Q: Because thrombocytopenia has numerous possible causes, the treatment plan your doctor assigns you will vary based on the root cause of your low platelet count. Sometimes, treatment plans are relatively simple - if your doctor determines your thrombocytopenia is a side-effect of a medicine you're taking, you may only need to discontinue or change your medication. Note that in the cases of some powerful anti-coagulants like heparin, platelet count may not increase when you stop taking the medication. You may need to take additional medications to recover. Doctors may prescribe certain medicines that boost platelet production to combat thrombocytopenia. These medicines, including eltrombopag and romiplostim, come in a variety of forms - they may be given as pills or injections. They may also be given in conjunction with one of the many other treatment options for thrombocytopenia, depending on its specific cause. Steroids can reduce the function of the body's immune system. Because of this, they are useful for treating thrombocytopenia is caused by an autoimmune disorder - a disorder wherein the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the body itself rather than foreign pathogens. Since steroids weaken the immune system, they can ease the effects of an autoimmune-related case of thrombocytopenia. However, a weakened immune system is at a greater risk of infection, so additional treatments may be necessary to offset this new risk.  Note that the steroids that doctors would prescribe in this case (such as prednisone) are different from the ones used illegally by athletes to boost physical performance. In more extreme cases of autoimmune thrombocytopenia, a doctor may prescribe intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) or antibodies to further slow the body's immune response. In rarer blood disorders associated with thrombocytopenia (like TTP and Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS)), doctors may recommend a procedure involving the treatment of a patient's blood plasma. Plasma is the portion of the blood that contains, among other things, autoantibodies, the malfunctioning components of the immune system that result in autoimmune diseases. Because of this, treating or replacing a patient's plasma can be effective in treating both blood disorders and autoimmune diseases. Plasma exchange and plasmapheresis are related but distinct procedures used to treat a patient's blood plasma.  In plasma exchange, the patient's blood is separated into blood cells and plasma. The plasma is discarded and replaced with plasma from a donor, a saline solution, or albumin. This is done gradually so as not to remove too much of the patient's blood at any one time. In plasmapheresis, after being separated from the blood cells, the patient's plasma is treated, then returned to the patient. Thrombocytopenia cases that are especially resistant may require a surgery called a splenectomy where a doctor removes the spleen from the body. Though the function of the spleen isn't 100% understood, scientists do know that it functions as a filter for the blood, removing old red blood cells and platelets from the blood stream. In some cases, the spleen becomes enlarged and removes more platelets from the bloodstream than normal, leading to thrombocytopenia. A splenectomy surgery can remedy this; however, doctors will generally try more conservative treatment options first, as there is no way to undo a splenectomy.  On average, splenectomies are successful about 66 percent of the time. However, over time, it is possible for thrombocytopenia to return. People under the age of 40 who undergo a splenectomy have a better chance of increasing their platelet count. Following a splenectomy, platelet counts often become abnormally high, leading to a condition called thrombocytosis. In severe and/or prolonged cases, this can cause its own set of problems. If you have fewer than 50,000 platelets per microliter of blood and are suffering from active bleeding or hemorrhaging,  a doctor may recommend a platelet or blood transfusion to reduce bleeding. Alternatively, if you have fewer than 50,000 platelets per microliter of blood and are not actively bleeding but must undergo surgery, your doctor may also prescribe a transfusion. In either case, the doctor inserts an IV into a blood vessel and healthy blood or platelets are fed directly into the bloodstream. Doctors may prescribe a transfusion even when you are not currently bleeding and not scheduled for surgery. However, this is usually reserved for patients with fewer than 10,000 platelets per microliter of blood. Not every case of thrombocytopenia warrants treatment. For instance, if your platelet count is low because you're pregnant, you may simply choose to wait until after the baby is delivered to see if your platelet count increases. Mild cases of thrombocytopenia may not even result in noticeable symptoms - you may not even suffer from increased bleeding. In cases like these, when the condition is likely to improve in the near future or when your life is not impacted in any way, your doctor may recommend a very conservative (or non-existent) treatment plan.
A: Talk to your doctor about the medications you're taking. Boost platelet levels via medication. Receive steroid treatment. Undergo plasma exchange or plasmapheresis. Remove the spleen. Get a platelet transfusion. Do nothing.

Q: Common gestures allow you to bypass concepts you'll have to express each turn, like categories, so you can get to the good stuff. But it would be unfair if a few players didn't know these, so run through common gestures with all players before starting. Because every word or phrase will fall into a category, it helps to have standard gestures for these. This way you don’t have to waste time thinking up a unique gesture on the spot and can instead focus on gestures useful for the words on the slip.  Indicate book titles by unfolding your hands, as though opening a book. Gesture as though you are cranking old fashioned camera for movies. Draw a square or rectangle in front of you to signify TV shows. Pretend to sing (without actually singing) for song titles. Pull on a rope to raise a theatre curtain to indicate plays. Make air quotes with your fingers when your slip has a quote or phrase. When a teammate is close, allow excitement to show on your face. Use the distance between your fingers or hands to indicate closeness. To discourage teammates on the wrong track, point at them and shake your head “No” or form an X with your arms.  If a teammate is on a roll and they seem like they might say the right word, use a beckoning “come here” gesture or roll your hands in a circle. Moving your hands farther apart usually means “more,” but in some cases, this can also mean the word is “bigger,” like when it has a prefix or suffix. In some situations, your teammates might have the right word, but it might not be in the right tense, or it may need to be plural when they've said it in the singular. When a teammate is close, point to them and then:  Link your little fingers together to indicate a word is plural. Wave your hand behind you in a “way back” gesture for past tense. Do the opposite of this for future tense. By cupping your hand to an ear, you’ll signal to your team that you’re only acting out a word that sounds like the one you’re working on. After that gesture, if you pointed to your eye, it would be obvious the word you’re working on is “I.” The faster you clearly gesture, the more quickly your team will be able to guess your phrase. Practice by playing Charades often so gestures come to you naturally, without wasting time thinking. If you have difficulty clearly expressing yourself through gestures and you really want to get good, take an improv class or a mime class.
A:
Discuss common gestures with all players. Express categories with standard gestures. Encourage guesses on the right track. Guide teammates to the right tense or form of words. Use similar sounding words to your advantage. Improve your game with practice and speed.