LARGE red blood cells -count high

[Watercolorist]

My apologies if I am not posting this question as desired or required. It has been a while since I posted to this site.

I have had MC for in excess of 20 years. I am working with my current doctor to address relentless fatigue even though I have been receiving weekly injections of B-12 and B-complex.

Recent basic metabolic panel lab tests have consistently shown a pattern that my large red blood cells to be showing higher numbers

Numbers themselves may not be too alarming yet, but the fact that each subsequent test shows an increase is something my PCP wants to pursue by sending me to a hematologist. My blood tests overall show no clues. Her first line of thinking is anemia, not cancer.

Creat SerPl-mCnc. H 1.16 with normal range being 0.60-0.95
eGFRer SerPIBld CKD-EPI 2021 L 47 with desirable range being > or = 60

Any comments on the lab tests or relentless fatigue.

I take a magnesium supplement regularly as well as a good quality multi vitamin both prescribed by my PCP.

[tex]

That's called macrocytic anemia. It's probably not a serious problem, but there are two possibilities:

1. Megaloblastic macrocytic anemia
2. Non-megaloblastic macrocytic anemia

Megaloblastic macrocytic anemia is caused by a deficiency of vitamin B-12, which is usually caused by a deficiency of vitamin B-9. Since many foods are fortified with vitamin B-9, I'm guessing that if this is your problem, your body may not be able to convert your vitamin B-9 intake into the active form, so that your body can use it, because of certain methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene mutations. Over half of us have MTHFR gene mutations, but we don't all have the same mutations, so we don't all have the same symptoms.

if, instead, you have Non-megaloblastic macrocytic anemia, that issue is probably caused by the malabsorption problems caused by active MC. The liver can store enough vitamin B-12 to last for about five years, but if you have been reacting for 20 years, or partially reacting (in other words, not totally in complete remission), and you haven't been taking a good supplement with the active forms of the essential B vitamins, then you almost surely have a deficiency of some, or all of them, because of the malabsorption problem.

Here's a link where you can read more about your issue:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/d ... tic-anemia

For most of us, taking vitamin supplements are not very beneficial, unless those supplements are in the active forms (the methylated forms), which are much more expensive vitamins. For example, in the case of vitamin B-12, instead of taking cyanocobalamin, we have to take methylcobalamin or 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin.

If your current Doctor doesn't understand MTHFR gene mutation issues, you may have to see a naturopath, in order to get proper treatment. They are more likely to be familiar with the problem than allopathic doctors.

Tex

[Watercolorist]

Tex,

Thank you very much. It always helps to go to a new doctor, or specialist in this instance being a hematologist, being informed about the possibilities as best I can. Not so much to initially direct his/her inquiry or assessment but to make sure I can present insight she/he may not think of perhaps because of his/her lack of familiarity with MC. There is always a concern the direction he/she may first recommend may have absolutely nothing to do with my condition.
I will read the link you provided now, and again before my appointment.

It has only been recently, after changing my PCP, that a more thorough inquiry and assessment has been being conducted utilizing more detailed lab tests, and also starting me on the B-12 and B-complex shots. I have seen some improvement since the weekly shots began, about 6 weeks ago, but not the level of improvement that leaves me consistent energy to dependently make it through each day. Interestingly, I experience the most benefit the days immediately following the shots. Then, energy declines until my next shots are given

I have never made it to complete remission of MC, but I have experienced significant improvement. Like everyone else, I have to live always mindful that it is all about managing my life and lifestyle in accordance with what best fits my body. There have been significantly more good days than bad.

Thank you, again.
Jeanne

[tex]

Jeanne,

Another thought just came to mind. I wonder if issues of this sort might be associated with Covid 19, or the mRNA Covid 19 vaccines, if you had any of them. I have a brother who had a case of Covid 19 back in 2020 before the US CDC even recognized the disease, and then later, he had the two Pfizer vaccines and one booster. Somewhere along the line he began to develop a seriously low platelet count problem, but this wasn't discovered until last year. Probably it was triggered by Covid 19, but there's a small chance that it may have been triggered by the vaccines, according to published medical research. Now he's having serious nosebleed problems that won't stop without medical intervention, and he has to be constantly on guard about bleeding issues, as the problem doesn't seem to be responding to treatment.

I doubt that this is your problem, but if you've had the virus, or any of the mRNA vaccines, you might ask your Doctor if there's a possible association with your problem, because if this happens to be the cause of your problem, trying to resolve it may be a completely different ballgame.

Tex

[Watercolorist]

Thank you, Tex

I am sorry to learn of the problems your brother is experiencing. My thoughts are with him and his medical advisors that a resolution is possible. If not a resolution, then a way to effectively manage the situation.

As I work with my medical advisors, I will keep in mind the possibility that the my specific type of anemia may be attributed to the vaccines (including boosters) that I have had. I certainly hope this is not the case, as it would have the potential to effect a large percentage of people, not simply me.

I am open to learning what they will tell me and evaluating their comments. I have never been anemic and experiencing the added fatigue/exhaustion on top of that caused by MC sure makes me really aware of and appreciate my really good days.

I feel really badly for those who have dealt with anemia and other health challenges a good part of their lives and completely honor and respect their everyday commitment to live life as fully as possible.

Tex, thank you for your commitment to this community.

Jeanne

[Watercolorist]

After incurring an acute case of cellulitis (first experience), I was admitted to hospital and treated with IV of Vancomycin for 5 days.

Cellulitis-free symptom free, I was sent home with an oral antibiotic to use for a short period of time.

Comments please on possible affect of very strong antibiotics on MC, please. (After 20 years of watery diarrhea, have had a recent bout of severe constipation. No more diarrhea. Currently sometimes nearly normal stools.

My MC experience went for almost 20 years of watery diarrhea, treated with moderate success with Budesonide taking 6 mg a day, to absolutely no diarrhea and, instead, severe constipation.)


Comments on vancomycin’s affect on MC.
Since no diarrhea, I probably should stop Budesonide, or as a precaution, take only 3 mg a day and taper.

As always, thank you for your comments.

[tex]

We're all different, so sometimes we react differently to antibiotics, but usually, most antibiotics other than the fluoroquinolones, and often, azithromycin, cause us to have diarrhea. I'm not sure how most of us react to vancomycin, though, because I haven't seen many posts that shared experiences after using it. If you're having constipation though, yes, you're correct, you should stop using the budesonide, because it's constipating. Reducing the dose to 3 mg per day might do the job, but if you need to stop cold turkey, it would probably be safe to do that, unless you've been taking budesonide for more than six months. If you been taking it for six months or longer, it would probably be better to taper to 3 mg for a week or two, before stopping completely. If you've been using budesonide for years, you definitely need to taper the dose for an extended period.

Tex