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CANEY GIRL · 04-02-2009, 03:50 PM

My 19 year old son had some routine blood work done a couple of days ago and the doctor said his hemoglobin was elevated so he repeated the test to confirm it. Now we have to see a blood specialist. I got really worried. The doctor said everything else looked good. He ask me if he smoked (which he does not) because sometimes smokers have elevated hemoglobin levels. So now we are waiting for the appointment. He has no symptoms. Any input or advice would be appreciated.

harka · 04-11-2009, 12:45 PM

Caney,

One quick question: do you know how high your son's hemoglobin was? (i.e. the number?)

CANEY GIRL · 04-11-2009, 01:33 PM

I think it was 16.3

harka · 04-12-2009, 06:35 AM

Hi Caney girl,

Of course your son's doctor has the full story, so I am going to limit my comments to the actual number 16.5. A hemoglobin of 16.5 (or 165 in SI units) is completely normal for a young man. The fact the doctor asked your son if he smokes means he was thinking of a condition called polycythemia rubra vera--a condition where the bone marrow churns out too many red blood cells.

Is there any history of blood problems in the family?

CANEY GIRL · 04-12-2009, 04:47 PM

no,not that I am aware of. I was also told that each lab varies slightly.

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