Drop in Platlets

Holdtight
Holdtight Member Posts: 151
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi! Can someone tell me what Platlets do? Mine keep dropping and I am bottoming out like a huge block of cement. I can't move for 1-2 days in a row. Has anyone had this experience - I am trying to go into my 10th tx but my platlets dropped about 45,000 within 2 weeks so he postponed my tx. Can anyone share their experience with me. Thanks.

Comments

  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #2
    If your platelets are too
    If your platelets are too low, you can bleed profusely from a fall, car wreck, surgery, etc. Licorice or licorice tea will help with platelets.
  • Crow71
    Crow71 Member Posts: 679 Member
    #3
    Back in December my
    Back in December my platelets dropped enough for my doctor to skip the oxaliplatin. I still got the 5FU and Avastin. I was really bummed out, until the next day when it snowed 6 inches - rare for my area of NC. Without the cold sensitivity I was able to play with my kids in the snow. By the next treatment, my platelets had gone back up.
    Last week my platelets were low again, but not low enough to delay tx. I'm fearful that when I go in next Tuesday, my platelets will be low again and delay tx. I guess the real fear is that this might be the beginning of the end of oxaliplatin. I've had 13 treatments and I really want to make it through the first 6 months at least. I've been a bit more tired and last week I had an ongoing head ache - both symptoms of low platelets. Sounds like you've had it worse. I asked my doctor if there is anything I can do to increase my platelets and he said, "no." My wife read that drinking lots of water can help. I'm going right now to brew a cup of licorice tea - thanks Dianne.
    Stay strong and positive.
    Peace,
    Roger
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #4
    Platelets
    My platelet count dropped into the 61,000 range which is very low. Doctor said there is nothing to help count go up. Anytime you try something new though you should ask your oncologist if it is ok to do along with chemo. My doctor didn't want any herbs or extra supplements. Sometimes just waiting an extra week is all it takes to get them back in the ok range.

    Kim
  • Holdtight
    Holdtight Member Posts: 151
    #5
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Platelets
    My platelet count dropped into the 61,000 range which is very low. Doctor said there is nothing to help count go up. Anytime you try something new though you should ask your oncologist if it is ok to do along with chemo. My doctor didn't want any herbs or extra supplements. Sometimes just waiting an extra week is all it takes to get them back in the ok range.

    Kim

    HI!
    Thanks all for your comments and God Bless. Anna that's what he told me that the extra week off should bring them back up. Scary. Were you extremely tired? I never imagined I could ever be that tired in my life. I started back to work and I'm wondering if the extra energy use is making a difference? I will mention it to my Onc. Hugs.
  • Holdtight
    Holdtight Member Posts: 151
    #6
    dianetavegia said:

    If your platelets are too
    If your platelets are too low, you can bleed profusely from a fall, car wreck, surgery, etc. Licorice or licorice tea will help with platelets.

    Hi!
    Diane thank you for that tip. I really like licorice - I did get the tea and it is delicious thanks. I know black licorice is also very good for acid indigestion but to much of it can cause tiredness. I need to try anything I can to help at this point. Have a good night. Hugs.
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #7
    Ask onc how your potassium
    Ask onc how your potassium is. Low potassium can make you feel completely wiped out and your legs will ache and feel so heavy.
  • Holdtight
    Holdtight Member Posts: 151
    #8
    dianetavegia said:

    Ask onc how your potassium
    Ask onc how your potassium is. Low potassium can make you feel completely wiped out and your legs will ache and feel so heavy.

    HI!
    Thank you Diane for bringing that to my attention. I haven't been taking in much potassium these days but now I will for sure. Have a great day!
  • kimby
    kimby Member Posts: 797
    #9
    Platelets
    This fall my platlets dropped so low that I didn't get out of bed for about 2 1/2 months. I even ate there. I couldn't sit up for more than a few minutes and needed to lie down again. When they really dropped, I would pass out when I stood up to go to the bathroom or get something to eat. Back to the hospital for platelets and blood...sigh. My suggestion is to rest all you can and eat well. This is the time to take care of yourself and stay away from that chemo for awhile!

    Hugs,

    Kimby
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #10
    Holdtight said:

    HI!
    Thanks all for your comments and God Bless. Anna that's what he told me that the extra week off should bring them back up. Scary. Were you extremely tired? I never imagined I could ever be that tired in my life. I started back to work and I'm wondering if the extra energy use is making a difference? I will mention it to my Onc. Hugs.

    Tired
    I was really tired. The extra week did give me a big boost of energy though - not huge but bigger than the weeks my platelets were so low. Yes, you working will have a big difference on you also because you are expending extra energy to get through the day. Good idea to run it by your oncologist. Hoping you are feeling better.

    Hugs! Kim
  • Holdtight
    Holdtight Member Posts: 151
    #11
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Tired
    I was really tired. The extra week did give me a big boost of energy though - not huge but bigger than the weeks my platelets were so low. Yes, you working will have a big difference on you also because you are expending extra energy to get through the day. Good idea to run it by your oncologist. Hoping you are feeling better.

    Hugs! Kim

    HI!
    Anna thanks again. I have treatment in the morning (Thurs) hopefully my counts are up. I do feel better energy wise I think waiting the week did help. I need to talk to the Onc tomm and let him know how I felt. He just might tell me I can't work yet! I'll keep you posted. Have a good night!
  • Steve Z
    Steve Z Member Posts: 51
    #12
    Platelets
    I had the same problem 2 weeks ago. When I had my blood drawn I bruised. I remember think, that's strange I never bruise for blood test. When I got home that night the onc had called and cancelled my FloFox for the next day. My platelets were at 73,000 and the reason I bruised. Not as bad as some, but they wont treat if I'm under 100,000. I was pissed because this was my 6th treatment a mile stone that I was looking forward to. As the week went on I was thankful. I felt so much better by the end of the week. By the following week my platlets were up to 185,000. I'm hopeful there wont be any more delays, but I'm prepared if there are.

    I hope you bounce right back, hang in there.
  • robinvan
    robinvan Member Posts: 1,012
    #13
    Low Platlets
    I had low platlets on two different chemo programs. Once in '05 and again in '07. Interestingly my onc prescribed a short course of prednisone each time. I have no idea why or what the connection to platlets is. I also had treatments delayed 1 week.

    Treatment #10! You are almost done! It probably wouldn't matter much at this stage if they just dropped the oxy. Whatever... you will very soon be finished and your platlets will recover. Be careful shaving in the meantime! :):)

    Peace and blessings... Rob; in Vancouver

Discussion Boards