LLMD is not worried about it - says he will always be low. He was fine until about 2 yrs ago when the lyme symptoms started. Will this get better with continued treatment? He is bruising easier now. Hematologist did not have much to offer -
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
The big question is how low is it?
Also which infections has he been diagnosed with -- I personally think the coinfections affect this number much more than lyme does.
Has he ever taken extra vitamin c -- might possibly help with bruising.
Anytime a doc uses the words always and never I get worried -- nothing in medicine is that exact in my opinion. Actually one of hubby's former docs told us to watch out for comments like that from other docs.
Bea Seibert
Posted by Hoops123 (Member # 18333) on :
Hi Bea
He was at 229 back in the fall of 2011. Until the last blood draw, he has hovered around 125. Now, he is done to 90.
He is positive for lyme thru igenex and has a positive Igg for west nile. Other coinfections are negative. CD57 was at 31 when treatment started.
Has major OCD and Pandas like symptoms as well. LLMD feels that with lyme treatment they will go away as will other autoimmune issues.
Posted by Love my kids (Member # 32876) on :
Ask your LLMD if you can try some supplements to boost WBC, RBC. I have had very low numbers as well and these helped. Shark Liver Oil to boost WBC and Marrow Plus from Health Concerns for RBC. I also use Immune Blood Cell Booster from Herbal Vitality. Remember, not medical advice, just thoughts. Please check with your doctor.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Thrombocytopenia -- low platelet count -- seems to happen much more frequently with anaplasma/ehrlichia infections and sometimes during babesia treatment.
I think it is much more rare as a lyme symptom. PubMed didn't seem to find much.
Despite the negative tests -- you might want to consider asking the doc to try meds specific to the infections I mentioned to make sure you are not overlooking an infection that could be contributing to the low platelet count.
Personally I think if the lyme treatment has been ongoing for a year the numbers should be at least stable if not increasing -- if lyme was the cause.
Bea Seibert
Posted by Hoops123 (Member # 18333) on :
Bea
I am concerned about babesia. My other son tested positive for babesia and is good now after 4 months of mepron, zith and septra.
I am going to ask the LLMD to take him this son (with the platelet issue and Pandas) off of doxy and put him on zith and seriously consider that babesia may be an issue.
He has never been on zith. Pandas and lyme often go hand in hand from what I have read.
Posted by faithful777 (Member # 22872) on :
I have the same problem and it goes up and down. Babs is very hard to get rid of and sometimes the treatment can affect your counts. If you have a good LLMD, one that is ILADS trained and practices as all ILADS doctors do, you should trust that he knows what he are talking about.
Not everyone responds the same with meds. My husband and I are both infected and neither of respond in the same way. We have multiple coinfections.
If you don't trust your LLMD, time to get another opinion.
Posted by poppy (Member # 5355) on :
For what it is worth, here is the CDC on ehrlichiosis. Note association between low platelets and this coinfection.