| Erythrocytosis and Hemachromatosis Questions
Hello,
This is my first time posting, and I'm glad to be here, since I have many questions and I hope I can improve my situation after 10+ years of no answers. I'm 51 year old female, with high hct noticed 11 years ago, along with high blood pressure. At the time, my hemotologist did all the tests for Polycythemia Vera, but the tests didn't confirm PV or other causes for the raised HCT. The bone marrow biopsy showed erythroid hyperplasia. We tried plebotomy, however my uncooperative veins and thick blood make it very difficult to draw the blood. After getting only 1/2 bag, the blod clotted, and then I felt VERY weak for 2 days afterwards. So, I've only been on a baby aspirin all these years, with monitoring via CBCs. HCT has stayed between 45 and 48. I've felt fairly well until a year ago. With the onset of pre-menopausal symptoms, I've been blaming my fatigue, moodiness, depression, insomnia, and heavy periods on those darned hormones.
But then last March I had a mild heart attack. The cardiologist said I have a "muscle bridge" where the muscle crosses over an artery, and I had a spasm in my heart muscle that cut off the blood supply long enough to cause some damage. They don't know what caused the spasm, as I was just sitting at my computer, but I'm on cardiac meds that have controlled the issue - with no more problems since then.
Last year we also discovered I have one gene for hemachromotosis. Here are my current blood counts:
HCT 45.7 (H)
RDW 15.1 (H)
Transf 288 (H)
Ferritin 8 (L)
All other numbers in the CBC and Iron Studies are normal.
My hematologist didn't want to do anything, but when I told him I was very tired and had an extremely sore tongue several times last year, he said I could "try" taking some iron. I think he's concerned it will raise my HCT too high, since I seem to have two different issues going on, and they conflict. I just started taking 1/2 tablet of iron per day.
I asked him if this may be related to B12 deficiency and he said "no". Does anyone else have similar issues with 2 different conditions, and how do you achieve balance? Thanks in advance for your help/advice/support!
| 
