Hi,
I'm a 30 year old male and just went to the doctor for the first time in a couple of years due, literally, a slight pain in the neck. The doctor told me it was likely due to a virus, but offered me azythromycin, "just in case", if it would make me feel better. I took 500 mg that evening, 250 the following morning, and on the morning of the third day I went to the hospital to get some routine blood work done, including a CBC and LFT.
The doc called me later that morning to report that my platelet count was 112,000, down from the normal of 130,000. I've since seen 150-450,000 quoted as optimal. She said she didn't have a baseline to compare it to, so repeat the CBC in four to six weeks, as it may have been the azythromycin screwing up the numbers. (I had also taken an ibuprofen and tylenol three to four days prior to the cbc.) She said everything else was fine, and WBC's were at 7,000. No issue with red blood cells.
I took 250 mg on the third, fourth and fifth day, and the antibiotic did make me feel uncomfortable while I was on it. (Nausea, stomach cramps, etc.) The doc called me later in the week to report that the LFT had come in, and while five of the enzyme counts were normal, the ALT level was 53, above the high range of 40. She didn't sound concerned and said we'd repeat it with the CBC in 4-6 weeks.
Now, I'm a hypochondriac's hypochondriac. About ten years ago, I had sex with a steady girlfriend and may have been exposed to menstrual blood. I had an STD screening about seven years ago and everything came back clear, save one test that was messed up because of the person who drew the sample. I want to say it was a swab sample, not a blood sample, but I honestly cannot remember if it was Hep C or not that didn't come back. I have read that Hep C is possible with thrombocytopenia and elevated ALT, and while I'm planning to switch docs soon, it'll be at least a few days before I could possibly get a Hep C test.
Am I making mountains out of molehills? I have never touched illegal drugs, gotten a tattoo, etc...and I'm trying to think of any way I could have come into contact with HCV and that's the best I've got. Are my numbers cause for concern, or would they have to be substantially more off? Any reassurance would be very helpful!
Thanks!