Hi,
I usually post on the back pain board here. I recently had to see a neurologist because of ongoing nerve issues with my back and legs. He ordered some blood work and I just got the results back.
It came back high for CRP-2.2 when the Ref.range should be <0.8 mg/dl
High for RBC- 5.23 with reference range of 3.80-5.10 mill/mcl
Hemoglobin of 16.3 with reference range of 11.7-15.5 g/dl
Hematocrit of 46.5 with the reference range of 35.-45.0 %
He also said that my B12 and folate was just over the low end of normal and that I should take B12 - that was 221 with reference range of 200-1100 pg/ml
My blood sugar was also high, but that shows alot in my blood work. After my back surgery, I had to get a few shots of insulin.
He faxed the results to my primary care doctor right away. He seemed very concerned about the results. :confused:
I did some research and came up with PV, which while isn't good, isn't bad, but there are a couple of concerns that I have. The first and the most important is that two of my siblings have been diagnosed with acute lymphocyctic leukemia. The first was my older brother who died from the disease, and the second is my sister, who was just diagnosed last August with it as well. I saw that there is a link in developing AML ( another form of leukemia) from this. And the second is why it would show up just out of nowhere like this?
Should I make an appointment with a hemotologist or with my primary care doctor? My husband works at my primary care doctor's office and I really don't want to make him worry, so maybe with another gp might be a good idea?
I know that it says that the risk factor is about 5% of PV sufferers developing AML, but with a family history of two siblings developing ALL, should I just cut out the middle man and see a hemotologist? Who do those of you that have this see?
Thank you for your help,
Sandi

Hi: I haven't dealt with any of these problems personally but I've had my share of blood disorders as well as my husband (ITP, VonWillebrands, etc) and I would suggest seeing a hematologist. I also have another thought based on what you said about your siblings, and that is to look for a Hematologist that is also and Internist and Oncologist. Nowadays, there are a lot of offices that have Drs. that specialize in all three of these medical fields. This way your RBC etc, blood sugar, and family history of lymphocyctic leukemia can be addressed by *one* Dr trained in all 3 fields.

If you can't find a Dr with these three specialties, look on the Internet or phone book and I'm sure you'll find someone that handles all three, there are a lot of these Drs around. I wouldn't panic and I also hope that something simple can explain this. Did you get any tranfusions for your back surgery or did you bank your own blood, or not need blood? Since you were in the hospital, you never know if you could have picked something up there that is easy to treat. You didn't mention your WBC, was it normal? If it is normal, that might rule out an infection, and we all know how hospitals are loaded with them, unfortunately.

I have a family member with PV, but they are still trying to lower his RBC and Hematocrit counts and don't really have any info to explain it yet. He has some symptoms of PV, profuse sweating, muscle cramping, memory probs, and itching. Do you have any of these? Also, since you had back surgery and need to be resting, watch for any unusual limb pain, swelling with discoloration, and if that happens let your Dr know asap. Blood clots can form easily on people who have to stick to bed rest for an extended time, plus having a high RBC would make this more likely. I don't mean to worry you, just be cautious. If seeing a new Dr would mean you have to wait for a long time to get an appt. then I would see a Hematologist or your primary care.

Good Luck, and keep us posted.:angel:

I banked my own blood and my back surgery was in March of last year, so I don't think it was a problem then. although I was able to donate two pints in less than a week's time, so maybe it was there then and no one realized it.
Wouldn't surprise me around here.
I am tired all of the time, really tired, and my husband complains about my memory, not sure if that counts or not....LOL
I also have the problems with profuse sweating and muscle cramps in particular in the front and back of my thighs......itching, well yes , at times.....
Thank you for your help, I do appreciate it. I guess I might need to check into things a bit further and get copies of my old blood work to see how far this goes back.
Sandi

For the next series of tests add Erythropoietin. It as a cause for too many Red Blood Cells. It is a substance produced in the kidney.

It auses secondary PCV. Mine is over twice the max range. Doctors do not seem to care what causes it, they just want to treat the symptoms, PCV.

Thank you JinL. I have not made an appointment for followup yet, but will do so in the near future.
Right now, I am dealing with ongoing problems with my back, nerve damage and now seeing a urologist for bladder problems and honestly, have had more of doctor's than I can stand.
If this is PV, then it is not going to get worse by waiting a week or two I assume? Or is this something that I need to follow up on right away? It was rather strange that the neuro was so concerned about the blood work......
But then again, I don't see a neuro every day of the week either, so maybe for him it was important.
All of this stuff is giving me a headache, quite literally. Maybe I'd better make that appointment on Monday and get this resolved, one way or another.
Sandi