MCV values

[Laverdista]

Hi all. Happy to post full bloods if need be, but wondered if any blood experts on here could explain why my MCV value would have gone from 96 just before I started self-injecting 3 weeks ago, to 86 a couple of days ago.

Thanks!

[wedgewood]

That actually shows that the injections are working , as your MCV reading is moving towards the middle value . Higher values indicate that your red cells are too large . Low values indicate cells are too small The parameters are. 80– 100 so 86 is nicely central . 96 was high . .

[Laverdista in reply to wedgewood]

Thanks for the clarification. Just wanted to make sure it was a good thing not a bad thing. I have another blood test in a few weeks, so will see what that says.

[FlipperTD]

It's working. Red cells last about 115 days, and therefore you replace around 1% per day. If you're anaemic but treated, you replace a lot more in the short term. If you were B12 deficient then they will have been macrocytic; MCV increased. You start on B12 and within a couple of days you're producing normocytic red cells; MCV normal, but it takes time to lose all the old ones. Your RDW [if reported] will have gone up markedly. It's worth keeping an eye on these figures because if your iron stores weren't great, it's possible for your MCV to overshoot, as you run out of iron and your MCV goes microcytic. [Following the MCH tells you much the same thing as the MCV, but I'm particularly fond of the MCV and RDW!] RDW should reach a maximum value half way through treatment, and then it comes down again.

Keep on keeping on, and keep us informed. Good to hear good news.