So if you are a chronic Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura(TTP) patient, when should you check to see if you have a recurrence?
Well, you can never check too soon.
I was just on a business and pleasure trip to California.
Joined some friends and went to Yosemite National park. We walked the trails to
see a Sequoia Grove and saw the wonderful views of El Captain and Half Dome. If
you ever get a chance, check out Yosemite. I also had a three day conference in
Cupertino and unexpectedly meet a home town friend in the lobby of the hotel.
Beer was good too.
On the third morning of the conference, I wasn’t feeling too
well. It was the last day, just had to get through, take a red-eye home and
would be in bed by 10 AM Friday morning.
Pee was a bit coloured, small headache, thought I might
throw up, not that hungry, not that thirsty, … TTP? No bruising, no petechiae,
so I was confident, no TTP.
The flight home was successful, a little late, but home by
noon. No bruising, not sure whether I had a cold or the flu, so slept it off in
the afternoon. Still wasn’t feeling good when I woke up, no bruising, but maybe
it’s time to get a blood check, just to make sure. It was 5:30 and the blood
clinics close at 4:00, no bruising, so let’s wait until tomorrow.
Finally rolled into the blood clinic at 11 AM Saturday.
Nurses took three tries to get a needle in place to draw blood, not good, but
no bruising …
At 3:30 PM, I received a call from my hematologist,
platelets at 15, kidneys are suffering. Where are you? Do you have a driver?
Get to the hospital as we are doing plasmapheresis today.
So if you are a chronic TTP patient, when should you check?
Well, it’s never too soon.
Thanks, Bruce.
@BruceFightsTTP
