I was told I had a high rbc count at the beginning of the year and was told to stop smoking. Can smoking alone cause this problem?

[lolo321]

[Mazcd Partner MPNVoice]

Hi lolo321, I've had some advice from Prof Harrison for you and she has said that yes, smoking can cause the high hb, but not the JAK2 mutation. It is a good idea to stop smoking if you have an MPD. I hope this helps. Regards, Maz.

[lolo321 in reply to Mazcd]

Thank you. I stopped smoking just over a week ago when I saw a different GP but I don't have another blood test for six months which I think should be sooner, can I request one?

[Mazcd Partner MPNVoice in reply to lolo321]

You can ask, of course you can.

[sparko35]

Hi

Just want to ask if you have are a smoker and you have a high rbc is smoking the reason and you don't have PV or you have PV and smoking is a contributing factor. Doctor thought i had PV but am jak2 negative so he is not sure now am due to have a bone marrow biopsy to confirm either way. I am a smoker and wanted to know if that was the problem and not any kind of mpd i do have a lot of the symptoms of PV am just so confused about the whole thing.

[lolo321 in reply to sparko35]

As far as my doctor is concerned smoking is the reason for my high rbc. I have had loads of blood tests but a bone marrow biopsy is not on the cards so far. If you have a high rbc you will get the symptoms of it, red blood cells carry oxygen but have more of an affinity for carbon monoxide so I can only assume that as a smoker more rbcs are made to compensate for the lack of oxygen. This is my 2nd week of not smoking so I will see how it goes.

[sparko35 in reply to lolo321]

Have had venisections every 2 weeks for the last couple of months and taking 75mg asprin every day chest pains have eased legs seem to be getting worse cramps are more often and my hands get very red and sore doctor seems to be as confused as i am

[Aime in reply to sparko35]

Hi sparko35, I have PV Jak2 negative. My PV was confirmed with cell mass test in the nuclear dept of hospital. Your are injected with radio active isotopes and blood checked afterwards. Not had a biopsy. Your doc seems confused - might be good idea to find another. Regards Aime

[Geoff_mpnfamily]

Hi everyone, I don't know if this will be of any help to you all but I found it really helpful when I was first diagnosed with polycythaemia. With the help of wiki at first for understanding some of the terms used.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...