Ulcerative Colitis

Their job is to maintain the integrity of blood vessels and to seal cuts.

If your blood doesn't have enough platelets, it isn't able to clot.

The result is excessive bruising and bleeding.

A normal count is 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood.

If your count is between 30,000 and 50,000, your blood should still clot.

Anything under 10,000 is considered an emergency.

"My lowest count was 1,000," Kreider said.

"I really had to watch it if I was working with anything sharp, because even a little cut and it wouldn't have stopped bleeding." Between July and Christmas Eve, Kreider made more than 10 trips to Hershey Medical Center to receive blood transfusions.

"It seemed like I was living there," she said.

Doctors also put Kreider on Prednisone, a steroid that increases platelet counts _ and makes you gain weight.

Kreider said she gained 30 pounds but has since lost five pounds.

Kreider spent five days in the hospital over the Thanksgiving holiday, receiving blood transfusions because of constant nose bleeds _ another symptom of ITP.

"There were times when I was really mad and depressed," Kreider said.

"But I've ...

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