In jan. Jack's platelet count was 87 BILL/L and in April has dropped to 67. He was diagnosed 6-03, SCT 12-03 & 7-04. Thal/dex for about 2 years but has been off all meds for over a year. He feels pretty good most of the time. He does get tired easily but that is because he is anemic. His HGB dropped from 11.5 to 10.8 Jan to Apr. Dr is reluctant to do the procrit again because of some things she has read in the medical journals.

My question: is there something we can do to help raise his platlet counts? A food or supplement that would help? I looked online and found a place that sells some vitamins that cost about $120 per month. If they worked that would be fine but I worry about putting something into him that I don't know more about.

Thanks so much

Dr. Berenson will have a reply for this too, but this has come up before. There's not anything you can get OTC to increase your platelet count. I'm not even sure there's an Rx to boost platelet count. When mine were low, I had to have them infused.

How low was yours when you were infused? Do you have a disease that caused yours to drop? Did the infusion help? Sorry, I just noticed that I asked 3 questions and never even said, "Hello". I am just so concerned and wonder what the effects of low platelet counts are. Thanks so much for responding. Hope you are doing well.

Corlene

My plt count got down to anywhere between 12-23 during SCT. I needed platelets a few times, but my count quickly recovered. What has the doctor said about Jack's low count?

Jack had a SCT 12-03 & 7-04. He was on Thal/Dex for a while but for the past year or so, he has been on no meds for MM. He got a terrrible case of shingles in Oct 06, and has suffered the post herpetic neuralgia since. He takes oxycodene, Lyrica, & iron tablets but that is it for Rx. The doctor didn't say what her thoughts about it were. The only thing she said was "there is no shot for this"

We are leaving on the 4th (tomorrow) for Tahoe for 4 days and then on the 15th we will go to New Orleans for a river barge cruise for 7 days. Both of these trips include air travel and that is always a concern for germ exposure. He will take his masks but will only wear it if someone close is coughing. Nothing I say makes a difference there.

I am guessing the doc will wait until the number goes down to ?? and then order transfusions. Your thougths are always welcome

You might mention to your husband that one thing I have found is that you get better treatment when you fly with your mask on. I was even upgraded once.