Dad died of Pancytopenia and Mom of Thrombocytopenia.

Posted by maggietheoutlaw @maggietheoutlaw, Apr 10, 2023

Now I am showing signs in my lower left leg of possible Lymphedema. My leg is distorted due to excessive swelling and elastic marks from socks that never fades away. Could all this be related to the diseases my parents endured? This is the beginning of my journey. First doctor appt. is scheduled later on this week. I'm just trying to be prepared in advance to the office visit. I thank you all in advance for any assistance.

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@maggietheoutaw. I’m guessing there’s a story behind that name! 😉

Hi Maggie and welcome to Mayo Connect. With both of your parents passing away due to complications with blood disorders, I’m sure this weighs heavily on your mind. Your mom had Thrombocytopenia, which is a condition of low platelets which can cause excessive bleeding and other side effects because the blood won’t clot efficiently.

Thrombocytopenia is rarely inherited and can be brought on by medications or other conditions. From the Mayo website, here is a link for Thrombocytopenia: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thrombocytopenia/symptoms-causes/syc-20378293

Your father had the Pancytopenia in which he had low red and white blood cells and low platelets.
Pancytopenia can be more of a challenge to narrow down the culprit. Because there are so many possible causes with this Myeloproliferative neoplastic disorder, it may be difficult, without genetic testing, to know if you’re predisposed to the same conditions. But it’s understandable to be concerned.
Here are a couple of links to Pancytopenia and myeloproliferative diseases.

https://www.healthline.com/health/pancytopenia
~~~
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/myelodysplastic-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20366977

Since I’m on a roll with research tonight I thought I’d toss this article regarding edema in legs. https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/leg-swelling/basics/causes/sym-20050910

Are you having any other symptoms besides the edema in one leg? Does this leg hurt or feel hot? This swelling may not be related to a blood disorder at all but surely warrants being checked out. Your doctor will most likely be ordering some blood work done. This doesn’t mean you’re following the same route as your parents with a blood condition. A full panel CBC will give your doctor a better accounting as to what’s happening with your leg and overall blood health. If lymphedema is considered, your doctor may also request a CT scan or ultrasound to determine the blockage.

Have you tried a compression stocking?

REPLY
@loribmt

@maggietheoutaw. I’m guessing there’s a story behind that name! 😉

Hi Maggie and welcome to Mayo Connect. With both of your parents passing away due to complications with blood disorders, I’m sure this weighs heavily on your mind. Your mom had Thrombocytopenia, which is a condition of low platelets which can cause excessive bleeding and other side effects because the blood won’t clot efficiently.

Thrombocytopenia is rarely inherited and can be brought on by medications or other conditions. From the Mayo website, here is a link for Thrombocytopenia: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thrombocytopenia/symptoms-causes/syc-20378293

Your father had the Pancytopenia in which he had low red and white blood cells and low platelets.
Pancytopenia can be more of a challenge to narrow down the culprit. Because there are so many possible causes with this Myeloproliferative neoplastic disorder, it may be difficult, without genetic testing, to know if you’re predisposed to the same conditions. But it’s understandable to be concerned.
Here are a couple of links to Pancytopenia and myeloproliferative diseases.

https://www.healthline.com/health/pancytopenia
~~~
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/myelodysplastic-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20366977

Since I’m on a roll with research tonight I thought I’d toss this article regarding edema in legs. https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/leg-swelling/basics/causes/sym-20050910

Are you having any other symptoms besides the edema in one leg? Does this leg hurt or feel hot? This swelling may not be related to a blood disorder at all but surely warrants being checked out. Your doctor will most likely be ordering some blood work done. This doesn’t mean you’re following the same route as your parents with a blood condition. A full panel CBC will give your doctor a better accounting as to what’s happening with your leg and overall blood health. If lymphedema is considered, your doctor may also request a CT scan or ultrasound to determine the blockage.

Have you tried a compression stocking?

Jump to this post

Thank you for all the wonderful information. You've answered a lot of questions running around in my head at 3 o'clock in the morning! You asked if I tried compression socks. Yes, but all they seem to do if leave more funny looking elastic rings in my swollen legs. Thank you again. My doctor appt. is Thursday so now I feel better prepared about the whole thing. Oh, you asked about maggietheoutlaw. That was my mother's handle. My dad was a police officer.

REPLY
@maggietheoutlaw

Thank you for all the wonderful information. You've answered a lot of questions running around in my head at 3 o'clock in the morning! You asked if I tried compression socks. Yes, but all they seem to do if leave more funny looking elastic rings in my swollen legs. Thank you again. My doctor appt. is Thursday so now I feel better prepared about the whole thing. Oh, you asked about maggietheoutlaw. That was my mother's handle. My dad was a police officer.

Jump to this post

Love, love the picture of your dad and it’s so cool that you’re using your mom’s endearing name! Really got a chuckle out of that little story.

I’m happy the information was useful, even though it may not actually apply to your current situation. If not, it at least gives you a little more of an idea of what your parents were dealing with.
Now we’ll find out what your story is all about, huh. ☺️ Best wishes for good news from your doctor’s visit. Let me know how it turns out, ok?

REPLY
@loribmt

@maggietheoutaw. I’m guessing there’s a story behind that name! 😉

Hi Maggie and welcome to Mayo Connect. With both of your parents passing away due to complications with blood disorders, I’m sure this weighs heavily on your mind. Your mom had Thrombocytopenia, which is a condition of low platelets which can cause excessive bleeding and other side effects because the blood won’t clot efficiently.

Thrombocytopenia is rarely inherited and can be brought on by medications or other conditions. From the Mayo website, here is a link for Thrombocytopenia: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thrombocytopenia/symptoms-causes/syc-20378293

Your father had the Pancytopenia in which he had low red and white blood cells and low platelets.
Pancytopenia can be more of a challenge to narrow down the culprit. Because there are so many possible causes with this Myeloproliferative neoplastic disorder, it may be difficult, without genetic testing, to know if you’re predisposed to the same conditions. But it’s understandable to be concerned.
Here are a couple of links to Pancytopenia and myeloproliferative diseases.

https://www.healthline.com/health/pancytopenia
~~~
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/myelodysplastic-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20366977

Since I’m on a roll with research tonight I thought I’d toss this article regarding edema in legs. https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/leg-swelling/basics/causes/sym-20050910

Are you having any other symptoms besides the edema in one leg? Does this leg hurt or feel hot? This swelling may not be related to a blood disorder at all but surely warrants being checked out. Your doctor will most likely be ordering some blood work done. This doesn’t mean you’re following the same route as your parents with a blood condition. A full panel CBC will give your doctor a better accounting as to what’s happening with your leg and overall blood health. If lymphedema is considered, your doctor may also request a CT scan or ultrasound to determine the blockage.

Have you tried a compression stocking?

Jump to this post

Well the Doctor didn't say too much on this initial office visit. Prescribed me Lasix to help with the fluid buildup and scheduled a follow-up appt. in a month. So I had to tell the hypochondriac in me to simmer down for now. I can always worry another day. A big thank you for all that read my silly little post. It is much appreciated. I will follow-up only if there's more to this story.

REPLY
@maggietheoutlaw

Well the Doctor didn't say too much on this initial office visit. Prescribed me Lasix to help with the fluid buildup and scheduled a follow-up appt. in a month. So I had to tell the hypochondriac in me to simmer down for now. I can always worry another day. A big thank you for all that read my silly little post. It is much appreciated. I will follow-up only if there's more to this story.

Jump to this post

Hi @maggietheoutlaw, Popping in to see if you had your followup appointment yet. Did the Lasix work for the edema in your leg?

REPLY
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