Polly - And Anyone Else Interested

[ant]

Dear Tex,

I am also a very interested follower of your progress. Completely out of my league on any of the medical discussion, but I hope you stay on the mend and your blood issue soon resolves. I am in awe, but because of who you are not surprised, at the fact you have come right back in to helping others on the site, even while you are dealing with your own problems.

Love, Ant

[Polly]

Morning, Tex!

Will you be getting a platelet test today? Hint, hint....

There are 2 main reasons why platelets can go up - either too many of them are being made (like in the thrombocytopenia that Shirley mentioned or as a response to trauma to the body) or too few of them are being "retired" by the body. A platelet only lives about 10 days before it is destroyed by the spleen. This latter reason could certainly explain the continued rise after leaving the hospital with acceptable numbers. Perhaps the spleen is still recovering from all of the trauma/blood loss and cannot yet do its job properly.

I will feel better when I hear that the platelets are leveling off, that the rate is slowing.

Love,

Polly

[tex]

Dan,

I'm sorry to hear that you lost Dakota, and I hope that Cash will eventually be able to fill his shoes - er, paw prints. Tell Cash that I appreciate the good wishes, and I certainly appreciate yours, too.


Shirley,

Thanks for the insight - I have to admit that thought has crossed my mind. It's good to hear that it can be handled, if necessary.


Ant,

Well, during the past 10 or 12 years, I've lived with active MC for several years, and I've been through major abdominal surgery, (for other reasons), twice, now, and you know what? Given a choice, I would pick the surgery over a major, drawn-out MC flare. One usually heals from surgery, in a couple of months, or less, and it's easy to see the day-to-day progress. On the other hand, those miserable flares seem to last forever, and after they've been going on for a while, a feeling of hopelessness slowly creeps in, and dominates your thoughts. I still vividly remember that as the most hopeless feeling I've ever experienced, and I'm sure that it's something that I'll never forget.

The first day or so after surgery is sorta rough, but after that, it's a piece of cake, compared with the misery of an MC flare. That makes it easy for me to come here and try to do what I can to help out, wherever I can.


Polly,

Well, my doctor called this morning, and, (among other things), pointed out that blood samples sometimes sit in doctors offices for a few hours before the lab picks them up, and he's seen cases where platelet counts were corrupt, (highly elevated results), because of that, apparently due to the nature of the testing procedure. He didn't feel that there was any immediate stroke risk, as long as I'm taking an 81mg dose of aspirin, daily. He suggested that we wait until next week, and they'll call the lab, and arrange for me to go there to have the sample drawn. That way the results will be guaranteed to be as accurate as possible.

I never thought about the spleen possibly not properly taking care of business, but now that you bring it up, that certainly makes sense. I'm not well acquainted with the overall function of the spleen, but as I recall, it's sort of a blood reservoir, also, so I can certainly see how it has probably been through hell and back, during the past couple of weeks, and it might need more time to settle down and reach equilibrium.

Thanks.

Love,
Tex

[starfire]

Polly, isn't thrombocytopenia the opposite of too many platelets?

Not trying to be "smart". I've spent a lot of time trying to remember the correct names and I could still be "off base".

Love, Shirley

[Polly]

Hi Shirley!

You are absolutely correct! Although I wrote "thrombocytopenia" I was thinking of "thrombocythemia", which is an increased production of platelets. Sorry about the confusion. Good pickup! You are not off base at all - thanks for setting me straight.

Love,

Polly

[wonderwoman]

Gee Tex, I see you just got out of the hospital, are recovering from major surgery, and are kind and caring enough to respond several times to my posts as a newcomer on Wednesday and Thursday. You just better take it easy and take good care of yourself. From what I've read, it appears you are a real asset to this group. I will put you on my prayer list for Lent. Charlotte

[Liz]

Hi Wayne,

Hope that they get to the bottom of your problem soon & that your wound heals quickly. . You sound chirpy enough, but then you always are.

Polly sounds reassuring. I am sure that she would guide you in the right direction if she saw a definate risk.

Love

Liz

[Syl]

Hi Tex, just read this thread and want to add my good thoughts and prayers toward your recovery from your ordeal. Here I am whinning about my problems while you are wrestling with the recovery from major surgery! Well, bless you and thank you for being here to help give us all hope during our dark moments. Get better.......Sylvia

[tex]

Thanks everyone,

I seem to be coming along quite well, and I feel great. We'll check out the platelet issue next week, and decide if anything needs to be done about it. In the mean time, I'm going to try to enjoy the weekend, and I hope that everyone else is able to enjoy it, too.

and thank you for being here to help give us all hope during our dark moments.

In all honesty, IMO, MC tends to bring darker moments than major surgery, and those dark moments are so much more persistent, with MC.

Tex