November 2010 Birth Club

High Platelets? I Am Freaking Out!

I don't know WTH a Platelet is, but apparently, according to Jackson's 1 yr blood work, his are elevated. My Peds Dr said that this is common in blood work on 12 month olds, so don't worry about it, but she does want Jackson back in a month to re-take blood and re-test again. She said if it's still high next month, then we have to be referred to a hemotologist? I am freaking the hell out! Has anyone else had experience with this? If so, please give me advice, because I am a nervous wreck! The Dr said a "normal" Platelet number for a 12 month old is 450,000. Jack's number is 640,000. Cry

comments (31)

  • Well I will tell you one thing. It's not cancer. My 3 year old is in remossion from leukemia and her platelet levels were low. Not only that but her test results were back in an hour. Platelets control the bodies ability to clot it's blood. People with low platelet counts take longer to stop bleeding and if they are dangerously low could bleed to death if cut. I don't have any idea what would happen or why platelets would be low though. Good luck and hope his levels go down.
  • I actually have the same thing going on with me. I was told the culprit is usually seasonal allergies, unless the numbers are super high (which mine are)... in which case it is usually a food allergy or a GI infection.

  • How are the liver enzymes with your LO? Not to scare you but autism children have high platelet count, the liver is not filtering the toxins, maybe from foods or vaccines. Was your LO recently vaccinated? It can be a temporary spike or it can indicate bigger problems, with blood disorders, bone marrow issues or lymph nodes issues. I am thinking there is some sort of inflammation going on. It can also just mean your LO may be iron difficiant. Im sorry you are going through this with LO, my suggestion would be to try to minimize any toxins at this point, don't use any cleaning products just mild soap, mild natural bath soap, more natural foods and be careful with vaccines or medication. I really hope his second test comes back normal.
  • I'm sorry I don't have any advice. I hope that all is well with your LO.

    When did they start doing "random" blood work on 12-month olds? My ds never had that done.

  • ^^they did blood work on my son to see test for lead and anemia. according to paperwork it was in order to get the flu shot.

  • If it wasnt done at a childrens hospital, it almost always comes back elevated. Childrens platelet levels are multiple times what adult values are and they often come back too high when there is nothing wrong.

    You need to listen to your sons doctor, its very very normal!! Addisons are over 700,000 and even with all her issues they don't care one bit that her platelets are that high.... totally normal.

    And a hemotologist in children is normal for any blood questions - it doesnt mean they are thinking cancer - Addison has been seeing one since birth and she doesnt have any blood disorder or cancer.

    Calm down, im sure everything will be totally fine.

    Tell them you want the repeat draw done at a CHILDRENS HOSPITAL lab.

  • I don't have any adivse, just wanted to show some support. I hate all the testing they do on LO's. I know its needed but some times it causes more stress then good. Whatever you do "don't google". I wish you and your little one the BEST!

  • They take blood at 12 months now, to test for Iron and Lead. My Peds Dr said everything else was normal, but his Platelets were high and she wants to re-test him in a month. She said it could be nothing, but it could be something. But not to worry until there's something to worry about. I'm just a nervous wreck. I thought of Autism too, but not sure? What are other signs of Autism? We didn't vaccinate my son. We decided against it. We heard too many horrid stories about vaccinations. Especially the MMR shot. The MMR shot is linked with Autism nowadays. So we got him vaccinated when he was a newborn, but that was it.

  • Thank you so much for all your support and kind words. I am a nervous wreck, and I really appreciate all of you ladies!

  • My cousin is autistic however hers was after the shots, she had a seizure right after. In her case the signs are many. She is always angry, they think because of pain, she has massive migraines. Disconnected just doesn't connect with anyone, not even her parents, loss of social connection. The eyes just can't seem to focus either. Messed up bowls and stomach pain. It seems like it's a form of brain damage. You didn't seem to describe anything like this so maybe it's not autism.

    It may just be something simple like a small infection inside that he will heal from.

    Other than that, does he seem in pain?

    I know this is easy to say but really don't worry because there are so many tests that reach even a false positive or just can be off. Maybe it's a stage right now and will go away.