Hi wondering if anyone knows if stress and anxiety has any bearing on PV. I was recently diagnosed in February. This was after having a horrendous time with GI issues resulting in numerous ultrasound scans, colonoscopy and multiple blood tests which was eventually identified as helicobacter. Had this for 5 months before a first course of antibiotics had to be repeated with triple therapy to eradicate the infection. During this time my anxiety was through the roof.
After being diagnosed with PV through the multiple bloods tests which showed elevated haemoglobin levels I had 5 venesections in the space of 15 days. My Hg started at 19.1 and HCT 0.601 by last venesection on 9th March Hg was 14.4 and HCT 0.46.
BMB done on 28th March. I had a telephone consultation with consultant this week to go over new bloods and BMB and my Hg was 13.9 and HCT 0.45 BMB fine no issues. So figures were down, not much, but still down.
So sorry for the long winded tale but I wondered if this pattern is normal as I fully expected my levels to have increased and wondered if in my anxious state it had any bearing. Currently on aspirin only.
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Hocus58
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The short answer is that yes they are all related. The body is an integrated system. The JAK2 mutation does more than make too many blood cells. the body also makes too many inflammatory cytokines. Tese create a host of issues throughout the body, including in the GI tract. GI inflammation stimulates anxiety via the vagus nerve and through chemical signalling. The anxiety in turn can stimulate more GI irrigation and inflammation. It can be a viscous cycle. I learne dabout this the hard way back in 2013 when I got into quite a mess. Never again! I mange my PV, GI issues, and stress in a very different way now. It makes a huge difference in my health and quality of life.
I agree with Hunter that everything works together in our bodies, but I don't think stress and anxiety actually cause PV. Otherwise it wouldn't be classified as a rare disease. Lots of people go through extreme stress, but not many end up with PV. However, if the mutation is already there, it can result in all kinds of issues anywhere in the body.
Thank you for your response. Yeah I agree that stress and anxiety are not the root cause of PV just wondered if it was exacerbated by this. Looking back I had tell tale signs of PV, itching, but never showed in bloods until I went into stress mode 😢 Thanks again
Hunter, I would love to hear what changes have worked for you in management of stress, GI issues, etc.. Stress levels swing my platelets high so there is a direct correlation for me personally.
We each need to find our own ways to deal with stress. This is my list.
1. Support from my family, friends, and faith community.
2. This forum (my friends and MPN Family)
3. Maintain your sense of humor and find ways to have fun no matter what.
4. Surround yourself with things that are positive and lift you up.
5. Mindfulness practices - I practice Qigong.
6. Say the Serenity Prayer every day and take it to heart!
7. Educate yourself about your condition(s). Knowledge is power.
8. Create a high-quality treatment team who you trust.
9. Advocate for yourself. Assertive patients receive higher quality care. Passive patients do not. Remember that you are in charge of your care. It is your goals, priorities and preferences that must drive your treatment. Empower yourself to deal with the MPN.
Some of it also has to to with an attitude or philosophy of dealing with having chronic conditions. I have had some rather interesting health-learning opportunities in the last several years. However, I have lead a long rich life and plan to continue to do so despite what happens with the MPN and the other related and unrelated medical issues I face. Sometimes you do, as the military folks say, have to "Embrace the Suck" or just "Suck It Up Buttercup." However - it is not all "Suck." There is plenty of good in life to enjoy and embrace. As the prayer says, I seek the serenity to accept what I cannot change, courage to change what I can, and wisdom to know the difference.
I’m not familiar with qigong but I intend to look into it. Pretty much all the rest of it I am doing but I still feel at the moment if I had one of those Apple Watches that measure stress I would probably break it. We got lost following Google maps this evening and the thing told me to continue for 3/4 mile then make a u-turn. I would normally laugh at that but right now it’s enough to wind me up to use language that would make a sailor blush!Very out of character!!
I can hear my son saying “ take a chill pill!” Which I what they used to say to each other!
Every day I get up and look down at the earth instead of up at it, I figure i am off to a good start.
Qigong is a a set of different forms that are used to move energy around the body, promote flexibility, and enhance mindfulness. Tai Chi is one form of Qigong. Here are two of the forms.
Thank you for the response Hunter. I sure don’t want to go back to the state of anxiety I experienced 7months ago 😢 When the helicobacter was eradicated and the PV picked up in the bloods to be honest I felt a sense of relief and the anxiety abated somewhat. I know that may sound weird but the relief was that someone knew what was wrong and was doing something about it. All this from a lab technician in NHS who picked it up and phoned me at 22:00 on the day my bloods were done 👍 Thanks again
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