Regular Member shinytop Posted June 3, 2012 Regular Member Share Posted June 3, 2012 Hi folks, I'm a 31 year old male and have been experiencing male pattern baldness related hairloss since the age of 18. Over the last 4 years I have been trying to arrange for a hair transplant, but have discovered along the way that I have a low platelet count. Normal levels are between 150000 and 450000 per microlitre and mine are usually around 110000. Over the last two years I have been working with my G.P. to increase the platelet count. I have tried most natural remedies and a two week course of steroids (prednisone) but was only able to achieve a level of 128000 microlitres I have been in touch with a couple of hair transplant clinics in the UK and they say had never had a patient with a low platelet count in the past, so are not sure what the procedure would be for a successful transplant. However, they are apprehensive to go ahead with surgery with a platelet count below the normal level. My G.P. assures me that my platelet count would never cause an issue in normal life, or with surgery, but obviously hair transplant surgery is very different from other forms of surgery. Do you guys know what the threshold platelet count level is for FUE? Many thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member rev3 Posted June 3, 2012 Senior Member Share Posted June 3, 2012 i've been on propecia for 15 years and have had a low platelet count since 2000 so if propecia has been linked to low platelet count and propecia is recommended to slow hair loss/grow hair not sure why your doctors of choice have nixed your booking surgery with them oh, forgot to ask: are you on propecia check this out: Finasteride-induced thrombocytopenia - Kouriefs - 2002 - BJU International - Wiley Online Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Shampoo Posted June 3, 2012 Senior Member Share Posted June 3, 2012 Wow Rev3 thank you for posting that link. I too have suffered from mild low platelets the last 3 years. I am going to investigate this further as well as share this study with my hematologist who has run tons of tests without being able to determine the cause of my low platelets. BTW Rev3 are you still taking propecia in light of this study? Has your doctor had any thoughts about your low platelets and propecia? Are there other options besides propecia? Dr. Dow Stough - 1000 Grafts - 1996 Dr. Jerry Wong - 4352 Grafts - August 2012 Dr. Jerry Wong - 2708 Grafts - May 2016 Remember a hair transplant turns back the clock, but it doesn't stop the clock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Shampoo Posted June 3, 2012 Senior Member Share Posted June 3, 2012 shinytop as stated above I too suffer from some mild low blood platelet counts. I recently made an appointment for HT surgery and listed my low platelets on the patient information page and the doctor made no comment about it being a problem as far as having HT surgery. Of course when they are mildly low it is maybe different than if someone has super low platelets. I was totally unaware that propecia has been linked to low platelets. I am going to look into this further. I will share with you that I read tons of stuff on the internet about low platelets and discovered some think taking "Papaya Leaf Extract" can help increase platelet counts. I thought what the heck and tried it. After taking it for three months I went back to my hematologist for a regular check of my platelet count and guess what? Yep my platelets had risen for the first time in 3 years. Look I am not a doctor and this could be a fluke...who knows. But I am continuing to take drops of Papaya Leaf Extract in water every single day. Here is where I buy my 4oz Liquid Extract: Iowa Select Herbs Dr. Dow Stough - 1000 Grafts - 1996 Dr. Jerry Wong - 4352 Grafts - August 2012 Dr. Jerry Wong - 2708 Grafts - May 2016 Remember a hair transplant turns back the clock, but it doesn't stop the clock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member shinytop Posted June 4, 2012 Author Regular Member Share Posted June 4, 2012 Hi folks, Yes I am on Finasteride (1.25mg per day) and have been for about 4 years. I think they have been a little low for at least 5 years, so I don’t think Fin is the cause in my case, but may very well not be helping. I've tried many things to raise my platelets: Papaya leaf tea and extract IPT kit Sesame oil Super healthy diet - no sugar, gluten, dairy Nothing has worked for me to be honest. Even the steroids only knocked the levels up a tiny amount. The problem is, because my levels are only a fraction under normal, my G.P. is not prepared to do anything more to get the levels up as they wouldn't cause any issue in normal life. Having said that, I don't think I'd want to go near Prednisone again. That stuff really messes up your body! Also I think it's down to the clinic's experience with the issue. Because they had never come across this as an issue before, they just aren't sure what to do with me. I totally understand of course. There's no point going through the stress and cost of a HT if its ultimately going to be unsuccessful. They tell me the implanted hairs will just get pushed out if it doesn't clot at the normal rate. But there are other factors that determine clotting speed besides platelet count. For example, I know vitamin k and iron increase clotting. So who knows, it may be possible to have a low platelet count and no issue with clotting :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member rev3 Posted June 5, 2012 Senior Member Share Posted June 5, 2012 Wow Rev3 thank you for posting that link. I too have suffered from mild low platelets the last 3 years. I am going to investigate this further as well as share this study with my hematologist who has run tons of tests without being able to determine the cause of my low platelets. BTW Rev3 are you still taking propecia in light of this study? Has your doctor had any thoughts about your low platelets and propecia? Are there other options besides propecia? yes! none whatsoever this is the first time i even linked the two then did a google search i always wondered why i had low platelet count i've had surgery with this without any questions from the surgeon... maybe because they are still in triple digits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Shampoo Posted June 5, 2012 Senior Member Share Posted June 5, 2012 rev3....I wonder if we find that propecia is at least partly related to our low platelet count would Avodart be a good different option? Dr. Dow Stough - 1000 Grafts - 1996 Dr. Jerry Wong - 4352 Grafts - August 2012 Dr. Jerry Wong - 2708 Grafts - May 2016 Remember a hair transplant turns back the clock, but it doesn't stop the clock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member RCWest Posted June 5, 2012 Senior Member Share Posted June 5, 2012 Platelets help the blood clot. So does Vitamin K. Eating lots of leafy greens or other green vegetables high in Vitamin K or taking a Vitamin K supplement will help with blood clotting. I'm not sure if it will alter your platelet count though. Vitamin K is so powerful at thickening the blood that you are advised to avoid any foods containing it while taking blood thinners like Coumadin, Aggrenox, etc. Finasteride 1.25 mg. daily Avodart 0.5 mg. daily Spironolactone 50 mg twice daily 5 mg. oral Minoxidil twice daily Biotin 1000 mcg daily Multi Vitamin daily Damn, with all the stuff you put in your hair are you like a negative NW1? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Shampoo Posted June 5, 2012 Senior Member Share Posted June 5, 2012 RCWest....I notice you take Avodart. Do you think most doctors if I explained why I would like to switch from Propecia to Avodart would gladly oblige and write an RX for Avodart instead? Dr. Dow Stough - 1000 Grafts - 1996 Dr. Jerry Wong - 4352 Grafts - August 2012 Dr. Jerry Wong - 2708 Grafts - May 2016 Remember a hair transplant turns back the clock, but it doesn't stop the clock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member RCWest Posted June 5, 2012 Senior Member Share Posted June 5, 2012 RCWest....I notice you take Avodart. Do you think most doctors if I explained why I would like to switch from Propecia to Avodart would gladly oblige and write an RX for Avodart instead? Many doctors, if you explain what you are trying to achieve and you explain that Avodart is like Propecia but much stronger, and studies show it does grow more hair, shouldn't really have a problem with it. Finasteride 1.25 mg. daily Avodart 0.5 mg. daily Spironolactone 50 mg twice daily 5 mg. oral Minoxidil twice daily Biotin 1000 mcg daily Multi Vitamin daily Damn, with all the stuff you put in your hair are you like a negative NW1? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member rev3 Posted June 6, 2012 Senior Member Share Posted June 6, 2012 rev3....I wonder if we find that propecia is at least partly related to our low platelet count would Avodart be a good different option? not sure. i have heard of people switching to avodart from propecia have experienced some shedding my levels were between 105,000 and 120,000 for 10 years last year went on no sugar/high fat diet my levels have been hovering around 140,000 on 2 blood tests Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member gillenator Posted June 6, 2012 Senior Member Share Posted June 6, 2012 I have never heard of this being an issue with the overall success of a HT procedure however I highly recommend that you present this issue to several renowned HT surgeons for their opinions. Gillenator Independent Patient Advocate I am not a physician and not employed by any doctor/clinic. My opinions are not medical advice, but are my own views which you read at your own risk. Supporting Physicians: Dr. Robert Dorin: The Hairloss Doctors in New York, NY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member RCWest Posted June 6, 2012 Senior Member Share Posted June 6, 2012 In reality, these days the slits for the grafts are extremely small compared to the mini/micrograft days. Even with water for blood, there usually isn't much bleeding unless you have taken natural blood thinners like NSAIDS, Green Tea, Vitamin E, etc. Finasteride 1.25 mg. daily Avodart 0.5 mg. daily Spironolactone 50 mg twice daily 5 mg. oral Minoxidil twice daily Biotin 1000 mcg daily Multi Vitamin daily Damn, with all the stuff you put in your hair are you like a negative NW1? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Dr. William Lindsey Posted June 7, 2012 Regular Member Share Posted June 7, 2012 I'll add my 2 cents. Platelets are THE initial clotting mechanism. I might consider a strip, as I could suture ligate any significant bleeding, but I would not offer an FUE to someone with low platelets. Several hundred oozing/bleeding 1.0mm punch holes could be a disaster. I do agree with RCWest that the slit recipient holes are so small I doubt it would be a problem with 100k or more platelets. Everyday we have a few triple slits that ooze until we put a nice graft in there and stop it. Be careful before proceeding. And most importantly, find out why you have low platelets and make sure its not something that will shorten your life. Then worry about your hair. Dr. Lindsey McLean VA William H. Lindsey, MD, FACS McLean, VA Dr. William Lindsey is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Shampoo Posted June 7, 2012 Senior Member Share Posted June 7, 2012 I'll add my 2 cents. And most importantly, find out why you have low platelets and make sure its not something that will shorten your life. Then worry about your hair. Dr. Lindsey McLean VA Thank for your comments Dr. Lindsey. I have had low platelets in the 110-128 range for about three years. I have been back on propecia roughly for about the same time. In this thread there was some information about propecia and low platelets possibly having a link. I am now considering stopping propecia to see if my platelet count would rise. Roughly how long do you think I would need to be off propecia to see if there was a link? A month? 3 months? 6 months? a year? 2 years? Dr. Dow Stough - 1000 Grafts - 1996 Dr. Jerry Wong - 4352 Grafts - August 2012 Dr. Jerry Wong - 2708 Grafts - May 2016 Remember a hair transplant turns back the clock, but it doesn't stop the clock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member Dr. William Lindsey Posted June 7, 2012 Regular Member Share Posted June 7, 2012 No earthly idea. Consult a hematologist please. William H. Lindsey, MD, FACS McLean, VA Dr. William Lindsey is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member Shampoo Posted June 7, 2012 Senior Member Share Posted June 7, 2012 No earthly idea. Consult a hematologist please. Will do Doctor. I have been under the care of a hematolgist for two years. I am going to show him this case report discussing a possible link between low platelets and propecia. Until I get in to see him I have stopped taking propecia to see if it will have any impact when he runs the blood-work. Dr. Dow Stough - 1000 Grafts - 1996 Dr. Jerry Wong - 4352 Grafts - August 2012 Dr. Jerry Wong - 2708 Grafts - May 2016 Remember a hair transplant turns back the clock, but it doesn't stop the clock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Member shinytop Posted June 8, 2012 Author Regular Member Share Posted June 8, 2012 I've been in touch with a few of the well known HT clinics. The response has been very positive - most say my levels (around 120k if I do all the right things) shouldn't cause a problem. One clinic says they have operated on two patients with a count of 120k without issue. It would be nice to know if there was a definative bleed time cut off point, as we could easy have that test done at the doctors. Still, this gives me confidence moving on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senior Member gillenator Posted June 8, 2012 Senior Member Share Posted June 8, 2012 Sounds like you are making progress and hope things work out for you. Don"t be surprised if your hemotolgist does not know much about Propecia. Any links or articles that you can share would be helpful. Gillenator Independent Patient Advocate I am not a physician and not employed by any doctor/clinic. My opinions are not medical advice, but are my own views which you read at your own risk. Supporting Physicians: Dr. Robert Dorin: The Hairloss Doctors in New York, NY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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