sue1234 Posted September 23, 2011 Report Share Posted September 23, 2011 I was reading around today about hypovolemia, and ended up on this ancient thread from 1993! It reminds me of the days when dial-up was the norm!Anyway, there is this one thread where someone talks about hypovolemia and the inaccuracy of CBCs, and what that could mean regarding possible anemia. I usually don't link to some random post, but the content is food for thought and discussion. The first couple of paragraphs are not too pertinent, but then the rest could apply to us.http://www.newtreatments.org/ga.php?linkid=294I really didn't navigate around this site, as it seemed impossible. But, like I said, the content was interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kclynn Posted September 23, 2011 Report Share Posted September 23, 2011 That is interesting. My son's blood work would ALWAYS show a high Red Blood Cell count. When I questioned it all anyone ever said was they only worry if it is low. Might this be the explaination? Because he has low blood volume? He has terrible blood pooling issues no matter how much he drinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sue1234 Posted September 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2011 My last bloodwork showed my RBC, hematocrit and hemoglobin all at the top of the normal range. That was a fasting test, when I am at my most dehydrated, as I did not drink any water that morning. I wonder if it all means something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potsyturvy Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 My rbc and hemoglobin always come back on the low side of normal or slightly lower than normal. I don't know what it would mean if it was high, wish I was more helpful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest maia Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 Wow, thank you for that article! i was reading along... yup, up, makes sense, been having this argument with docs for ages.. then wham!For example: Chromochrome p450 is an iron-containingenzyme involved in drug metabolism. If everything is not right with thisenzyme, you will respond differently to most drugs (likely supersensitive), which is often reported in these illnesses.I knew p450 was associated with med sensitivities, but never associated it with myself until i read this article and saw that it may be mediated by iron levels, etc. I will be demanding that they test my fe+tibc+ferritin on monday when i go in for more catecholamine studies. fe=iron, tibc=total iron binding capacity. ill bet you a pound of liver mine is low!fyi, if anyone is reading up on this, where it says: For example: Chromochrome p450 is an iron-containing.... the correct terminology is 'cytochrome' p450. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest maia Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 another fyi regarding cbc's. when you are dehydrated you hemoconcentrate, meaning there are more cells floating around in less fluid, so absolute cell counts will be elevated. When you are required to fast for blood work you should not abstain from all fluids-especially if you tend to dehydrate. water is always acceptable, as is decaf and herbal teas, decaf coffee-no sugars if you are having sugars checked,and no creams or fats if you are having cholesterol levels checked. for other testing its best to check because even if fasting is requested it is not always necessary, sometimes the opposite. as a general save bet though.. water, decaf coffee and teas with nothing added is ok for basic labs. sometimes high red blood cell counts can be an entirely different issue. If the elevations cannot be accounted for due to dehydration its a good idea to get that checked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firewatcher Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 My CBCs always come in over the cutoff and get flagged. In January, I was checked for polycythemia and was found to have severe volume deficit without anemia. The hematologist told me to never give blood and do everything I can to keep my volume up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest maia Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 what tests did they use to determine that you are not anemic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sue1234 Posted September 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 I'm trying again Monday for an appt. to a hematologist. There's got to be one that doesn't need a referral. I need to get this sorted out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest maia Posted September 24, 2011 Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 I'm trying again Monday for an appt. to a hematologist. There's got to be one that doesn't need a referral. I need to get this sorted out.This is just from wiki, but in light of the topic being screwey cbc's/volume issues and anemic things tossed in, it might be of some use with rule in/out dx's...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anemia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sue1234 Posted September 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 I have read that page before. I remember it, because I look at the two hands for comparing an "anemic" hand against a "normal" hand, and I always think the "normal" hand looks like the person is sick with something!! His hand is swollen and red!! Actually, my hand looks just like the "anemic" hand, almost exact same color--slight tan and a tinge of yellow. It is normal for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sue1234 Posted September 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 I found this article published by Dr. Julian Stewart on Anemia and Simple Faint. Read through to the end and it talks about how hemoglobin(or lack of it) causes more nitric oxide. Towards the end, it mentions this nitric oxide produced because of low iron stores could be responsible for the splanchnic pooling.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2475592/?tool=pubmed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sue1234 Posted September 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2011 And, another article by some Baylor pediatric neurologists that show in their study that kids with NMH or vasovagal syncope are more likely to have low iron stores or low ferritin versus normal subjects. It was interesting that their hemoglobin was slightly lower, but normal range. So, if they weren't specifically doing the ferritin and iron tests, they wouldn't have noticed the difference. At the end, it says these low levels could be a precipitating factor for their NMH or vasovagal. I would definitely have all my numbers checked if that was my diagnosis! http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18571533 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest maia Posted September 25, 2011 Report Share Posted September 25, 2011 Very interesting Sue. Im thinking these are definitely reasons to have iron studies even if ours are seemingly normal or even a little on the high side... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bensman Posted September 25, 2011 Report Share Posted September 25, 2011 My CBCs consistently show low WBC and low platelet counts. My RBC is always within range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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