August 24th

Count is 29, which is the same as a couple of weeks ago.  Still staying on 7.5 mg of prednisone and I go back for another cbc in 2 weeks.  Thanks for checking up on me and thanks for the prayers.  Please continue to pray for health and safety  Have a great weekend.

August 10, 2012

Well, my platelet count is down to 25,000 - so not good.  Staying on 7.5mg of prednisone and I go in for another cbc in 2 weeks.  Thank you for all of your prayers.  Please continue to pray for the count to go up and right now, specifically, that I stay safe and healthy.
Kayte
"Rejoice in the LORD always, I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4 (I'm repeating this over and over again today!)

July 27th

So my platelets dropped to 54 and I'm staying at 7.5mg of Prednisone for another 2 weeks.  Not thrilled with these results but the numbers are safe.  Please pray that they go back up and in a couple weeks we'll be able to decrease the Prednisone again.  Thanks for checking up on me.  Have a blessed weekend!

Colossians 3:15  "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.  And be thankful."

Friday the 13th

Well, for being Friday the 13th, it isn't so scary. My platelets are 80,000 which means that they're pretty much the same as 2 weeks ago.  That is a good thing.  My doc explained that we're not really expecting my platelets to go higher, just looking for them to maintain as we're getting me off the prednisone.  I'm now down to 7.5mg of the steroid and will go in to get checked in 2 weeks.  Thank you so much for all of your kind words and prayers, I really appreciate it and ask for your continued prayer that things stay the same and I can get off this drug.

Some of you have asked me some questions and I figured you all might have them so I'll address a couple.  One big question I keep getting is what's normal?  "Normal" platelets are 150,000 to 450,000.  I'll probably not be in that normal range, but the danger zone is anything less than 30,000.  So if I'm right in the middle there everything would be great for me.  Another questions is asking how I feel.  I feel ok, and that's really the best answer.  The worst part is the steroid side effects, but keeping my kids busy keeps me very distracted.  I don't really have any effects with just having low platelets, except for when they were like really low, I was very fatigued then. But mainly I'm just really sore and hungry all of the time.  I think the hardest part of this whole thing is my thoughts, I have anxiety leading up to the test every week or 2 weeks and I really just need to trust in God that his plan for me is the best and that everything happening is just to bring me closer to him.  I could not have made it through the past few years in dealing with ITP without Jesus Christ and I turn to him constantly for encouragement.  I'm not sure why he made me with all of these auto immune disorders but all I can do is trust that it is for his greater plan. I'm sure some of you have things going on in your life that are difficult or just confusing and I want to encourage you to turn your concerns over to Christ because he will gladly take them and give you peace and understanding in return.  What an awesome God we have!

I'm so blessed and thankful to have you all in my life to pray for me.  If there is anything specific I can be praying for you, please don't hesitate to message me and let me know.  You are all in my prayers.  God Bless.  Kayte

Psalsm 139:14a

6/29

My platelets are at 77,000! Woohoo. Praise the Lord. Down to 10 mg of prednisone. Thank you for all your prayers. I go back in in 2 weeks, so excited to have a week off from the needle. Keep you all updated. Have a great fourth of July.

6/22/12

My platelets are up at 47,000.  My doc wasn't in so the other physician there is keeping me on 15mg of prednisone still.  She said that if it is really on an upswing, that is most likely due to the chemo, and that hopefully next week we'll start the SLOW process of weaning me off the prednisone.  That would be AMAZING!  I'm very over being on this drug. 
So, good news that my platelets are up and I feel more safe going camping this weekend. Please continue to pray for my platelet count to keep growing higher, my side effects from the prednisone to be minimal and for my safety.  Will update again next week. Thanks!

6/15/12

Had my platelets checked today and they are at 23,000.  Dr. Folbe said that the chemo might take a while to start working so not to be too alarmed.  I'm staying on 15mg a day of prednisone and my next check up is in a week.  If you have any questions please feel free to leave them here. 
Please pray that my count goes up and that the chemo worked. Thanks for your support.
Kayte