RDW results

[beanlake14]

My RDW keeps creeping up monthly. Nothing bonkers, just like 19 now, when it should be 11-15. My oncologist says no worries, and all my other numbers are looking good. I know it just involves red blood cell size, but just wondering if anyone else has those numbers just a bit skewed and what your doctor says. Thank you!!

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

As you appreciate, it's a measure of the variation in your red blood cell sizes over the last to 100 or so days, after which they are replaced. I can't see anything relevant in your past posts/replies that could explain it, such as treatment, drugs, dietary changes (B12, folate, iron), iron infusions.

My RDW peaked at 19.5 after an iron infusion. Prior to the infusion, my Red Blood Cell (RBC) count had recovered into the normal range thanks to treatment for my CLL, but my haemoglobin recovery had stalled.

Neil

[beanlake14 in reply to AussieNeil]

Thank you!!

[SofiaDeo]

I had a different, unexplainable oddball lab value for mmm a year? For me, it was bilirubin. It went *just* over normal, stayed there a while, then went back down. Maybe this is your body doing something similar.