Anyone Diagnosed/discovered By Low Platelet Count?

[eluko]

So I suppose I'm looking for a bit of hope here. I'm 30, male, fit, basically perfectly healthy. Went in for an annual physical and blood panel returned normal everything, but platelets were at 115k. A second blood smear a month later the platelets are down to 100k.

My physical prior to this one was 4 years ago. Same thing with the blood panel except the second blood smear showed a return to normal platelet levels and since it was the first year of law school at the time, the doc just wrote the drop off to stress and a prior cold.

Now I've got to wait 2 weeks for some follow up testing and the stuff they're testing for really sucks: HIV, Hepatitis, some sort of Spleen sequestering test to see if I have ITP, and finally (what I'm hoping for) B-12/Folic acid deficiency (which apparently can cause low platelet production and it seems that celiac disease interferes with normal B-12 absorption).

Now, I'm basically pretty energetic and feel fine. However, in hindsight, I've had pretty loose stool at least for the last three years and I'd say it's gotten worse over time. Particularly since I've become something of a beer connoisseur lately. A few pints of Hefewizen means the runs. But otherwise, we're talking really loose, like chunks of alfredo noodles put through a blender - not defined in shape at all. How's that for an image . I was going to bring it up at the physical, but didn't, mainly because it's unpleasant to talk about, doesn't really impact my life too much, and I attributed it to the fact that I drink prodigious amounts of coffee every day.

I guess my question is has anyone ever had a similar experience with a low platelet count being caused by celiacs and being low over a number of years? The reason I ask this is that when you look up B-12 deficiency, it has all kinds of neurological manifestations, like unexpected shooting pains, and inability to concentrate over the long term, none of which I've experienced. It could be those issues only show up with severe B-12 deficiencies, but I'm not a doctor, so I guess that's why I'm here looking for someone that's had a similar experience that resulted in a celiac's diagnosis.

[Roda]

Sorry I have no answers for you, but am curious. My dad if being referred to a hematologist because his pcp said his platelets were low last year and are even lower this year. He has also seen a neurologist for tingling/burning in his legs and feet and was told to take vitamin b12. He had the celiac tests done and according to his pcp were "normal", but he does not know what the numbers were.

[MNS]

I am curious, too! I THINK that I have gluten issues, but finding a doctor to believe me is difficult. I sound like a hypochondriac to them. I have had low platelets a few times in my life--mainly during my pregnancies(2 of them) so they were attributed to the pregnancies. I also had other bizarre lab work during the pregnancies--high ANA titer, etc. Obviously, since you are male, our situations are not similar in this regard.

A few years ago, I was diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy after an ankle fracture. I am now having a lot of nerve pain in my feet--but I cannot find anyone who can help me sort out what is causing it. Because I have the RSD label, the doctors are quick to tell me it is RSD. However, I don't know if it is just plan 'ol neuropathy or RSD...or an injury. Meanwhile, my last CBC did show my platelets to be normal, but at the very lowest end of normal.

I asked for a complete celiac blood panel and it was completely normal. However, I pursued Enterolab testing and I was positive for gluten and casein sensitivity on their tests. I must admit I have not completely eliminated either from my diet...I am working on it. I also have an eating disorder, and it all factors into this...of course, my binge foods have been bread and ice cream ever since I can remember.

Sorry to hijack your thread...but yes, now I am very curious to see if others have had ITP or low platelets and have later found out that they were dealing with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity all the time.

I wish you luck on your quest for health!

[MNS]

Edit to my last post...when I was pregnant, the platelets did drop rather low--down to 50,000 or so. In fact, I required general anesthesia for one delivery--I needed a c-section and the anesthesiologist refused to administer an epidural due to the low platelet count. With the other delivery, the platelets were not as low and fortunately I did not need a c-section--but still could not have an epidural.

[benharper]

I'm in a very similar situation. 28 years old - pretty healthy and fit (excluding comparison to professional athletes). Since about 18 months ago I've had pretty bad gluten intolerance, and for the last 8 months I've been increasingly strict in avoiding all gluten (for a while I was in denial about MSG). Three months ago I had a blood count done, and my platelets are hovering around 100. White blood cell count is also low (3.5). So far, my doctor cannot find any clear cause.

Spleen ultrasound shows my spleen to be normal size.

I had a bone marrow sample taken, and that's all fine too.

I am not aware of any symptoms - but I'm curious to get to the bottom of it.

[DonaldandAlanda Evans]

I'm in a very similar situation. 28 years old - pretty healthy and fit (excluding comparison to professional athletes). Since about 18 months ago I've had pretty bad gluten intolerance, and for the last 8 months I've been increasingly strict in avoiding all gluten (for a while I was in denial about MSG). Three months ago I had a blood count done, and my platelets are hovering around 100. White blood cell count is also low (3.5). So far, my doctor cannot find any clear cause.

Spleen ultrasound shows my spleen to be normal size.

I had a bone marrow sample taken, and that's all fine too.

I am not aware of any symptoms - but I'm curious to get to the bottom of it.

MSG is gluten free. It's a mixture of glutamate, salt and water.......none of witch contain gluten. It's not good for you, but it does not contain gluten.

[Sheryl589]

My duaghter was diagnoised with ITP in 2002. Her platlets were "8". Last week she was diagnoised with Celiac. She's always had stomach problems that the doctors dismissed as really nothing. Now I'm wondering what came first the Celiac or the ITP.

[benharper]

I don't know the chemical structure of MSG, but I do know that most foods containing MSG give me the same symptoms that I get from eating other things containing gluten. From what I've read, it depends on the method by which the MSG is manufactured - but I've never seen a decent scientific writeup of this.