Thursday, August 13, 2009

Confirmed Falling Platelets

I repeated my platelet count: 149,000.

So it is down 190,000+ in about two weeks. I am not acutely sick so that is not the cause , nor it is likely my CLL, because that moves more slowly and my ALC is still low, so my old nemesis, ITP is clearly on the diagnostic table.

But there are two other items that need some focus.

First is that it is not worse today than yesterday, so it is not falling off a cliff. Small comfort.

Second: could it be the green tea extract? Not likely, sadly. ECGC, the cancer killer in green tea, is associated with decreased platelet activity, but not with decreased counts. Nevertheless, I will stop could my recent increased dose as see if that helps. I am emailing Dr Neil Kay, the PI on the green tea study to get his take on my new concern.

Not much else I can think of to cause this kind of fall.

My CT scan is moved up to tomorrow, in case I need treatment for falling platelets. Most of those treatments would shrink my nodes and confuse the findings on that important test.

Crunch time.

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6 Comments:

Anonymous Nancy said...

War is yuck. Even yuckier when you are at war with your own body. Forgiveness brings great peace and zen. Forgive your CLL. Forgive the falling platelets. Trust me when I tell you they LOVE you, Brian. They sent me to tell you they love you. They do NOT want to be sick! They do not want to hurt you! They want to be your friends and they want to work with you as loving partners to heal your body. They do not mind being chemoed because they LOVE you and they do not want to be sick and hurting you. They want to partner up with you to help you get well. War is tiring. War is hell. War is the opposite of peace. Make love not war. Make love with your CLL. It loves you. It wants to be your friend and help you get well. It told me to tell you that.

xoxo Nancy

August 13, 2009 at 7:52 PM  
Anonymous Nancy Simpson said...

On another note. You have ITP, I have autoimmune in my eye orbs. The string of unhelpful opthalmologists is legion. My eyes are being destroyed by the extreme inflammation in the orbs. My vision falls weekly. I am on 10-20 mgs of prednisone a day to simply live. I tried, per Dr. Byrd, Cyclosporin, no help, just neuropathy! No doc can quite agree what to do. Limp along on the Prednisone, it as been a year on it. Methotrexate is an option, the gold standard for scleritis, what it would do the delicate balance of T cells and the CLL is unknown. Try Rituxan. My blood numbers are all currently normal, the Prednisone keeping my neutrophils in the normal range. So, my CLL cell friends and I are in a quandry about what to do. Hate to treat with Rituxan if the CLL does not need it and if it turns out like the Cyclosporin not to even help the eyes. My many leukemia cell friends and I are trying to figure out what would be best for us. We love each other and are committed partners in getting us well. We are in unity and at peace with one another.

August 13, 2009 at 8:06 PM  
Anonymous Helene said...

Brian,
My fingers crossed for the CT scan.
I emailed you that your journey was a mini-roller coaster for me - I was not expecting the Cyclone (hope you get my Brooklynese reference).

I know you can approach and handle this with the same will and power you have had so far, so I will be following for the upswing...

Good luck tomorrow.

Helene

August 13, 2009 at 10:01 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

HI Brian
Thinking of you today as you have the CT scan; hoping that it will absolutely fine.
We never stop worrying from test to test, result to result, it is a merry go round that we can't get off.

Oh well, what else can I add? I am off to begin to make Friday night dinner.

love
Susan

August 14, 2009 at 7:15 AM  
Blogger Ronni Gordon said...

My platelets were 7 on Monday. I envy yours but I'm sorry they fell. I have been dealing with this low platelet problem ever since my transplant. Nobody mentioned ITP. Maybe I should ask.

August 14, 2009 at 7:20 AM  
Blogger Dragon Slayer said...

Brian
Lot on your plate my friend. The roller doaster ride is in full swing. More will be known in the coming days-give up the control over what you can't control and breathe. When all else fails go to the beach and say some blessings.
A prayer for you today.
Wanda

August 14, 2009 at 7:52 AM  

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