Jump to content

I have severe anemia and...

siume99

By siume99
in The Off-Topic Bar

Recommended Posts

SteveSierra Enthusiast

SteveSierra

Posted
Posted

Hey all,

I'm getting to wits end here.  Back on December 6th, I had some blood work done because I was feeling abnormally tired all the time.  Turns out, my hemaglobin level was 6.6 and RBC's were 2.4.  Normally, hemaglobin is around 14.5 for me.  I've been seeing a hematologist for the last 3 1/2 weeks, had a hip bone biopsy done, multiple blood tests(everything from B12 to HIV), CT scan, etc.  

No one knows why my RBC and hemaglobin is down and staying down(last test yesterday, still 6.6 before I was given 2 pints of blood).

So far, all the tests I've had done have come back negative(which is good) but no doctor is able to figure out what is causing my RBC's not to grow.  They apparently stay in the precursor stage in my marrow but that's it, they don't mature like normal.

My biopsy was sent to Johns Hopkins and they've never seen it.:thumbs:   Supposedly they are going to send it to that Naval Hospital in Bethesda MD.  

Sorry for the long post, I was just curious if anyone else had this problem or knew of anyone that does.  It's frustrating as all heck to be sick and some of the supposedly best doctors are sitting there scratching their heads as to what's causing it. Makes me feel like I'm the only one in the whole world with this.  How special.  NOT!

Thanks,

Steve

chevy4x4trucks Senior Enthusiast

chevy4x4trucks

Posted
Posted

Steve,

  Sorry to hear about your troubles.  I know that all of us here are hoping that they can find out what's wrong and find a solution to it quickly.  It sucks to have something wrong w/ you and not know what it is.  I hope you get better soon.

siume99 Enthusiast

siume99

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I'm also sorry to hear about your problem.  I had a friend that wasn't feeling like himself (tired all the time and lost motivation to do things).  It turned out that he has an iron deficiency problem.  I'm sure all the doctors had ruled that out with at least one of their tests, but its what comes first to my mind.  He's fine now.  I think he takes vitamins.  

 

Have you tried searching on the internet for your symptoms and researched as much as you can about hemoglobin?  I know I hear news specials every once in a while where the patient did A LOT of research and finally found a doctor with a theory and a cure.  

 

Best of luck to you!  Keep a positive outlook on everything.  The mind is more powerful than man realizes.  I know from running a marathon that it will keep you going even when the body says no.

SteveSierra Enthusiast

SteveSierra

Posted
Posted

Thanks guys.  Yeah, they ruled out the iron deficiency.  It really blows cause they've ruled out basically everything, major anyway(cancer, Hep, HIV<---don't know where I would have got that, but it's good I don't have it anyway), but they just don't know what is causing it.  

I've searched the internet a lot lately, and nothing comes up with what's going on with me.  I mean, there are a  lot of causes for anemia but nothing really matches.  There's lupus, lukemia, etc.  But they all have other things going on that aren't showing up in the tests I've had.

Thanks again.  

If anyone else has any suggestions or anything at all, I'm all ears.  I'll ask the doctor about anything.  I don't care how far fetched it seems.

 

Steve

Shaners Senior Enthusiast

Shaners

Posted
Posted

I wish I had some info for you Steve, and I hope the other docs find some info out for you soon.

 

Around here, the best place for answers is the "Cleveland Clinic".  They have some of the best people in the world working there.

 

My uncle had some serious problems that no-one could diagnose.  He went to all the "experts", and finally found them at the Cleveland Clinic.  He lives in NH and since money is no object for him, he went where he thought was the best advice.  He traveled all over the country before he was properly diagnosed in Cleveland.

 

You might want to check with them...

 

Shane

DigUout Senior Enthusiast

DigUout

Posted
Posted

Sorry to hear that news Steve.  As others have stated, try to keep a positive frame of mind and don't worry about what you can't control.  Positive thinking and faith can do wonders.  hang in there -

SteveSierra Enthusiast

SteveSierra

Posted
Posted

Thanks for the respones guys.  This board has some truly Class A folk in it and I appreciate it very much.

Shane- I just may check into the Cleveland Clinic.  The doctors at Johns Hopkins thought it was what my hematologist already ruled out, parvovirus.  I'm gonna have a gammaglobulin infusion on Monday and Tuesday(3-4 hours each day, arrrrrrgghhh).  That is supposed to dump a load of antibodies into my system and should fight off any virus(that is known out there) that may be attacking my system.  Fingers are definately crossed and prayers are being sent upwards.

 

About that hip bone biopsy, all I can say is OOOOOOOOOOUCH!!!!!!!!  He gave me 2 shots to numb the area, but it still hurt like hell!   He was saying, you have thick bones.   I was like, yeah, okay, are ya done yet????  Nope, I'm having trouble getting through the bone!  Nooooo!!!!!  That was back in the middle of December and the area is STILL tender.  He is talking about maybe doing another one in 2 weeks. :thumbs:  

I am definately not looking forward to that!  Makes me cringe thinking about another one.

Well, the 2 pints of blood I got on Thursday bumped my hemaglobin up to 8.2 and I tell you, it does feel great to have some energy back.  The gammaglobulin next week should make the count go back down though.  It's a rollercoaster ride.  

Thanks again for letting me ask these questions and get this stuff off of my chest.  This really is a great board.  I'll get back to talking trucks soon, I promise!!!!!

 

Steve

Kansas Kid Senior Enthusiast

Kansas Kid

Posted
Posted

I think I speak for everyone here is saying that you can talk about this all you want.  If it helps you get things off your chest, go for it.  Its a good place to talk about things and get all kinds of different opinons.  I hope the doctors find out what is wrong and can get you fixed up as soon as possible.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Forum Statistics

    250.5k
    Total Topics
    2.7m
    Total Posts

  • Member Statistics

    342,903
    Total Members
    8,960
    Most Online
    RyGuy43
    Newest Member
    RyGuy43
    Joined

  • Who's Online   5 Members, 0 Anonymous, 534 Guests (See full list)

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • davester
      My First Project and GMC has me stumped

      By davester · Posted

      can you tell if the reader is actually trying to get codes, and the pcm is reporting none, or is your reader just silently failing because it's not communicating with the pcm?
    • Atlas
      Wow I'm in a pickle. (Broke down truck) and a story.

      By Atlas · Posted

      Any joy with this truck seems to be short-lived.   The CEL for P0172 ("bank 1" too rich) is now "intermittent".   I'm not sure where to check, or re-check, and my energy to keep chasing problems with junk is wearing thin. The P0172 seems to set as I'm coming to a stop, completely off the throttle, when fully warm. At least, that's what it's done the 3? times it's set.   Everything appears normal on the scanner EXCEPT long term fuel trim. There's only one bank on this vehicle because it's an OBD 1.5 with only one upstream O2 sensor. At idle, it's around -16.4% and will dip to -18% occasionally at idle or off-throttle. LTFT approaches 0 when throttle is held at 2500rpm. Short term appears normal, much closer to zero all the time. The LTFT tells me the engine is running rich at idle but compensating at higher load. But, why?   The EVAP purge valve doesn't appear to be leaking/sucking fuel vapor continuously. Is it sticking just as I come to a stop and the engine is choking on fuel vapor and sets the P0172? But that doesn't explain the persistently negative LTFT. Disconnecting the purge valve doesn't seem to make any difference.   I suppose that leaves another dang issue with the fuel injector. A leaking fuel pressure regulator, a new leak in the spider, or a leaking fuel injector/poppet valve I didn't see, or a small crack in one of the spider legs.   The vacuum line leading to the fuel pressure regulator doesn't have raw fuel in it. It doesn't even smell like fuel when it's pulled off, not until you suck air through it, then you can tell it leads to a fuel component. I'd consider that normal? Nothing is signaling this is a FPR issue from the outside, at least.   The oil smells like fuel but it's not building volume. I've noticed most oil in most engines smells like fuel to some degree so it's hard to say if the smell is an issue or not. Or if the engine just still smells like fuel because the crankcase was full of it a few hundred miles ago. But it's been changed twice since that original issue of the leaking fuel line dumping fuel into the intake.   Patience is running very thin. Every win seems to be accompanied by two steps backwards, or another issue that leads to removing at least the top half of the intake manifold. Enough! LOL
    • Chuck FB
      Tire pressure for 37s

      By Chuck FB · Posted

      First off you mentioned "Toyo Says" and then gave the pressures 45/50, was this some person at the tire shop that pulled those numbers out of his head ?   Now of course I can't know your exact axle weights front and rear, however I have much the same pickup as yourself other than not knowing your starting weight as per the pounds the truck rolled out of the factory at due to the options yours did or didn't come with or what you have added beyond the extra tire weight. The correct way to know 100% where a person is at is by weighing each axle with the typical weight the vehicle is driven with and that means taking into account passengers and making sure you figure in a full tank of fuel and a little grace for whatever you may put in the bed "groceries" !    I am looking at and not that it really matters as all the tire companies use the same charts anyway, but I am looking at the comprehensive Toyo tire chart in the section that your tire falls under and I know it sounds confusing but your tire is not an LT metric tire like your factory tire but instead because its a standard inch measured tire its under a different category called an LT floatation series tire. That makes a difference as LT metric tires they don't want to see run below 35 psi at highway speed where as with the LT floatation series it can be run down to 25 psi on the highway as long as the weight on the said size of tire is agreeable with or less than that minimum 25 psi. It blows many people away that how is this physically possible, an empty truck for one thing and larger tires with the same size wheel diameter have a lot more air volume so they can carry the same weight as the smaller tire with less air pressure.    So my truck, I have the stock 275/65R20 wheels and tires and I have a bit of weight in the box with a bak flip cover and a rubber bed mat and some tools and spare gas. The front of my gas truck weighs a bit more than some trucks of the similar spec due to double batteries and alternators. However with full fuel and just me in the truck I am weighted such that I can run 40 front and 35 rear and so that is what I have done since day one.    If I base your truck at or slightly below the weight of my truck, in theory with your tires going by the tire chart you might be right around a minimum of 30 pounds front and 25 pounds rear. Of course that would hit pretty much minimum cold inflation pressure one could run with that tire size and a near empty truck. If you have access to an accurate weigh scale to do individual front and rear axle weights I would suggest you do that and make sure your topped up with fuel and whatever else in the truck before you weigh it and then you will have a great starting point to work off of and figure out what your bare minimum pressures are you can safely run. If you do much in the way of hot weather high speed driving, bumping up a bit for a safety margin is never a bad idea but just depends on what type of driving you do. I will include the Toyo chart and the floatation series sizes start on page 31. Without a doubt at these pressures I am speculating at minimum wise for your truck, it would most certainly ride very different then it did when you were using 55 lb front and rear.     https://www.toyotires.com/media/pxcjubjs/application_of_load_inflation_tables_20200723.pdf
    • Snowcamo
      Possible lifter tick after DOD delete

      By Snowcamo · Posted

      Take an automotive stethoscope to the vacuum pump. Iirc those tick as well. 
    • rdonarski
      Towing In Loose Gravel

      By rdonarski · Posted

      This landing is worse than most. Patchy blacktop with washouts, soft gravel/sand at bottom that washes out with every heavy rain. I tell everyone to put it in 4WD. A lot of them think they can pull out their trailer in 2WD. They end up digging a hole and then putting it in 4WD.  The lake is a pristine lake and has a lot of money on it. There are several wake boats and lot of large tritoons. The people with the money don't want it improved because they don't want more traffic.    Boat Landing 1.jfif Boat Landing 2.jfif Boat Landing 3.jfif

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...