At 06:21 PM 7/31/96 -0500, you wrote:
>
>New to this forum, please forgive the naive mistakes of a newbie.
>
>My father was taken to the hospital six days ago after the optometrist
>detected retinal bleeding. Tests showed his platelet count at 6000.
>They have given a prelim diagnosis as B-Cell Lymphoma. Doctors said
>today that they will remove his spleen as soon as they can get his count
>up, but today it was only at 2000. They switched him from prednisone to
>hemoglobulin. Risks of surgery at this point? I am his daughter, 2000
>miles away and searching for as much information as I can get my hands
>on, because, for now, it is my only weapon since I am not there.
>
>Any help on what to expect would be appreciated.
>
>Janet
>
>
>Dear Janet,
I know how tough it its to live so far away from your parents, especially
when they are sick. See if you can find out what level they want his
platelets at to do surgery. Platelets are your blood cells that clump
together to stop you from bleeding when you cut yourself. The normal level
is 150,000-400,000. Usually people do okay until they get below 20,000,
then they are a high risk of bleeding. They can give him platlet
transfusions but his spleen will destroy them before too long. There is
presently no medication which can truly raise his platelets but sometimes
doeses of prednisone do seem to help, at least so they can do surgery.
You are in my thoughts and prayers. Please e-mail if I can help.
Mary Ann Turner bkturner@brightok.net
>
