Public service reminder...No straining...

[michelle_lapuz]

Hi everyone:

Just wanted to let all those living with low platelets to not strain...I was pulling up some very difficult bamboo a few weeks ago and straining pretty hard when about 30 minutes afterwards I was unable to speak for about 5-minutes or so...a CT scan revealed a small bleed in the 'vocal' part of my brain. My platelets were about 16 which is pretty decent for me, I've been living without platelet transfusions (other lines are up) for 6-months or so and tolerating it really well.

So if your platelets are on the lower side don't forget to breathe and leave the tough stuff for others, a brain bleed is pretty scary.

Michelle

[Lisa V]

Yikes, Michelle! That's pretty scary. So glad it was only temporary and that you're okay now. Thanks for the warning!

[Neil Cuadra]

That's a scary story, Michelle. People with low platelets probably know to avoid aspirin, contact sports, and other situations that could lead to bleeding, but you don't think of gardening as dangerous!

[Missyblue]

That is great info, something we do not think about. Thanks for sharing!

[Chirley]

Hi,
I know it's not general conversation, but, when my brother had low platelets he had to be careful about being constipated. The doctor said that straining on the toilet was dangerous.

The things you don't usually think about hey ?

Chirley