Okay!!!

He just came back from Dr. Fred. He got the results of his latest blood work. Dr. Fred gave him the results.

His Platelet count was 130 (which was in the Low column on the paper)

Normal platelet count is 140-400

Tryglicerides are 202.
His cholesterol is 234. His HDL is 32. His LDL is 162. His cholesterol/HDL/Ratio is 7.3.

His iron was normal at 72. His TIBC was 232 (this has always had an odd number). His Transferrin Saturation is 31. His TSH -3rd generation is 2.98. His T4, FREE is 1.1. So I gather this is fine.


Dr. Fred said his high cholesterol might be due to lack of exercise. (can't go because of Foot Ulcer).

Now Alan LOVES bars. Dr. Fred said "as long as the bars don't contain cholesterol, that's no problem."

Dr. Fred put him on Crestor. 10 mgs.

Alan has been (since his stent), on plavix and aspirin therapy.

We DO eat healthy, but Alan is a sugar junkie. All the bars have sugar. He has a coffee roll at Dunkin every morning. He loves the coffee roll (he has officially had his last coffee roll (his words). He eats about 4 bars a day. He likes the cereal bars. He told Dr. Fred about the cereal bars and Dr. Fred said "they are okay, as long as they don't have cholesterol". I checked, they don't.

Now I eat way more fish than he does. He eats chicken, whole wheat spaghetti with turkey meatballs.

But he literally LOVES these bars, and might that have contributed to the odd numbers (the platelet and the cholesterol)??.

Or could the fact that he takes aspirin and plavix every day, lead to low platelet count?

All of the other blood work was normal.

Dr. Fred said "we'll re-do this test next month". "I want to see if the platelets go UP or DOWN, or if it's a true reading. Then we'll figure out if it's the medication or what" Dr. Fred also said: "This could also be a false reading"

So I would REALLY appreciate someone explaining the Platelet count.
Under CBC, (including DIFF/PLT), his WBC is 6.4. His RBC is 5.21, Hemogloin is 15.0, Hematocrit is 43.3. MCV is 83.1. MCH is 28.7. RDW is 15.0 and everything else in the CBC thing is all normal. Only the Platelet number was off.

To say that my mind is spinning is putting it mildly.

Thanks to ANYONE who can explain this. Alan did not want to pin Dr. Fred down by asking him a million questions.

Thank god I wasn't there, because we would have never left until I had more answers.

P.S. I just got this off of the internet. I googled Side Effects of Plavix

What is thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura?
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare blood condition in which small clots thrombi) begin to develop within the blood circulation, resulting in the consumption of platelets and thus a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia). Characteristics of the blood disorder are low red blood cell counts, low platelet counts, abnormalities in kidney function, and neurological (nervous system) abnormalities.

Huh? Ya had me going for a minute, there Mel!

The most toxic statin.... never ceases to amaze me.
Crestor for a PN patient....

http://www.medicationsense.com/artic...es_053005.html

here is a link about platelets:

http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual_ha...h49/ch49c.html

Severe platelet abnormalities may show up as bruising and bleeding gums.

Good luck!

Okay, I just replied to you but I deleted what I wrote.

I took the bull by the horns, and I actually got Alan's doctor on the phone (no small accomplishment).

I said "You gave him Crestor, it's got a really bad rep, what do you think about it?" I also said "I have read up on this drug and it's really the strongest of all the statins". He said "I'll be honest, of all the meds, this is the one that really reduces the plaque and I want to give it a shot". I then said "what side effects should we look for? and he said "muscle pain, muscle weakness", and if that happens just call me".

Then I asked him "what about the low platelet count", he said "Don't worry, it's not that low, I'm running another blood test next month". I then said: 'do you think it could be attributed to the Plavix and Aspirin?" and he said "it could be, but I want to run another test next month and we'll act on that'.

I thanked him. (Actually it's so hard to get this guy on the phone BECAUSE EVERYBODY CALLS HIM AFTER 4 P.M. AND THAT'S WHEN HE RETURNS CALLS, ETC.

I was lucky to get him on the first try.

So, having no power to tell the doctor 'ALAN IS NOT TAKING THIS", I honestly don't know what to do.

I believe I've done all I can do at this point. I really don't know what else I can do except to wait and watch.

melody

may be caused by Plavix.

http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-5869...l&pagenumber=6

There are papers on PubMed stating that Plavix causes platelets to fall in some people. Exact reason is not understood at this time.

--for a guy as big as he is, I don't think that Alan's cholesterol numbers are in very dangerous territory. Not yet, anyway. And probably not enough to go on a statin--I would think exercise (when he can), diet (do I hear oat bran?) and Niacin would be better options to try first, especially since he has documented neuropathy.

Would it be possible to explain the above to the physician? Do you think he'd be receptive?

I suspect that the automatic "statin" response is due to Alan's heart/circulatory history. And those triglycerides need to be lowered, which may have factored into that decision. But, as indicators of potential cardiac problems, inasmuch as he is on Plavix and aspirin (which very well could be affecting his platelet numbers, BTW--and the numbers are not that low, yet, and may also be related to Alan's autoimmunity situation), I'd be more interested in his C-reactive protein level (did they do those tests?). This is a better predictor of possible cardiac vessel problems than mere cholesterol readins--one needs inflammation to form clogging plaques, not just high cholesterol levels (and the very reason Alan is on aspirin and Plavix, I'm assuming, is to keep inflammatory factors reduced).

"Would it be possible to explain the above to the physician? Do you think he'd be receptive?"

From the way the conversation went today, I don't think so. Maybe I can run this by him next month WHEN I WILL DEFINITELY GO WITH ALAN TO HIS APPOINTMENT.

Is a C-reactive protein a special test. I can't remember if he ever had this.

I have the blood test results right in front of me. Can't find it on the test.

Oh, his PSA was 2.73 (it went down), all that tomato sauce I guess

And is B-12 serum was 607. And mine was 2000 lol

But I do think it's the plavix and aspirin.

We'll find out more next month.

Two of my friends are on Crestor by the way.

I do thank all of you for all this good info.

I really don't know what I would do without you people.

Melody

Consistent!
Didn't you recently say that Alan had had Infusions? Like in the last 7-14 days?
Please read this web site about 'prescribing information' or another brand's for information about the fact that IVIG CAN AND DOES distort many blood tests!
http://www.baxter.com/products/bioph...gardliquid.com
I have gone the gauntlet of many more blood tests than I care to have had recently because some blood tests [taken the week after infusion] were even more weird than the tests I've been having which are taken by a lab the DAY BEFORE I receive my next infusions.
The last time it was done? I had soo many false positives and negatives for the strangest things that it would boggle any mind. It is hard for doctors to 'register', but, the best time for ANY AND ALL BLOOD TESTS - IF you are on IVIG, is the DAY before your next infusion.
That is when the IVIG is at it's almost lowest effect and the more 'normal' aspects of YOU in your bloodwork shows true. To do otherwise is a total waste of time, efforts and everyone's money. I don't know about Alan? But, I for one want to make all "pokes" into me really count! Hope this helps? - j

Alan's last IVIG was May 2nd. He had the blood test this past Wednesday.

His next infusion is June 2nd. His next blood test is scheduled for June 16th. (or thereabouts).

I would think that the doctor knows that Alan is undergoing IVIG.

I also read that people are given IVIG for low platelet count.j

I don't think having IVIG would LOWER his platelet count, but what do I know?

But I really do think it's a side effect from the Plavix and Aspirin.

All the other results (except for the lipids) were perfectly fine.

We shall see next month what the next blood tests will reveal.

I'll run the whole IVIG thing with Dr. Fred.

Thanks much.

Mel there's ton's of information on what your looking for..Joan and Glen you are Brllliant...Really love Alan ,you have your hands busy or is Alan like like Bob .computer messed up. Your right to go with him,has he fallen with out telling you and hit himself in the Spleen and i'm not kidding..

I wish to announce,my Scan I got Monday shows my Cancer is doing well.
Sorry for butting in but i'm doing so well except for the cold I'm fighting right
now..Thank you good friends for caring so much..I know you will, but go with our friend Alan. Since my children are spread all over I have been lucky to have a DEAR friend and her husband and Bobtake me to Barnes in St. Louis and there great Cancer Hospital it was wonderfull for my dear
Neurotalk family to answer my guestions,relieve my fears,your all the best
and to be able to kiss my little 1 yr old OZZY every night,he so wonderful,
I.m not DaDa any more i' Gmama...For all of you who said speak up well I think
I just did...Thank you all and hugs to you all Sue