Low Platelets: Diagnosis to be confirmed

My cousin (31 year old female) has had a very low blood platelet count for over 2 months now. She got down to 6k and was hospitalized for 3 days and they are not telling her anything other than it could be chronic or a one time thing. She has taken steroids to boost her levels back up but the moment she stopped, they dropped back down to 26k within a matter of a few days. She has had numerous labs and testing and they aren't fixing her problem and seem to not even have an inkling as to what is really going on with her. Any thoughts or ideas on what we should do next?

Hope you get results that are good. My energy level drops and comes back I have same diagnosis

The 17 is 17,000. If you look at your CBC it will not include the thousand.
The CBC will list normal at 140-440. It is actually 140,000 to 440,000.
Hope this explains it better.
Best wishes to you, hope all goes well for you.

Welcome, @kristiann1123. I moved your message to this existing discussion that @rockitman recently started.
- Low Platelets: Diagnosis to be confirmed: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/low-platelets-1/

I did this so you can read the previous posts and connect with members like Rockitman, @loribmt @hlmcneely @elenarey77 @lulujuice @emcdanie2006

Kristian, has your cousin considered getting a second opinion to help find the underlying cause?

I highly advise a 2nd opinion. Contact an specialist immediately! Have them run an AdamsT13 blood test, it will surely point to iTTP. I was in a coma for 4 days (blood loss) doctors ran every test imaginable- finnaly, an hematologist saw that I had no platelets and started plasma exchange.

Wishing you the best, keep us updated. “praying”

Hello all, I have been dealing with a very low platelet count for the past year now, currently at 11,000. Been on prednisone and when at 50 Mg count has gone up as much as 140 but very time the dosage is lowered count goes down significantly. My platelet count was 340,000, got COVID shot then 30 days later developed bruising and blood test revealed platelet count at 19,000. A year later prednisone seems to be losing its affects and count not going up. Dr is starting me on Rituxmab next week. 4 -8 weeks. As of today I'm developing symptoms i never had before such as blood in my nose and on the white of my eyes. Getting nervous. Dr didn't seem alarmed at my count of 29 so just waiting the week until i start the Rituxmab. Hoping someone has had similar experience and the Rituxmab worked. I was 48 and perfectly healthy before i got the vaccination, Now a year later i was forced to retire and getting worse

Hi @wayne80for7, did you start rituxmab? How are you doing?

I have been dealing with a low platelet cont for the past two years my doctor tells me that they don't know what the cause of my ITP is. Started out with infusions and moved to promacta when that didn't work I started receiving weekly injection shots. As of November 15 my platelet count was at 8000 and fluctuates every time I see my oncologist. This is very frustrating not knowing what in the world is going on with my body.

Hi Mary, that does sound frustrating. I'm sure this frustration sounds familiar to fellow members like @rockitman @hlmcneely @elenarey77 @lulujuice @emcdanie2006.

How long have you been doing the weekly injections? Have you been to see the oncologist since your last reading on Nov 15?

Hi Colleen I have been getting injections for over a year now and I saw the oncologist on the 15th. Tomorrow I go in for blood work and an injection but I really don't expect any big changes although I am hoping to have a better platelet level fingers crossed