Barneys blood

[Barney1947]

I have copd and im on oxygen 24/7 however although i do get breathless from time to time the oxygen therapy is for polycythemia which is a condition where too many red blood cells are produced anyone else suffer from this condition?

[newlands]

My late husband did he had to have blood taken away every now and then

[O2Trees in reply to newlands]

Did your husband have polycythemia as a primary condition Dorothy? It's unusual to have to be bled for secondary polycythemia these days according to my consultant. (However I have another iron condition (haemochromatosis) and do have to be bled for that.)

[newlands in reply to O2Trees]

Hi he died 2001 so maybe things have changed since then ,but he regularly had blood taken away

[O2Trees in reply to newlands]

Yes that could be it - my consultant told me they dont take blood "any more".

[O2Trees]

Yes I have it but it's never really been a problem. Im on ambulatory O2 but due to low sats on exertion not to do with the polycythemia. Are your haemoglobin levels quite high?

[dumpton]

COPD is an umbrella term for many lung diseases, don't be deceived, your GP should explain what lung disease you have, see my replies above.