Hi everyone. It's been quite awhile since I was here. Diagnosed with aiha in Feb '05 and in remission for nearly 2 years (yahoo!). My gyno thinks I have endometriosis and I'm scheduled for a diagnostic laparoscopy later this week. Here's the rub. The anaesthesiologist phoned me to say he's very uncomfortable with putting me under given that I'm still coomb's positive. So this week I meet my new hematologist (recently moved to a new city) and the anaesth.....Has anyone that's symptom free except for being coomb's positive had minor surgery but had to be put under during the procedure. I'm really looking forward to finally getting rid of some serious cramps but have been told this may well be cancelled this week, at the last minute. Appreciate hearing from anyone that's experienced anything similar. I'm starting to think this whole thing is just way too risky. I was told that an abdominal hysterectomy was out of the question but that laparscopy is relatively risk free.

Les

Les,
But aren't us AIHA'ers always Coomb's positive forever? I thought once dx'ed, we always had it.

As long as your counts are good, I'd think you'd be able to have the surgery. It sounds like you've reached the point where the benefits of having the surgery outweigh the risks.

I haven't had surgery since being diagnosed, but at some point, you'll probably have to take the chance.

Have they tested your retic count? Wouldn't that tell them if you're hemolyzing? I know it could put you into a relapse, but if you need the surgery.

How are your other counts these days? I'm on 20mg of Pred, because I went through another round. My hemoglobin was slipping and they caught it before it went too low. My bp was acting up, and my heart rate spiked - always a dead giveaway that my hemoglobin is dropping ,and sure enough, it was.

I was on 40mg of Pred for 4 weeks, and felt great, my hemoglobin went up to an all time high of 12.7. I really hope it holds.

I hope you get to have your surgery.

Keep me posted!
Jill