Went for my check at the hospital on Tuesday and was so happy to find all my counts within 'normal' range. I had 2 colds in a row and am left with a dry tickly cough that makes me retch and have a couple of spells a day coughing. I have experienced a few spells of breathlessness, the latest being 2/3rds of the way down the first length of the swimming pool. I had to roll over in the water and float. It's a scary feeling. I walk my dog every day, go to Pilates once a week and circuit training once a week, just added the swimming last week for the first time. My view was an increase in gentle exercise would give me more energy. Still have days I am too tired to do much.
The consultant listened to my breathing and said he couldn't hear anything untoward but sent me straight away for an ECG and a chest X-ray. He said a rare few have a reaction to the Hydroxycarbamide which can affect the lungs and heart and this is what he is checking for. I am waiting to hear the results.
Has anyone had similar please?
Grace.
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Mica11
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Congratulations on your ‘normal counts.’ It’s a great feeling! Really hope it isn’t the hydroxy causing your breathlessness; that would be a shame, as it’s obviously working on the elevated counts.
Good to know that you’re incorporating some exercise into your daily life too.
Thanks Mary, I was really pleased and pleasantly surprised as my last count had reduced but not significantly. I wouldn't like having to change meds if I'm honest as I don't seem to have any obvious adverse reactions to it.
Happened to me a couple of times but not, thanks goodness, in a pool!! Similar exercise regime to you, only happened to me when my platelet count was poor and i was doing keep fit. Good luck.
Thanks Jane, my platelets are good, so it's not that unfortunately. It's the not knowing and how to sort it. Still not heard anything back from my ECG and chest X-ray, so I'm hoping there is nothing bad lurking there. Could well be just one of those things that we can't find an explanation for.
Thanks Annemarie, I'm still waiting to hear back from ECG and X-ray which I am taking as good news about my heart and lungs. If it were serious I would have had a phonecall.
Still doesn't explain it though. The only way is onwards! Grace.
Congratulations on the normal counts! That’s heartening news. I had such a poor reaction to swimming recently that I’m wary to try it again - it wasn’t a very hot pool and I was feeling a bit rough when I went in, but afterwards I felt so much worse. It was very annoying. Do you feel breathless at other times? Sometimes I get breathless on the daily dog walk - it sounds like you and I have very similar exercise routines with the walks and Pilates -, and I find the breathlessness varies from day to day. I’ve put it down to fluctuations in platelet levels - mine are averaging 600. My haemo is pleased with my counts so my only treatment is baby aspirin, and I puff my asthma inhaler (Salbutamol) if I get really breathless or get chest pains. Good that it’s being investigated and that they’re taking it seriously. Please keep us posted and good luck.
Hi Lucy, thanks for your message. It has only been really bad twice, in the pool and previously to that, I was out walking the hairy beast with my friend and her little dog. We had ours on their leads in this field as we could see a dog neither of ours likes very much. Well, didn't unthoughtful owner just let his bound up to ours snapping and snarling, no biting, just bluster. I am aware my guy is big and powerful and has always been measured in his response (often just pulls them under him and lies down) but this dog is a particular dislike and it was going for his little girlfriend this time, he wasn't having that and I got pulled suddenly as he went to her defence. I was struggling to pull him back. After this dog retreated from my guys snapping jaws, my friend asked if I was ok. I opened my mouth to tell her and no words came out. I had no breath at all. Took me a minute to get my breath back. A bit scary. Sometimes I puff and pant on the smallest of inclines and other days not. I know my platelets were within normal levels this time with the swimming because the blood test had already been taken. Count was 354.
Who knows Lucy, hopefully I will get a letter with my results soon. Today I am good. Going to walk the boy and then Pilates and a shopping trip with a friend afterwards. I will be feet up on the sofa later! Grace.
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