Fuk....is anyone Anemic?

I'll be thinking good thoughts and sending positive vibes your way David.

Thanks guys, I'm still freakin' out (probably more so now) and trying to figure out what to do next...

RBC is 2.95; Hemoglobin 6.8; Hematocrit 21.4....I'm not sure what the hell to do....one other Doc I talked to said I'm 'severely' anemic, shouldn't drive or work but suggested I avoid the transfusion if possible...then wtf?

I have an appt. after work tomorrow with a family practitioner who wanted me to go in for another bloodcount tonight (why, I have no idea)....what's he gonna do, cure me just by looking at me??

Colonoscopy is set for March 9th and while I'd rather push that lovely 'dreamdate' off if I can, it seems pretty damn far off if I'm having some serious shite going on...

WTF.

[shilala]

I'm glad they caught it quick for ya. Make sure you get your test results and a good explanation. I'm sure all the docs here will want to scrutinize this thing for you.
It's good to have good guys looking out for ya.

[Mugen910]

You'll be fine Dave...

Perry hope all is well with your mom.

Dave....

This is a quick addendum to the PM I sent you. I forgot to mention this, then remembered, then you made mention of a repeat early visit, so that reminded me again.

That Hgb number is so low, that without some reasonable symptoms (like a racing heart rate...what is your heart rate?) it may actually be a lab error. So, yes, it would most certainly be worth while rechecking the complete blood count to see if it is an accurate representation of the truth.

So, if your Hgb comes back normal the second time....then that is great!!!

Cheers

Cyanide

[King James]

hopefully the appointment will clear stuff up for you..good luck!

[Scottw]

More prayers sent David, I'm here if you need me.

[kaisersozei]

Looks like there's life in Rancho Palos Verdes

Originally Posted by kaisersozei

Looks like there's life in Rancho Palos Verdes

There is, there is!!!! I'm here!!! (you sly rascal you!)

[hotreds]

Delighted to hear that things appear to be correcting themselves for ya, my friend. Prayers for continued and complete recovery and a most enjoyable seegar to celebrate!

[kaisersozei]

Excellent news, David, glad to hear it all.... came out--er... turned out well--in the end. Scary stuff I'm sure, buddy, glad you're back in the saddle.

Alrighty folks.....well, that was scary....but I'm back in the saddle now, more or less.

First, thank you so much you guys for all your well wishes, concern & help; it means more to me than you'll ever know.

So....I went to the ER on Thursday morning after TWO (read that, TWO) different doctors (at TWO different offices) wouldn't see me and suggested I go to the ER. Nice.

I guess it's a good thing because with a hemoglobin level at 6.8, I was told that I could very well have passed out while driving, may not be getting enough oxygen to the 'ol noggin and/or not have enough blood in me to survive a serious accident.

So after my mother (who is a nurse) tracked me down in the ER and yelled at the poor nurses there to get me on the phone and begged me to only get 1 unit of blood when the doctor was advising I get 3 (which is a sh!tload of blood that I lost - for those who wanna know...1 unit is like 450 ml's...so 3 is 1,350 ml's....which is almost 2 bottles of wine or a 1-liter water bottle + a 1/3 of another), I went ahead and took the good doctor's advice and agreed to the 3 units.

Yeah, I was that low.

So they took real good care of me, admitted me and I stayed 2 nights in the hospital. On Friday, I had a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy to figure out where the bleeding was coming from. I've had a colonoscopy before and it's really no biggie. Even drinking the bowel prep the night before wasn't too bad (like salt water). The upper endoscopy was a bit nasty & violent as I guess I had to be awake while they shoved the scope down my throat (and I ain't talkin' mouthwash). Talk about gagging...

So the results came back and we were really relieved to find out that there was no bleeding coming from deep within my body; it was coming from my a$$ and probably the best case it could have been.

So obviously, my hemoglobin & other levels went up a bit (and stayed up) after the transfusions and the doc was satisfied enough to let me get the hell out of there on Saturday after 2 nights.

And let me tell you, this was my first overnight stay in a hospital and it sure feels better being on the outside. I was going absolutely crazy in there.

So now I just have to be a little more aware, a little more careful and monitor the situation, eat healthy, drink some Metamucil and have stuff high in iron & fiber and hopefully I'll stop bleeding completely.

I'll go in to the doc this week or next Monday for another bloodtest to check my levels and make sure things have improved.

Again, thank you so much for all your help and good wishes; I definitely felt the good vibes you guys.

And some of you, just some of you, have no shame.....what're 'ya thinking bombing a guy when he's down, huh??? (Gerard, Francis....not naming any names or anything.... It's much much appreciated guys, thank you so much)

[G G]

Very good to hear the good news David. Now can we bomb you some more?

Originally Posted by ggainey

Very good to hear the good news David.

Thank you Greg.

Originally Posted by ggainey

Now can we bomb you some more?

I'll just be over here.....

[CBI_2]

Great news! Will keep you in my prayers.

Thank you guys!

Originally Posted by 68TriShield

oh yea,I was diagnosed in 1991.Sulfur drugs and a bi-annual Colonoscopy keeps me kicking

Good to hear Dave!

So, I was thinking about this....want to know something....I just realized that now that I have the blood of 3 strangers coursing through my veins (and hopefully not trickling out of my body like my own blood was doing) and even though they do testing & screen the blood and it's so much better than in the '80's, it's not 100% safe.

Of course, that's why I was initially concerned about having to get the transfusions and why my mother was having a conniption fit demanding on the telephone while I was in the ER that I only accept 1 unit even though the Doc was recommending (read: telling me) that I take 3. Yes, I'm a 36 year old man.

So now I have to pretend like I'm in college again and whip out a damn rubber every time I want to have relations with my wife....in the short amount of time I have before our kid is born in September at which point I'll likely never have $ex again.

What's a feller to do!!!

(and yes, I know, I'll have to get a dang HIV test and then I'll be all good to go, I'm just being overly dramatic )

But it woulda been nice if the Doc had said, you know, with your pregnant wife, you should use protection until you know for sure...

Anybody else realize this predicament after gettin' somebody's else's blood in 'ya?

Glad to hear you're OK. Sounds like a lot of fun in the past few days for you. Yep, fiber and a better diet man, it's really important.

[Wolfgang]

no prob :-D Glad I could help.

[ucla695]

Dang David. That’s quite an ordeal. Well, I’m glad to hear your on the mend.