My rheumatologist needs to see if I have an autoimmune disease?

Q&A Question: Slightly Elevated Platelets

I hope all of you are doing well. 🙂 I came across this page some time ago. I would like some of you to help ease my mind. I’m a 25-year-old female, and since my first panic attack in March 2023, my platelet CBC count has been slightly elevated. Here are my recent Anaemia counts:

• 04/12/2024: Everything normal, platelet454
• 05/21/2024: Everything normal, platelet 455
• 07/17/2024: Everything normal; platelet 494 (I believe I had a UTI at that time)
• 08/16/2024: Everything normal, platelet count 431

I’ve always been anxious about my health, which makes me quite nervous. I would appreciate your opinion on this. I’ve already seen a hematologist who said she is not concerned, and based on her recommendations, I have a lab appointment this Friday.

Answer:

I started like you with a CBC that showed everything within range except my platelets, which came back at 443. I’ve been feeling pretty exhausted lately and pushed for more testing, and I am glad I did. I had an antibody test, which included thyroid peroxidase, ANA screen IFA, ANA titer, and ANA pattern, all showing an elevated antibody range. I am now waiting for my appointment with a rheumatologist to see if I have an autoimmune disease. All this to say, if you are concerned, it doesn’t hurt to ask your doctor to do more checks. Hope all goes well for you.

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Question

A routine Anaemia blood test shows a low CBC platelets, and elliptocytes are seen. What does this mean, and how serious is it?

Last month, I had my yearly routine exam. Everything was normal except for an issue with the platelets. The lab notes said the following:

• Platelet clumps seen on film – count unavailable.
• Platelets appear adequate on film
• Please send a citrate sample for platelet and the EDTA sample.
• No evidence of clot on visual and physical inspection.
• Platelet to be confirmed by manual film examination
• Platelet = 67

So, my Anaemia doctor asked me to repeat the sample last week. Everything was normal except for the ongoing issue with the low platelet, but this time, the results revealed the presence of elliptocytes. Here are the lab notes:

• Occasional small platelet clumps are seen.
• Platelet appears slightly higher than automated, Elliptocytes seen.
• Platelet to be confirmed by manual film examination.
• No evidence of clot on visual and physical inspection.
• Platelet count = 74

I’m really worried. How serious is this? I’m scheduled for a follow-up consultation with my doctor next week.

Answer:

I’d ask the doctor to call the lab to confirm, but the automated Anaemia is most likely 60-70. At the same time, the film shows platelet clumping with adequate/higher than automated, which means the true platelet level is likely 100+.

Elliptocytes suggest iron deficiency. If your Hb is normal, there is nothing to worry about. Consider watching your diet or taking over-the-counter iron supplements.

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An important indicator that will save money and protect your health ❤️

Take a complete or blood full (CBC)!

A competent doctor should prescribe this blood test himself before prescribing medications. This has never happened in my practice, especially if you go to a state clinic. Therefore, when sick, I take a CBC general blood home test (OAC) to ensure that a virus or bacteria has caused the disease. The main thing for me with therapists is to listen to the bronchi and lungs to ensure no wheezing.

When to take it?

I don’t run to take a complete level for every cold, but only for a serious illness; when I feel sick, my nose is green, and I have phlegm when I cough. To determine whether the disease is viral or caused by bacteria that require antibiotics for treatment.
Or, for example, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics without a preliminary check; he does this just in case, and then we have to restore the microflora.

Where to get one?

I take a complete cbc or panel at a private clinic near my home. How convenient it is: in the morning before work (no need to ask for time off), no queues, no angry medical workers! Is paying such a small amount of money for such advantages a pity? I don’t mind!

Also, budget clinics offer paid services for donation; if you don’t have private laboratories nearby, you can donate there.

A private clinic usually prepares the results of a full blood exam by the evening or the next morning at the latest and sends them by email.

How to prepare?

– It is best to have a complete Check done before you start taking any medications.

– take the exam in the morning on an empty stomach; they said you can and should drink it.

The sample for a complete full panel is taken from a vein or finger.

Decoding

In a general full exam, I look to see if the body has inflammation or signs of infection and what kind they are—viral or bacterial. So, how can you determine whether it is a virus or bacteria using a general blood test?

I have a basic rule; in short, I determine a virus or bacteria: if the analysis shows an increased content of lymphocytes, then the infection is viral; if the neutrophils are high, the infection is bacterial. Also, a high ESR – erythrocyte sedimentation rate – confirms the presence of bacteria.

The results from private laboratories always indicate a full transcript of all indicators. I also have the norms and my results provided. If my results deviate from the norm, the system highlights the line in bold, which allows me to see immediately where the values exceed or fall below the standard.

The last time I got very sick, my throat was coated for three days. I started coughing and developed a terrible headache. The Anaemia GP found wheezing in my bronchi and prescribed antibiotics without conducting a report. I took the exam myself and became convinced that the treatment would be justified.

My Anaemia analysis indicates that leukocytes, erythrocytes, and neutrophils have elevated counts. This means I had a viral infection, and a complete bacterial infection has also joined in; it’s just starting to develop.

You treat the full virus with symptomatic care, such as gargling and using expectorants, rather than with pills. But you need to take an antibiotic for a bacterial infection, which I did, and after 3 days, I already felt better.

WHEN YOU ARE ILL, DON’T FORGET TO DRINK LOTS OF WARM LIQUIDS!

GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!