time for action?

[quanglewangle]

for years I have been told that l am ‘borderline anaemic’ and the latest FBC says my RBC has declined from 118 to 113 (normal range 130-180) Doc says check again in a couple of months . At what point is some action indicated? I need an hour siesta every afternoon otherwise l doze off throughout the evening and rarely manage more than a couple of pages of a book before dozing.

[hunter5582]

The answer would depend on what the rest of your CBC numbers look like (HGB, MCHC, RDW, etc.). In addition, if there is some degree of erythropenia, then your doctor should have ordered a full iron panel. What you are reporting is consistent with iron deficiency. Note that fatigue and reactive thrombocytosis are both known to be associated with iron deficiency. The only way to get a proper diagnosis is with the proper testing.

Hope you get answers soon.

[ETket]

I’m not sure but I’d like to know! My haemoglobin has dropped to 97 in the latest of my fortnightly blood tests. As a woman, I’d understood the normal parameters to be lower (120-150), but looking back five years, my results were in the 130s. I’m also shattered and love a nap (when I’m not at work!).

[jointpain]

The dozing off of an evening could be highish platelets. This happens with my wife who is fine in that respect unless her platelets rise above 550. Regards Hgb she's having an ferinject on Tuesday as her Hgb was down to 96 four days ago. Her ferritin level is only 20, and she often has RBC transfusions too. But not normally until her Hgb is below 90. She loses above 2 points of Hgb each week!

[Otterfield]

I note from your profile that you have a few other medical things going on so your need to nap may not be connected only to your MPN. Hb of 113 is not excessively low but worth keeping an eye on. My experience of anaemia is that we can adapt - my Hb was in the low to mid 90s for about two years with MF. I found that continuing to exercise made me feel much better - approximately 3 miles walking a day, with some small hills to strengthen my heart and lungs.

[Apple238]

Are you on Hydroxyurea? When I took500 mg a day 7 days a week. The dozing happened to me plus shortness of breath and hair loss. I insisted the dose be reduced or another med be tried. (I’m diagnosed currently with prefibrotic myelofibrosis after bone marrow biopsy..} Now taking 2 a week and no side effects. My platelets were at 550 and came down to 350. My original diagnosis was ET with MPL mutation in