doctor think I may have a clot. Says usually when we think it is a blood clot we give you a blood thinners to break up the clot but because of your platelet issue and the fact that your count has dropped in half within the last 2 weeks. We can't give it too you.

Than proceeds to give me a talk about getting the flu shot? She explains she has someone with lupus and they looked into it and felt she was better off not getting it. She wonders why anyone would let me get the flu shot. I explain work bugging me and when I mentioned to my doctor about the flu shot triggering the immune system he quote hadn't heard of that. (this doctor had and she is only a family doctor).

They have ordered a Doppler (tomorrow) to rule out blood clots until then I'm to go home keep taking tylenol and keep moving.


If all is clear than she will assume it is from working out. Unsure if having the flu shot may or may not be involved.

This is why we should do one thing at a time. Saves you steps in the long run!

My family doctor and my hematologist both insist I get the flu shot every year. I don't have reactions or get the flu. Everyone is different though...

Twice I have had issues with my legs, unrelated to the flu shot. Both times I was sick. My legs hurt so bad I went to the emergency room. No one has ever figured out why this happened. I was given pain killers. The first time it took a couple weeks for the pain to go away. The second time (was just this past July) it took a week to get better.

I do not wish that kind of pain on anyone!!

I hope you feel better soon!!

Julia - Yikes! It does sound like a blood clot because of the pain and especially the swelling. Odd that you'd be affected in both legs though. The treatment usually is blood thinners, even for those with ITP. I hope you have a doctor who is knowledgeable about this. The doppler will tell for sure. There have been people here who have had clots with counts under 20k and still used blood thinners. The clot has to be treated. Have you ever been tested for APS?

As for the flu shot - I've read mixed reviews about that. Personally, I never get one because of the potential problems it can cause, especially since I have Lupus. I've only had the true flu once in my life (when I was 10), so not getting the flu shot hasn't done me any harm (yet). It's just a matter of personal preference and most doctors do push for it.

Good luck with the tests. I hope it's not a clot...dealing with clots and ITP can be difficult to juggle. Best wishes to you and please let me know!

Sandi the good news is there no redness or warmth and my pedal pulses are fairly strong. Like you said it would be very odd for both legs to be involved that is what makes me think it is a combination of Working, working out, winrho and the flu shot all mixed too close together.

I am not sure if I was tested APS I know when I was first diagnosed I asked them to look into all sorts of things.

Doppler is at 12:15 today should know then.

Flu shot - "potential problems it can cause". Anything we put into our mouth and swallow, anything we inject into our body, anything in a patch we slap on our body, has the "potential" to cause problems!

Now I'm sure the healthy young man who died in Weld County Colorado recently of a confirmed case of H1N1 flu would love to come back and start over again & get that flu shot. My friend who never has gotten a flu shot, was recently extremely ill from a confirmed case of the flu, will be getting one next season. It's a crap shot sure but if you can hopefully avoid a deadly illness....

Regarding working out/exercising - you had not done so in a while so I hope you started out slowly, that needs to be done to avoid injuring yourself.

Also one should not work out/exercise daily unless one day they are working "these" muscles and the next day working "those" muscles - exercising tears down muscle and time is needed for it to build up again, if exercising the same ones every day they do not have a chance to rebuild. Even those of us who go to Curves should not go daily unless one day working the lower body, next day working the upper body.

Julia I'm so sorry you're having these problems, could be a clot - but then again maybe it is from working out. I hope the test comes back NO clot/s!! Know you will keep us posted. And I want you to know, I'm thinking about you!

So doppler was clear which is great news.



Melinda I have been walking as a form of exercise for a very long time. I was changing up what I did that is why I question it just being from working out.

The last doctor today suggested it was from the winrho but that more than 2 weeks before this started. Still doesn't explain the severe pain and swelling added with trouble walking. So I guess I just keep taking tylenol and hope it goes away eventually!

That's great! I've been worried about you! It is odd that you have swelling, not sure what could cause that. Has it gone down any? If it keeps up, go back and ask for answers.

Sandi my lower legs are swollen. It has now been days since I've worked out so if it was cause by that it should be settling. Very Very frustrated because I hate having to pop Tylenol every 4 hrs to keep myself going. I work in a 3 storey building with 3 wings and this pain is making it hard to do the job.

My goodness! Great that the Doppler came back clean! But swelling in both legs is worrisome! Did they check your urea and creatinine?

Could it possibly be edema?

MommaBee They checked my electrolytes, INR, kidney function and found no abnormalities.

Sandi I have periodically had some edema in my legs (related to me being on the constantly for work) but no this is not edema.

There is no bruising no changes in skin texture or tone. No swelling in the ankles it is higher up below the knee. It actually looks like my calf muscle and the muscles in front of my legs have grown bigger. Almost like i've been body building for years. If it doesn't settle soon I'll book an appointment with my family doctor to look into it further.

In the mean time I went to work last night and ended up having to leave early hit with what appears to be a stomach bug and well lets just say i've seen the bathroom more times than I have wanted to.

When it rains it pours! I hope all gets better soon!

I'm glad your doppler revealed no blood clots. I hope things get better soon.

Sounds like a bad way to have to get some much needed time off!!! It must be tough to work with all that! Glad your kidneys are good!! Hope it is just muscles from working out!!! Hope the GI bug passes quick and do hope you can get some time to rest and relax!!

Lisa

From the resident cyberchondriac:
Julia, has anyone considered exercise induced compartment syndrome?
I would think low platelets might make one vulnerable to this condition.
Swollen calf muscles after overexercise might be indicative.

I'm so glad you don't have any clots and I hope you are feeling much better! It's too close to Christmas to feel bad

Rob - I actually had to look up the word cyberchondriac because I did not know what it was. Honestly I can say I am not that; that said I am a nurse so I do not need the internet I can just look in my own personal medical books. I have yet to look up exercise induced caparment syndrome sounds like an interesting read.


My stomach issue lasted just under 24hrs I am one of 3 co-workers who have come down with this luckily none of our residents have. As for the pain in my legs no relief yet still having to pop Tylenol every 4 hours.

I have been quiet until now MS Julia! Would you listen to me???? Ohhh noooo! so glad you are doing better!

Jeff (the one who was right!)

Rob - did some research on exercise induced compartment syndrome. Just one problem with the compartment syndrome pain is relieved upon resting I have no relief the pain is steady whether I am walking sitting sleeping.

I think you should get back to the Dr. GF.

Hi Julia,

I've been away for a while (took a trip; couldn't use my computer due to credit card fraud; then no internet). I'm so sorry to hear about all the problems you have been facing! I know from listening to you that you have been through a lot with ITP through the years--and now this!

You are right about doing one thing at a time so you can see how you react. I hurt my arm/shoulder about a year ago and haven't yet been able to get to the bottom of it. It could be possible that you are overusing them with being on your legs for such a long period of time. My arm was hurt from cleaning horse stalls while wet. I am still going to go back to swimming--but am now using fins to take the pressure off the shoulders.

It sure wouldn't seem like a blood clot with both legs swollen. Hope you feel better soon!
Dee Dee

Update!


Some relief at this point the pain has gone from a 8/10 to more like a 6/10. Still having trouble with stairs but walking is much easier.


Anyway hope you all have a great hoilday!

That's good news! I hope it continues ~ Happy Holidays!

That's good to hear, Julia! Hope you continue to improve.

Glad you are getting better, it still sounds painful and uncomfortable.

Today is better pain is mostly gone only feel it on stairs. Legs working better just feel stiff to move. I do not want that pain back.

Glad you are better! Wait a bit before working out again, and no more TATS! Seems you forgot to mention that..... Anyway I am very happy you are on the mend!


Jeff

yes forgot to mention got a rose tattoo on my Lt inner ankle. It was because it wasn't healing that lead me to get my blood checked to find I was low on platelets. Good news is it 99% healed!