The doctor said I could start playing basketball on November 1. I figured today is close enough.
I’m a little out of shape, and my shot is off — especially later in the morning as my legs got more tired. But it felt good to get out and run again.
Now if I can just stay healthy for a while and stay out of the way of the big guys…
Prior to my collarbone surgery, I had to get a pre-op authorization that included a blood platelet count. Platelets in the blood help with clotting, so if it’s too low the surgeon will not operate. Mine did turn out to be low; high enough to continue with the surgery, but low enough to merit further investigation.
Possible causes of low platelet count vary from some forms of cancer to problems making the measurement. So off I went to the Ironwood Cancer Center.
After filling 10 test tubes with blood and then a CT scan that included drinking barium and an iodine IV, I went back for a follow-up today to see what’s going on.
Mostly good news. No cancer. Liver, spleen gall bladder, adrenal glands, kidneys and pancreas are normal. The low platelet count was caused by “clumping”: I have a rare antibody (0.1% of the population) that reacts with the solution they mix with the blood to prevent it from clotting. This antibody causes the platelets to clump together so that the automated platelet counting equipment sees several platelets as one, or even doesn’t count them because the clump is too big. So my platelet count is fine.
Incidental to these results, however, I tested positive for the the antibody to Lupus. She assured me that it doesn’t mean I have Lupus, but I now need to follow up on this to make sure. Rheumatology.org indicates that only 11-13% of the people with a positive test actually have Lupus, and about 15% of healthy people test positive for the antibody. So it’s probably nothing to worry about, but worth following up just the same.
I also have only about 2/3 of the minimum level of vitamin B12, so I will begin supplementing with a pill each day. Maybe that will give me more energy!
And by the way, while were talking about my health, the orthopedic surgeon told me last week that I am free to do anything I want except play basketball. I can practice shooting to my heart’s content, but no floor play until November 1. I can live with that, but it won’t be easy.
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