Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: valiantkate on February 07, 2014, 07:19:40 PM

Title: poor clotting in blood test what does it mean?
Post by: valiantkate on February 07, 2014, 07:19:40 PM
Hello again, just wanted to pick your brains.
My son has had 3 blood tests now-also X rays. He is losing weight and is always  tired and lethargic, he has nose bleeds - without the picking, they take forever to stop!
the latest blood test has confirmed that he has some  problems with blood clotting- the previous ones showed this too - he has to have another test next week. His X rays are  clear, he was very poorly years ago with a serious infection of the brain and spinal cord (ADEM) I was wondering if there was some link as there are no others in the family with a similar problem with their blood. His cousin has non hodgins lymphoma but in remission now.
I'm all of a dooh dah and dont know what these results mean. does anyone out there know anythng about blood test results.?
Title: Re: poor clotting in blood test what does it mean?
Post by: CLKD on February 07, 2014, 07:51:57 PM
That sounds awful - who gave you the results a GP or Consultant?  Which area of the body was X-rayed? 

Make a list of your queries and talk these through with him - I forget how old he is ………  :-X

It is possible that infection can cause blood clotting problems which is why 3 tests are done, however if he is tired and losing weight I would be concerned.  Is his Doctor aware of the cousin with Lymphoma?
Title: Re: poor clotting in blood test what does it mean?
Post by: valiantkate on February 07, 2014, 10:33:46 PM
Hi there, He's 22 now, so thin despite my best efforts to fatten him up- its me that gets fat! It was the GP who rang him today to ask him to return for more bloods.
The Gp isnt aware of his cousin yet, I will mention it but dont want to panic my son.
He's such a wonderful young man, gentle, arty and caring- seems so unfair.
the X ray was of his chest and was clear- the other aspects of the blood tests were clear (I think)
What would I do without you? I know you cant change the situation but it helps so very much to know that I can air my  worries. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Title: Re: poor clotting in blood test what does it mean?
Post by: honeybun on February 07, 2014, 10:47:34 PM
I am sure they will get to the bottom of this very soon.

No matter how old they get you still worry. That's what us mum's do.

Keep posting and let us know how he gets on.


Honeyb
x
Title: Re: poor clotting in blood test what does it mean?
Post by: CLKD on February 08, 2014, 01:36:15 PM
It is a worry however old they are  :hug:   what do you think might be the cause?
Title: Re: poor clotting in blood test what does it mean?
Post by: valiantkate on February 09, 2014, 02:14:52 PM
Hi CLKD, I'm not too sure of the cause, he eats a well rounded diet- plenty of veg, etc, he's not a picky eater, he doesnt drink much alcohol, doesnt take any recreational drugs- or any other type- not even paracetamol unles he's really bad. He is just always exhausted, sleeps for Britain, he is always cold and complains of 'bone hurt/ achey' . I  dont know a lot about the blood system- so am at a loss about whats going on. I know the ADEM he had when he was 13 can leave a legacy of extreme fatigue and I put it  down to that.
I suppose we will have to just wait for the results of his next test. I suppose if the GP was concerned she would have already taken steps to investigate further.
I know I'm just a clucky Mum!!!!! Wouldnt have it any other way eh?! ;)
Title: Re: poor clotting in blood test what does it mean?
Post by: CLKD on February 09, 2014, 03:56:13 PM
You carry on clucking!  sometimes that is the only way to get sensible answers.  Let us know as you find out!  Fatigue can be a left over from a severe virus  :-\
Title: Re: poor clotting in blood test what does it mean?
Post by: libby1 on February 09, 2014, 07:39:06 PM
Hi Valiant

Are clotting problems in the family? Me, my mum and both my sons bleed and bruise very easily. Maybe it's just the way his body works?  :-\

Libby
x
Title: Re: poor clotting in blood test what does it mean?
Post by: CLKD on February 09, 2014, 07:48:28 PM
Libby - are you tired all the while?
Title: Re: poor clotting in blood test what does it mean?
Post by: valiantkate on February 10, 2014, 10:54:23 AM
theres never been any family problems with clotting, our family problems tend to be arthritis. When I look at my son he is so thin and  pale, dark under the eyes- can even see his jaws and muscles move (sounds a bit odd) when he talks. Hes over 6 foot- used to be full of energy. Anyway once he gets the bloods done etc we will know what were dealing with.
Thanks for putting up with me. :thankyou:
Title: Re: poor clotting in blood test what does it mean?
Post by: CLKD on February 10, 2014, 11:45:57 AM
Do you go to his appts. with him?
Title: Re: poor clotting in blood test what does it mean?
Post by: libby1 on February 10, 2014, 03:24:29 PM
Hi Valiant

We're not "putting up with you" we're here to listen to each other. :) Hope you get some answers soon.

CLKD - no I'm not tired all of the time (only when I've been rushing around!)

Libby
x
Title: Re: poor clotting in blood test what does it mean?
Post by: CLKD on February 10, 2014, 04:48:53 PM
 :thankyou:
Title: Re: poor clotting in blood test what does it mean?
Post by: valiantkate on February 19, 2014, 06:45:52 PM
finally got the latest results through, his blood clotting is very slow so the GP is referring him to the haematologist at hospital. I dont know a great deal about the circulation/ blood 'stuff' so dont understand what it means. Theres no one in the family with clotting problems though.
I remember going to IKEA years ago when he was a young lad- he had such a dreadful nose bleed "I wasnt picking it mum, honest" he was sat in a pool of blood- a real pool , it eventually stopped but it was terrible! I never thought any thing about problems with his blood. He's a bit fed up at the moment- its a pity as he really is a nice young man - I'm a bit biased though!
Title: Re: poor clotting in blood test what does it mean?
Post by: CLKD on February 19, 2014, 10:21:31 PM
When will you get the appt.?  If you have to wait I would ring the Secretary of the Dept and tell them if you are able to take a cancellation at short notice.  The sooner this gets sorted the better then you can get on with enjoying the Summer.
Title: Re: poor clotting in blood test what does it mean?
Post by: valiantkate on April 14, 2014, 06:09:41 PM
Sorry not been on the site for a while, computer died and Ive been unwell, a really messy couple of months. It seems that the haematologists arent concerned about my son, they say his clotting results may be normal for him. He's still tired and so thin but doesnt like me fussing!!! I'm the one putting weight on!
Title: Re: poor clotting in blood test what does it mean?
Post by: valiantkate on April 16, 2014, 03:28:07 PM
He had acute disseminated enchephaliomytis ADEM a while back and he has never picked up really- this involed his brain swelling amongst a lot of other stuff. I think his iron levels are OK and they didnt detect anything else apart from poor
 clotting. it is worth mentioning though and I am so glad you have your lively daughter back!!!! :foryou:
Title: Re: poor clotting in blood test what does it mean?
Post by: joyce21 on May 05, 2014, 12:55:17 PM
Hi Valiant

I've just come across your thread,I was diagnosed with something called Von Willebrand disease a few years ago now, I used to have heavy nose bleeds all the time as a child, and growing up i was painfully thin etc, I was always pun on Iron tablets at my 1st anti-natal appointments etc i could go on lol, but never ever knew there was something wrong with me, just thought that was the way I was made. then whenh my son was little he need minor surgery, but because his dad had Haemophilia, they wanted to just check he was ok, when the blood test results came back they said he had VW, so maybe they had his dads diagnosis wrong all these years, in order to comfirm this they would need to test me, if I came back negative then that's where it came from, but, shock horror, i came back positive!!!
You can google it to give you all the details, see if it matches him, apparently it's far more common than most people realise, but it means you miss the glue that holds a clot together long enough for the healing to happen,. But it's affected by hormones and adrenalin, so you clot normally at 1st, but as soon as your levels return to normal, then the clot breaks down and bleeding starts, this is why they sometimes have a problem when they take blood if the person is nervous having it done, their levels will be high. if you want to ask me anything feel free, either here or PM me. good luck.

Joyce x
Title: Re: poor clotting in blood test what does it mean?
Post by: valiantkate on May 10, 2014, 02:23:50 PM
Sounds worth a look, he's seeing the haematology consultant on the 19th so I hope they may shed some light on whats going on. He does have loads of nose bleeds- IKe was one of the best, he sat and just bled out of his nose, in the end the whole place looked like a blood bath. Oh the poor staff, they were wonderful though. He's OK in himself, tired and thin and pale but the humour is still there. Will let you know. Many thanks xxxx ;)