high platelets?

I learned my platelets are slightly high in May. My family doctor check them doing routine blood work and trying to figure out what was wrong with me (I got a positive Lyme test a couple weeks later). My platelets were 402. When I started seeing my LLND in July for my Lyme Disease I shared a copy of my blood work with her. She saw that I had high platelets and she said "Oh you TOTALLY have Lyme. High platelets are seen all the time in chronic infections of Lyme & cos." I did not even know about the slightly raised platelets until my LLND mentioned it... my family doctor never mentioned it at all. Sorry, I don't know much more about it other than what I stated about my story.

What did your doctor say?

Actually, a high platelet count is what we call "thick blood" or hypercoagualtion issues, and I think there are a couple of other terms used to describe it on Lyme forums. Essentially, it's that your blood is willing to clot too easily, so you will need to take something to thin your blood slightly. There are many ways to do this, so be sure to ask your doctor about this.

You told us what your platelet count was, but not the reference ranges. Are they really high? If so, then if your doc doesn't start you on something, you can take a natural product that can help thin the blood so you aren't at an increased risk for blood clots and so that the treatment can get in through all of the tiny little veins throughout your body.

I know too much about this, as my husband is on blood thinners for life due to Factor 5 - a blood disorder that makes his blood clot too much. He almost died when both legs were full of blood clots (hip to ankle) and both lungs were almost full of them as well (70% full).

Oh please - don't panic!!! While bothersome and potentially dangerous if ignored - yours won't be ignored, so it's only bothersome!

Some people can find enough benefit in just taking turmeric, as it has some blood thinning qualities - a bit more than say ginger, which also can thin the blood. So how much help your body needs with this will dictate what you can safely use. Only need a little bit of help? Turmeric could be enough - and bonus! It's an anti-inflammatory!!!

Many who need more than what turmeric can do, use nattokinase or lumbrokinase to help thin their blood. And the main side effect? You'll notice that you bruise easier, and you will bleed easier, so the right amount is necessary. I hope your doc is on board with this, or you can at least get them to do regular blood testing to watch this.

And your doc is right, it's very likely due to your infections - but that doesn't mean to ignore what could easily turn into a bad situation with blood clots!!

And I'm so sorry about not answering your email yet - I do seem to have too many irons in the fire!

I had high platelet counts at the beginning of my Lyme treatment....in the 500 range. Since treating, the number has gone down to normal range!