3rd Trimester
amylynn52583
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low platelet levels and prednisone
amylynn52583
member
Has anyone else been put on prednisone to raise their blood platelet counts?? and if so did it help raise your levels??
Thanks
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Re: low platelet levels and prednisone
I will be starting prednisone in a couple weeks to try to get my platelet count up to a level that will be safe for an epidural and/or spinal anesthesia. My platelet count was 55 as of today and the anesthesiologists require at least a count of 80 for an epidural, and depending who is on call, some of them require a count of 100. I really, really hope that prednisone will get my counts high enough. My concern is less about the epidural and more about if I need a c-section. Yes, it would be nice to have the option of an epidural for labor, but I really, really, really don't want to be under general anesthesia if I need a c-section.
Why do you have low platelets? I have ITP (was diagnosed a few years ago) and prednisone is the first treatment they try for ITP. I haven't seen any other ITP ladies on here so I was just curious. There are a few people with gestational thrombocytopenia who have posted though.
I know that prednisone is pretty effective at raising platelet levels in most people, but it does depend what is causing your platelet count to be low. How low are your counts right now? Hopefully they can get them up where they need to be! Good luck!
Me: 32 DH: 32
BFP #1: 4/1/2010 DS born: 12/3/10
TTC #2 since 5/2014
BFP # 2 : 6/16/14 EDD: 2/25/15 Missed Miscarriage discovered 7/10/14 D&C 7/17/14 Pathology results normal
BFP #3: 10/21/14 EDD: 7/6/15 11/24/14: Saw heartbeat!
TTCAL January 2015 Siggy Challenge: Animals in the snow
Scumbag Penguin
5mg/day sounds like a really low dose to me. Usually I think the typical dose is 50-100mg a day to raise your platelet counts (1mg/kg of your body weight), but they might be wanting to start with a lower dose to see if it works.
Did your OB prescribe the prednisone or did they send you to a hematologist? If you have time, and you haven't seen a hematologist yet, you might want to do so. They are much more experienced with blood disorders and platelet levels and know more about different treatment options out there (especially if the prednisone doesn't work).
The good thing is that 79 is a very safe level. But obviously getting them high enough for an epidural and to avoid general anesthesia is even better!
Me: 32 DH: 32
BFP #1: 4/1/2010 DS born: 12/3/10
TTC #2 since 5/2014
BFP # 2 : 6/16/14 EDD: 2/25/15 Missed Miscarriage discovered 7/10/14 D&C 7/17/14 Pathology results normal
BFP #3: 10/21/14 EDD: 7/6/15 11/24/14: Saw heartbeat!
TTCAL January 2015 Siggy Challenge: Animals in the snow
Scumbag Penguin
I'm lurking from 3-6. With my last pg, I was monitored for low platelets the entire pg - they slowly dropped throughout the 9 months. I also found out that I had low platelets with my 1st pg, although there weren't too low that I couldn't get an epidural - it wasn't an issue for me.
They determined that the low platelets were not the result of ITP - it was most likely gestational. At around 37-38 weeks when my levels were 95, I was put on a round of steroids (I don't remember the name though) and by the next week, they were up to over 100. However, I was told by another doctor that platelet levels fluctuate during the day and that steroids weren't necessarily the reason for the uptick.
I ended up being induced at 39 weeks and my levels in the hospital were just below 100 - I believe 90 or 95. My doctor called the anesthesiologist down to talk to me (before I was in any pain - he said that once they start giving me fluids, my levels will drop and that if I want an epidural I needed to do it ASAP) and it was up to his discretion whether I could get an epidural. He was comfortable giving me one at that level and I ended up getting one.
On a side note, I had postpartum blood work to check my levels and they were back up to 150.
Thanks for your replies!! My doctor really hasn't said much to me other than I won't be able to have an epidural if they don't go up, which is scary and not at the same time. In my head I'm thinking why is this happening and what can I do about it and on the other hand if the Dr isn't concerned why should I be. It's comforting to hear that I'm not the only one going through this!!! Now I can only hope my little boy/girl stays in long enough to get my levels up so we can have a complication free delivery!