Many thoughts go through an ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura) patient’s mind, especially when treatments for our condition can at times be ineffective. We live a life on the borderline, where we know of the complications of our condition however the only options we have in regards to medical intervention are to treat our condition when it becomes a serious risk. What are the risks? Well, let us look at the below graph.
Now before I being to freak everyone out, let us just make this very clear. Although platelet levels are supposed to be around 150,000 to 400,000 the reality is there isn’t an over concern if your platelets are above 50,000 once they begin to drop below 50,000 that’s when the medical profession starts to really take a look at you. Then technically, you could even remain a healthy lifestyle above the 20,000 mark however, you just need to know about your risks (as above) and any physical signs of a serious low platelets counts such as;
· Easy bruising
· Extreme bleeding
· Bleeding from gums and nose
· Blood in urine and stools
· Unusually heavy menstrual flow
· Severe Migraine
· Petechial Spots
With this all said, we live life on the borderline in the fate of our own immune system and how hungry it is for our platelets. Then at times, we try treatment after treatment hoping for a cure. However, there is no official cure so we are let down repeatedly. This eventually can lead one to the consideration of what if we did not treat our condition. What is the worst that can happen?
Well, let us review the most common compilations of an untreated ITP patient.
Reduced Life Expectancy
I wrote a previous blog about ITP and life expectancy. The statistics are actually very confronting. Nonetheless, death from ITP alone is very rare. The best way to increase life expectancy with ITP is to ensure you reduce the risks and complications that ITP involves. Such as internal bleeding and bleeding in the brain. The way to reduce these risks is to intervene with medical treatment methods when your platelets get too low. How do you keep an eye on those platelets? Well, you have to ensure you make your regular checkup appointments.
Bleeding from wounds
Platelets have a specific task in the body and that is to clot the blood when there has been trauma, therefore, preventing excessive blood loss. As an ITP patient is lacking platelets, the body is at high risk of excessive bleeding. If the bleeding cannot be controlled then obviously the patient would bleed out.
Bleeding on the Brain
Now, this has to be one of the scariest thoughts in regards to this condition. Bleeding on the brain usually comes from a busted blood vessel if the blood does not clot it builds up pooling in one location. This puts a strain on the brain and can lead to serious complications or death if not treated immediately.
Anemia
Excessive blood loss (such as heavy menstrual flow) can cause anemia. Anemia is a low level of red blood cells. The red blood cells carry oxygen around the body.
Bleeding from Injury
Often ITP patients with low platelet counts will be advised to stay away from activities such as sport etc. that can cause bodily harm. The fear of this is internal bleeding.
Living with ITP is not an easy journey and the constant hospital/doctor visits that show no cure in sight do take a mental toll. Nonetheless, whilst monitoring one's count may be inconvenient and not attending regular checkups put your condition out of sight out of mind. The reality is not monitoring your count puts you at greater risk, as by the time that you are aware of the decrease in your platelets from physical reactions it may be too late for the best form of medical intervention.
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