Question: Hello Doctor, i am a 43yr.old male from Chicago. Last Nov.20th2011. I went out to dinner, came home and i woke up around 1:30 am with a severe (pain level 10)abdominal pain(around the belly button and slightly lower left). No other symptoms just pain and dry heaving. Lasted maybe a 24 hrs. A few nights later on Wed.(the night before Thanksgiving)We went to dinner and later that night it came back again in my sleep, this time with Diarrhea & Vomit that lasted a few hrs. & the pain lasted another 24 hrs. I thought i just had a virus that was maybe on it's way out. 2 1/2 weeks later on Mon. Dec. 12th the abdominal pain came back for a third time in the middle of the night. NO other symptoms. I never noticed/felt like a had a fever or chills or swollen glands at any time.This 3rd episode sent me to the ER where they took Blood,Urine & a CT scan. Everything checked out okay except my platelets where down to 53,000. My Dr. put me on Cipro & Metronidazole for 10 days to treat it as an infection. The day i started the meds that evening a had black tarry stool that lasted 2 days then back to normal after that.The GI Doctor sent me for another blood test which looked good except for the platelets dropping to 50,000(this has been 10 days since first test). When i finished the Cipro & Metro, that next day my urine looked orange but only lasted 2 days and back to normal. I never noticed any blood or pain at all when i urinated or had a stool at any time since this started.I seen a Hematologist & sent me for more blood test 2 weeks later.I got results for HIV that was NEGATIVE and 3rd blood test that looked good except the platelets dropped again, now to 45,000 on XXXXXXX 11th,2012. I went for a Bone-Marrow Biopsy on XXXXXXX 16th as well as Hepatitis & Viral Load test that all came back NEGATIVE. My platelets are still at 45,000 on the fourth blood test since XXXXXXX 20th. My joints have been getting achey for the past couple weeks but seem to be getting better lately. I haven't had an abdominal episode since the ER on Dec. 12th other than a minor discomfort here or there but not often and not painful, just a lingering feeling. Besides the aching and feeling tired,i'm not sure if that is cause of the stress i am feeling from not knowing what's going on or if that is a symptom of something. I went to my GI yesterday on Mon. XXXXXXX 30th for a scope down my throat.He didn't see any Ulcers and everything else looked good but i am waiting on results for the biopsy. I have another blood test in more 2 weeks to check my platelet level for the 5th time.I'm confused by what could be causing my platelets to drop each time? 2 yrs. ago during a routine physical they were 189,000. Since the ER in Dec. they went from 53,000 to 50,000 to 45,000, & 45,000 again.Never had a fever or Swollen Glands, no pain going to the bathroom this whole time since it started 2 1/2 months ago. The stress is driving me insane of not knowing and searching for answers. Thanks for your help XXXXXXX

Hello, Dr! I forgot to mention that i did have a colonoscopy last year and everything checked out good. I had it done cuz' my father had colon cancer a couple yrs. ago and caught it very early with no treatment(Chemo) after. I had the scope down my throat yesterday. Looked good,just waiting on biopsy results. Overall i feel pretty good,besides feeling a little tired maybe because of all the stress and no answers yet! Is there anything i can do naturally to boost the platelets? I've been a healthy guy with no sickness my whole life so this has me real worried. I eat a lot of red meat, a few times a week and probably eat too much fast food which i have cut down drastically since. I am not an every day drinker but when i do go out we sometimes go a bit too far with beer and shots. It's more of a weekend thing and at times it could be a big amount. I have only had a few drinks twice in the past 2 1/2 months and sticking to water & gatorade most of the time. Something must have caused my platelets to drop and gradually go lower. Any ideas of what it could be? My father had Diverticulitis and is anemic. We are very similar with our habits and in size. I'm 6'1" 217lbs. Thank you for anything you can tell me. 2 1/2 months has got me going insane when i don't know what needs to be done. Thank You, XXXXXXX