Hi,
Was recently referred to a hematologist for high platelets picked up on routine bloodwork. Platelets are 523. Thing is, I’m 58 and going back as far as I can remember, my platelets have always been slightly high, going back to my early 20’s I’ve always had a platelet reading slightly above normal range. Historically in the high 400’s and recently went up to over 500. It’s the only thing on my blood work that was abnormal, with the exception of a recent A1C of 5.9, making me officially pre-diabetic. I gained about 20lbs while taking care of my mother at the end of her life last year and believe it’s this sudden weight gain that pushed me into pre-diabetic territory. I’m determined to reverse it by Christmas through lifestyle changes. Does anyone have experience with pre-diabetes causing mildly elevated platelets? I’ve read that pre-diabetes can do that but, frankly, I’m worried. Have so much cancer in my family. Anything anyone can share will be appreciated.
Hi @Maryk123 welcome, I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your mother I expect it must have been a very difficult time for you.
I wonder have you told your medical people what you have told us and asked them the question as they know your whole medical history?
Good for you being determined to make lifestyle changes to lose the weight you gained by Christmas.
I always let my medical team know if I am making lifestyle changes.
In the past I have been able to get help doing it via a medical nutritionist through my GP or Hospital, who also know my whole medical history.
I think it is very natural to feel worried with your family history.
Please do let us know how you get on and be kind to yourself.
Thank you so much, Erica. Yes, I’ve shared my family history and the hematologist is doing blood study right now to try to understand the origin of this. The first assumption is iron deficiency, and i was having symptoms of low iron — dizziness when standing up, headaches, etc, but those symptoms could be lots of things. In addition to making food lifestyle changes, I’ve added a multivitamin and Calcium with D and feel like a different person, and did within about a week of making those changes. At least in terms of how I’m feeling, the things I’ve done already have clearly had a positive impact. In the past, and I’m going back to my early 20’s, my platelets were always slightly over normal range. Nobody ever suggested it was a problem. Looking back over the years it has gradually crept up a little more, then now it’s at 523. The pre-diabetes issue I will reverse. I did exactly as you said and went to a nutritionist. I’m not a believer in dieting so sustainable lifestyle changes are it for me and I’m losing a pound a week, which is a good pace. I’m confident I can solve this one issue just by focusing on it, making it a priority. I know it’s behavioral, and that I can fix. My concern is going to be if having solved the insulin resistance, supplemented with a multivitamin and made sure I’m not iron depleted, the platelets remain high. I’ll have to wait and see what the doc says in two weeks. Thank you once more.
Hi @Maryk123 please do let us know how you get on at the docs in 2 weeks.
Isn’t it difficult with symptoms that can be attributed to several conditions.
I am very impressed at your weight loss and lifestyle changes, in my book slow and steady wins the race.
Look after yourself
Updating here. The hematologist confirmed I do not have any of the genes for Essential thrombocythemia (ET). Their initial assumption was that this is most likely reactive, and given family history cancer is always a concern. However, I’ve had all of my screenings this year, which are beyond what’s typically recommended because of family history. So in terms of that possibility, I feel I have done all I can do for now. I provided my doc with historical platelet counts showing they have been high for decades. Based on that full picture, she isn’t concerned and suggested that some people just have a higher set point and that may be the case here. I’ll monitor this closely and am introducing things in my diet that are believed to lower platelets. I’ve also addressed the pre-diabetes issue I mentioned above. When I have my next annual blood draw, we’ll see where we are then and I’ll probably post that here in case it helps anyone else, as other people’s posts have helped me. Ty
Hi @Maryk123 thanks so much for updating us and I am so glad that you have had so many tests.
Oh, yes, please do let us know how you get on at your next annual blood tests.
Really look after yourself and thanks again for posting