[Cancer] 4000 mg calcium supplements and high platelet count and going up

Hello all, I am back. Still dealing with wound healing issues but have settled down to realizing
that there is nothing I can do about it except wait. The swelling I had has reduced, still sleep
almost upright and all those other problems.

But a new one has cropped up. My surgeon has no idea why this is happening. The only thing I am
doing is taking 400 mg of Calcium. Due to damaged parathyroids. They have not recommended mg. Will
that cause an imbalance ?

Usually my platelet count is near 400 - 425. That is generally on the high edge. Immediately after
surgery my platelet count was 424, normal range being [150-400] 10 days after surgery it was 465 23
days after surgery it was 565 and I am afraid its going up.

Wont have access to a PCP till end of 2nd week of Jan. My surgeon and endo say they dont know why
this is happening.

I realize surgery trauma sometimes makes platelets go up, but this seems to be picking up more as
the days go by. Any pointers or just calming reasoning. I will be grateful.

My thyroxine is still not properly adjusted so I am going into panic (which I have NEVER experienced
before- its frightening) over small things.

Hoping the holidays bring cheer and good health to all of you. As always, thanks all

Anita

Hi Anita,

I don't have any advice, but just wanted to say that I hope you're feeling better soon.

Happy holidays.

ar

"anita" <anita1766@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:1a1fc02.0312211822.fc7ff79@posting.google.com...
> Hello all, I am back. Still dealing with wound healing issues but have settled down to realizing
> that there is nothing I can do about it except wait. The swelling I had has reduced, still sleep
> almost upright and all those other problems.
>
> But a new one has cropped up. My surgeon has no idea why this is happening. The only thing I am
> doing is taking 400 mg of Calcium. Due to damaged parathyroids. They have not recommended mg. Will
> that cause an imbalance ?
>
> Usually my platelet count is near 400 - 425. That is generally on the high edge. Immediately after
> surgery my platelet count was 424, normal range being [150-400] 10 days after surgery it was 465
> 23 days after surgery it was 565 and I am afraid its going up.
>
> Wont have access to a PCP till end of 2nd week of Jan. My surgeon and endo say they dont know why
> this is happening.
>
> I realize surgery trauma sometimes makes platelets go up, but this seems to be picking up more as
> the days go by. Any pointers or just calming reasoning. I will be grateful.
>
> My thyroxine is still not properly adjusted so I am going into panic (which I have NEVER
> experienced before- its frightening) over small things.
>
> Hoping the holidays bring cheer and good health to all of you. As always, thanks all
>
> Anita

anita wrote:

> But a new one has cropped up. My surgeon has no idea why this is happening. The only thing I am
> doing is taking 400 mg of Calcium. Due to damaged parathyroids. They have not recommended mg. Will
> that cause an imbalance ?
>
> Usually my platelet count is near 400 - 425. That is generally on the high edge. Immediately after
> surgery my platelet count was 424, normal range being [150-400] 10 days after surgery it was 465
> 23 days after surgery it was 565 and I am afraid its going up.
>
> Wont have access to a PCP till end of 2nd week of Jan. My surgeon and endo say they dont know why
> this is happening.
>
> I realize surgery trauma sometimes makes platelets go up, but this seems to be picking up more as
> the days go by. Any pointers or just calming reasoning. I will be grateful.

Hi Anita I looked up "elevated platelets" at www.labtestsonline.org and the risk would be for clots.
So watch for signs of clots or sudden pains in your arms or your legs.

However, having said that, when researching, I found this http://www.rare-cancer.org/three.html
(Jerry - at the bottom) That said, the data pertinent to my affliction is somewhat hazy concerning
the date of diagnosis because I have an old country doctor who went several years scratching his
head over my increasingly elevated platelet count. Believing it to be "lab error" until the count
soared over 900K, he thought it advisable for me to see a hematologist in Aug. 2002. Once the
hemo/onco guy saw the numbers he ordered another blood test and when it came back in the lofty
neighborhood of 1,200,000 he did a bone marrow biopsy in early Sep. 02 and concluded from its
results that I was thrombocythemia positive in a big way. []

So I don't know if his numbers are the same measuring system as yours, but it *looks* to me that
you've a long way to go before you end up in "dangerous" for the platelets and time to talk to PCP
upon his/her return. Perhaps they'll be checking these various levels on a regular basis for some
time into the future. Of course, there must be a hematologist at your cancer hospital too. I'm sure
there's always at least one, Christmas or not. (if you feel it's worth asking)

As to the calcium, seems to me they would have told you, if they wanted you to add magnesium too.
Since it's for the adrenals can you ask the endocrinologist? (I realize we often only think of these
questions after the fact). Meantime, all I know is that twitching legs can be (one of the first
signs) of low magnesium. There's a treatment for that, if it becomes a problem or that would be the
time to start getting concerned, I think.

Some calciums constipate and hypothyroidism can do that too. Calcium citrate is usually less
constipating.

It takes time to adjust/stabilize the thyroid (medicaton and levels)...I'm sorry you are having to
go through this. I'm proud of you, you sound so much calmer. :-)

Thanks for the season's greetings and same back for you. I'll be around ... J

anita wrote:

> Hoping the holidays bring cheer and good health to all of you.
>
> Anita

( ( ( Anita ) ) ) Hope your holidays are comfortable surrounded by loving friends and family. J