Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)

chrisjychin

Hi to ALL!

I was just being released from the hospital 2 weeks ago . The reason: being diagnosed with this Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura .

Now, I am on medication.

Why is this happening? How is this happening? What shall I do to improve my platelet counts? Any specific foods that I'll need to avoid? Any activities that I've to limit myself to do?

I've quite a lot of questions to ask, but not knowing to whom I shall ask....:kant:

what's the difference between this disease and SLE?

Anyone here down with this disease?

A doctor told me that I might have 20% of chances to be normal again, how true is this?

I am still wondering how could this happen to me, after all, I was all feeling healthy, having good appetites?

Sigh.... will "an apple a day, keeps the doctor away" works on me now? or is it already too late?

Or maybe, this "sickness" is just temporarily? Which i really wish it to happen, as I hate the "pills" a lot

mbhcsf

when it is termed "idiopathic"   in a posh "medical" way , well basically in the lay man's term it means that the causes ( the aetiology) are yet to be  thouroughly known.. However, you could ask your Haematologist or  whoever your doctor is about this matter a bit further.

But what i know is tell anyone like surgeon or dentist or whoever that you are having the ITP should u need to undergo any medical procedures. Cause the term thrombocytopenic ( thrombocytes = platelets,  penia = lack of in Latin kot ) means that you might be prone to excessive bleeding  ler

so as i am not a doctor that much i could only pretty much inform u ..........


have a good day.............

[ Last edited by  mbhcsf at 4-7-2008 10:13 AM ]

Ina_zali

What Is Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura?

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a bleeding condition in which the blood doesn抰 clot as it should. This is due to a low number of blood cells called platelets (PLATE-lets).

Platelets are also called thrombocytes (THROM-bo-sites), and they抮e made in your bone marrow (along with other kinds of blood cells). Platelets circulate through the blood vessels and help stop bleeding by sticking together (clotting) to seal small cuts or breaks.

Idiopathic (id-ee-o-PATH-ick) means that the cause of the disease or condition isn抰 known. Thrombocytopenic (throm-bo-cy-toe-PEE-nick) means there is a lower-than-normal number of platelets in the blood. Purpura (PURR-purr-ah) are purple bruises caused by bleeding under the skin. More extensive bleeding can create a three-dimensional mass called a hematoma (he-ma-TO-ma).

People who have ITP often have purple bruises that appear on the skin or on the mucous membranes (for example, in the mouth). The bruises mean that bleeding has occurred in small blood vessels under the skin. A person who has ITP also may have bleeding that results in tiny red or purple dots on the skin. These dots, often seen on the lower legs, are called petechiae (peh-TEE-kee-ay). Petechiae may look like a rash.

People with ITP may have nosebleeds, bleeding from the gums when they have dental work done, or other bleeding that抯 hard to stop. Women with ITP may have heavy menstrual bleeding.

Bleeding in the brain as a result of ITP is very rare, but can be life threatening if it occurs.

In most cases, the body抯 immune system is thought to cause ITP. Normally your immune system helps your body fight off infections and diseases, but if you have ITP, your immune system attacks and destroys its own platelets梖or an unknown reason.
Types of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

There are two types of ITP: acute (temporary or short-term) and chronic (long-lasting).

Acute ITP generally lasts less than 6 months. It mainly occurs in children, both boys and girls, and is the most common type of ITP. It often occurs after an infection caused by a virus.

Chronic ITP is long-lasting (6 months or longer) and mostly affects adults. However, some teenagers and even younger children can get this type of ITP. Chronic ITP affects women 2 to 3 times more often than men. Treatment depends on how severe the bleeding symptoms are and the platelet count. In mild cases, treatment may not be needed.

Ina_zali

The photograph show purpura (bruises) in the skin. Bleeding under the skin causes the purple, brown, and red color of the purpura.

[ Last edited by  Ina_zali at 4-7-2008 11:35 AM ]

Ina_zali

Signs and symptoms

Usually, ITP patients suffer from bruising; petechiae, nosebleeds and bleeding gums may occur if the platelet count is below 20,000, compared to a normal range of 150,000

chrisjychin

  Thanks for the info!

alien3d

i  now 27 years old  and getting that disease on age 14 years old .So i still alive.

chrisjychin

Good! I found a friend here

So, what do you do to ensure that your condition does not deteriorate? How to monitor your platelet count then? How often do you visit your GP then?

What other advices, as you are and "experienced" person

Is this disease affecting your normal life, or this isn't a thing?

Thanks.

alien3d

i  am stuborn person and i moved a lot .so 1 year sfter the accident i should go the doctor but i don't go.so the fact don't worry

AnitaSabrina

Is this a blood clotting problem?  

I was investigated for a whole spectrum of things due to my miscarriages (4).  I have a clotting problem - bled a lot after birth of my sons.  The doctors were frantic in trying to save me after each delivery.  With the first son, c-section, I bled so much that my blood pressure dropped dangerously low. With the second son - normal delivery - I continued to bleed for 7 hours.

Btw, I'm also very anemic.  I'm managing my condition the best I can.  

I wouldn't advise you to ignore your condition.  Learn as much as you can and adapt to it.  Do not try to be a super woman and brush it off.  Knowing the dangers you face will help you to survive in case of emergencies.  Make your condition known to friends and family.  

You can very easily bleed to death with a clotting problem.  

mongoose_kidz

penyakit keturunan ni...selalunye boleh diagnos wktu kanak2 lagi.

dora_sue

Originally posted by mongoose_kidz at 30-8-2008 10:44 PM
penyakit keturunan ni...selalunye boleh diagnos wktu kanak2 lagi.

memang arr..tapi selalunya kita jarang sedar pasal ITP nih hinggalah masuk spital n bleeding..sian..susah nak stop bleeding..ada kawan bagi petua nak tingkatkan platelet count nih..dia pun ITP gak..dia cakap makan ketam..ketam boleh meningkatkan platelet..