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Old Sat Oct 20, 2012, 10:39 PM
Neil Cuadra Neil Cuadra is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Posts: 2,553
TASHMAC,

I hope they can determine a cause for your low counts soon, and that it's something simpler to deal with than aplastic anemia. If it's aplastic anemia, let's hope it's the mildest case ever.

There are a number of possible causes of low blood counts, so your doctor has the task of sorting out the clues. I assume that she already considered any medications you are taking and checked for infections. Your low white count has left you more susceptible to infections, and lack of rest didn't help.

Your platelets are definitely too low, explaining the bruising. (Having a 3-year-old running around the house can also explain bruising, of course!) Since you passed your ultrasound you apparently don't have an enlarged spleen, which can cause low platelets in the bloodstream (because they collect in the spleen).

A diagnosis of aplastic anemia matches the symptoms you describe but it is not even the only autoimmune disorder to suspect, so there's still detective work to do. The care you are getting sounds appropriate as your doctor hunts for the cause, or for a confirmation of aplastic anemia.

You asked about your bone marrow biopsy. The reason for the bone marrow biopsy is to find out if there is insufficient production of blood cell precursors in your marrow (consist with aplastic anemia) or if your blood cells are maturing only to be lost after they enter your bloodstream. One reason that a bone marrow biopsy can fail to provide enough information is that it was a poor sample. Aplastic anemia can leave you with fewer blood cells to find, but a poor sample can also be due to bad luck, when the surgeon has trouble getting to the "right spot" to collect cells. If a second biopsy shows a lack of the immature blood cells that should be there, that would be stronger evidence of aplastic anemia.

Nutritional deficiencies can cause some of the symptoms you've experienced, but cannot cause aplastic anemia. Good nutrition is still important, however. Nutrition makes a difference in your overall health, and good overall health helps you fight aplastic anemia or other diseases and conditions.

You've been thrown onto a roller coaster, as have many of us, and the first day is the biggest jolt. With answers and information you'll steady the course. I hope it goes well for you and I suggest that you order this free packet of information about aplastic anemia. If it turns out that you have aplastic anemia, the information in the packet will be indispensable.
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