Dry tap BMB

[Dodders]

PV and stable for 12 years until May this year when my Haemaglobin count had dropped and I was told I have anaemia. No other blood measurements indicated any suggestion of progression to post PV/MF. Now completely off hydrea for over 6 weeks and still haemaglobin anaemic. High CRP (100+) when tested by GP 10 days ago.(?) I had aslo been having nightimte chills and fevers up until 5 days ago which now seem to have stopped! Maybe just a bug; I was in Morocco a few weeks ago...

BMB yesterday: nurse had 2 goes, and then 1 by the Hem, and all 3 were dry taps. Trephine was successful. So why the dry tap? Hem did say that a dry tap can often be expected with MF but the fact that there are no other signs of MF is puzzling and also no other symptoms (no itching, spleen is stable, no weigth loss, etc) to suggest onset of MF. I see the Hem in a week to discuss results although the trephine result won't be through for another 4 weeks. In short I still don't really know why I have low haemaglobin.

[jane13]

this does sound odd or not readily explained, so hope yr haem can tell u what's going on. my sympathy for 3 goes at a bmb and admiration for the sanguine way you reported this!

[katiewalsh]

Ouch, you are tough to survive that. I'm afraid I also am perplexed by your report. Good Luck and keep us posted. Katie

[Aime]

Hi, sorry to hear you have been through the wars with BMBs. I have had PV since 2012 and my blood counts always show anaemia which I understood was normal after venesections to keep the hematocrit less than .45. Not sure if this anaemia is the same as yours but I have been told it has to kept on the low side of normal to keep blood thin enough.

I think if you're not sure about the anaemia and dry taps contact your haem team and ask for an explanation. Once you have the answers you won't worry about it. We all put on a brave face and say we're not worried but good to get answers, then that issue can be "filed" away as experience on our MPN road.

Kindest regards

Aime xx😺😺

[Dodders in reply to Aime]

Thanks Aime. I've not had venesection for several years and instead have been prescribed increased HU to suppres RBC production. My haem expected my anaemia to get better once I stopped taking HU, which was about 7 wks ago, but no improvement. Basically my haem doesn't yet know what is going on despite a number of tests.

[Dodders]

Thank you for all your comments. Yesterday I had a colonoscopy (if I had to choose, I'd prefer a BMB!) and today I've a thorax and abdominal CT scan. Are there any more tests they can do I wonder? Having had anaemia now since May I'd quite like an answer and also, if avaialble, some form of treatmen as I do feel below par and by 4 or 5 pm am running out of steam a bit. Thanks again.