Wellness

[Estellee]

@Squirt60 Try not to worry too much but I agree a hematologist is absolutely the right doctor to go to. They run all kinds of tests that regular doctors don't. Good luck!

[SilleeMee]

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@GingerHead wrote:

@SilleeMee 

Hey, I'm a medical technologist too, small world! haha

I haven't worked in the lab in awhile but when I did I was a generalist not a specialist.....so not as knowlegable in this area as you'd be.  That's pretty neat though....

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@GingerHead 

Wow! It's not that often that I get to meet another MT. It is neat indeed.

[GingerHead]

@SilleeMee 

Haha, I know right!

When I told people what I did for a living they had no idea what it was and just thought I was a phlebotomist. It was always a long explaination.

We are rare indeed....I never meet MT's outside of work.

[GingerHead]

@SilleeMee 

We need to come up with a secret MT handshake! haha

[pdlinda]

@GingerHead   I also have had irregularities in my annual labs, like with zinc and B-12, and my PCP suggested I cut back on the amts I was taking of each. 

Was retested in 6 mos and everything was fine.

[GingerHead]

@pdlinda 

That's great that you were able to correct it!

[CelticCrafter]

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@Squirt60 wrote:

@SilleeMee 

I'm sorry, I typed that wrong. My RBC count is 5.84 and my Hemoglobin is 16.4

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@Squirt60 going by lab results we get, those numbers are within range.  Very close to the high end but not over.

[89135]

@Squirt60  I would also get a retest...I've done that before and counts have come back better. Wait a few weeks and get another test..Tell your doctor you would like a retest before going to the Specialist.

[Wsmom]

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@m0rgan wrote:

My hemoglobin is high and my doctor referred me to a pulmonologist because he suspects

sleep apnea.  I wear a fitbit and do not think I have sleep apnea but will follow through.  My

doctor also said donating blood regularly (not sure how much that means) may help.  I am

donating blood April 8 and having blood test on April 26 to check if it helps.  

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@m0rgan , what was your hematocrit?  

[FatCatinCT]

My husband has Polycythemia Vera.  At first they did phlebotomy every week for a few years and hes been on chemo meds for over 10 years now.  

Taking any kind of iron supplement or eating high iron foods is a definite no, as his hematolgist states, "it can be catastrophic"