Platelets still WAY low

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mom2greatkids
mom2greatkids Member Posts: 528
in Ovarian Cancer #1
I am scheduled for my last big treatment next week (25th) However, today my platelets are still only at 35. He gave me the 5th treatment 3 weeks ago today at 74. I'm wondering if that's why they're so low. I'm just discouraged. I want to get this over with and try to pick up the pieces and move on with my life!

Carla

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  • Tethys41
    Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
    #2
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    I'm so sorry
    I wish the tahini butter had worked :(
  • mom2greatkids
    mom2greatkids Member Posts: 528
    #3
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    Tethys41 said:

    I'm so sorry
    I wish the tahini butter had worked :(

    LOL! Me too! I miss having
    LOL! Me too! I miss having a daily excuse to eat chocolate chips! I'm not going to order any more of it. It's just too expensive. Thanks though!!
  • poopergirl14052
    poopergirl14052 Member Posts: 1,183 Member
    #4
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    mom2greatkids said:

    LOL! Me too! I miss having
    LOL! Me too! I miss having a daily excuse to eat chocolate chips! I'm not going to order any more of it. It's just too expensive. Thanks though!!

    hang in ther
    I am sorry you could't get your chemo. Your body needs time to make more. Try eating some beets and spinach if you can. Your body needs time to make more platelets. God bless..better days are coming..val
  • mom2greatkids
    mom2greatkids Member Posts: 528
    #5
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    poopergirl14052 said:

    hang in ther
    I am sorry you could't get your chemo. Your body needs time to make more. Try eating some beets and spinach if you can. Your body needs time to make more platelets. God bless..better days are coming..val

    Hi Val,
    The dr. had already
    Hi Val,

    The dr. had already decided to give me an extra week anyway. I am scheduled for the final treatment on the 25th. The nurse seemed very skeptical yesterday that they would be up enough by then. Oh well, maybe they'll be up a lot more than expected to be :)
  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980
    #6
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    mom2greatkids said:

    Hi Val,
    The dr. had already
    Hi Val,

    The dr. had already decided to give me an extra week anyway. I am scheduled for the final treatment on the 25th. The nurse seemed very skeptical yesterday that they would be up enough by then. Oh well, maybe they'll be up a lot more than expected to be :)

    35 is pretty darn low.
    Was there any discussion about a platelet transfusion? Mine dropped down to 10 after my last dose of carboplatin & I had to have an immediate emergency platelet transfusion, but you sure don't want to let it get THAT low. 35 may be within the threshold for a transfusion. The problem with platelets getting that low is that there isn't much for the bone marrow to work with to 'multiply' them and so the climb back up to a chemo-safe level could take a few weeks. But a platelet transfusion may get you there faster. My oncologist doesn't really like platelet transfusions as a rule, as he says the body will eventually start rejecting the platelets if you have too many transfusions. But if you've never had one, it may just be the ticket for you. Worth bringing this up anyway with your oncologist if you are still so low next visit.

    I posted this recently, but in case you missed it: With low platelets, please don't do any heavy lifting or strain to have a BM or stifle a big sneeze, since you don't want to risk an internal bleed. Use wipes instead of TP if you have hemmeroids. Floss your teeth only with great care (and not at all if they typically bleed with flossing) and don't use sharp knives or garden pruners or sharp scissors. Try not to absent-mindedly scratch an itch or you may have bruises and small blood blisters everywhere your fingers raked your skin.

    I had 17 days of delays for my final round of first-line carbo/taxol for RBC and platelet issues. I was finally given my last round at 80% strength, and had to have a blood transfusion a few days BEFORE that treatment, and again a few days after it. I HATED moving that "last chemo" date back over & over on my calendar!! I know you hate that too. ((((Hugs))))
  • mom2greatkids
    mom2greatkids Member Posts: 528
    #7
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    lindaprocopio said:

    35 is pretty darn low.
    Was there any discussion about a platelet transfusion? Mine dropped down to 10 after my last dose of carboplatin & I had to have an immediate emergency platelet transfusion, but you sure don't want to let it get THAT low. 35 may be within the threshold for a transfusion. The problem with platelets getting that low is that there isn't much for the bone marrow to work with to 'multiply' them and so the climb back up to a chemo-safe level could take a few weeks. But a platelet transfusion may get you there faster. My oncologist doesn't really like platelet transfusions as a rule, as he says the body will eventually start rejecting the platelets if you have too many transfusions. But if you've never had one, it may just be the ticket for you. Worth bringing this up anyway with your oncologist if you are still so low next visit.

    I posted this recently, but in case you missed it: With low platelets, please don't do any heavy lifting or strain to have a BM or stifle a big sneeze, since you don't want to risk an internal bleed. Use wipes instead of TP if you have hemmeroids. Floss your teeth only with great care (and not at all if they typically bleed with flossing) and don't use sharp knives or garden pruners or sharp scissors. Try not to absent-mindedly scratch an itch or you may have bruises and small blood blisters everywhere your fingers raked your skin.

    I had 17 days of delays for my final round of first-line carbo/taxol for RBC and platelet issues. I was finally given my last round at 80% strength, and had to have a blood transfusion a few days BEFORE that treatment, and again a few days after it. I HATED moving that "last chemo" date back over & over on my calendar!! I know you hate that too. ((((Hugs))))

    Thanks Linda.
    It was 33 last
    Thanks Linda.

    It was 33 last week. After my 4th treatment, they dropped to 17. They opted against the transfusion. By the next week they were up to 92. I think the fact that he gave me this last treatment at 74 is why they're taking so long. They don't seem overly concerned since this is the last treatment. CA-125 2 weeks ago was at 14. I think I will discuss a transfusion if they're still way low next week.

    Will low platelets cause you to feel fatigued?

    Linda, you are a wealth of info. for all of us on here!!

    Carla
  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980
    #8
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    mom2greatkids said:

    Thanks Linda.
    It was 33 last
    Thanks Linda.

    It was 33 last week. After my 4th treatment, they dropped to 17. They opted against the transfusion. By the next week they were up to 92. I think the fact that he gave me this last treatment at 74 is why they're taking so long. They don't seem overly concerned since this is the last treatment. CA-125 2 weeks ago was at 14. I think I will discuss a transfusion if they're still way low next week.

    Will low platelets cause you to feel fatigued?

    Linda, you are a wealth of info. for all of us on here!!

    Carla

    Low Red Blood Count is the one that makes you fatigued.
    I had NO idea my platelets were as dangerously low as 10, none; low platelets didn't affect my energy level or ability to do strenuous tasks. I was lucky I didn't really hurt myself. I remember that it was just before Christmas and I made trip after trip down to my son's finished basement, carrying all of the gifts they'd stored at my house. (I wanted to get them there before the grandkids got home & I as the only person at the house.) Had it been my red blood count so low, I think they might have come home to find me out cold on the cement floor having fallen down the stairs! As it was, I took a heck of a chance doing all of that lifting. But I honestly had NO idea my platelets were that scary low until the next day when I had labs taken. The indicators that you might have low platelets would be tiny ruby-colored spots on your torso, bruisng you can't explain, bleeding when you brush your teeth, small things easy to not notice if you're busy.

    I wish I wasn't a 'wealth of information', although I do thank you for the kind words. I wish I hadn't had so many different chemo drugs and types of radiation and minor side affects, and have all that experience to share. I know that knowledge is power, but I also know that ignorance is bliss and I know waaaaaaay too much about cancer.

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