I don't understand this... (blood tests)

jenniewb

Just incase anyone does have any insite: the bit I was confused over was my red blood cells. They are too large (or "enlarged"). Usually this is down to alcohol abuse but I don't abuse alcohol! I don't go over my daily limit let alone my weekly limit and when I do drink, its only once or twice a week max. I don't think alcohol is to blame here.

I also have a below normal white cell count which is something I'm used to and expect. It is a worry but not a worry IYSWIM. The rest of my minerals (iron, potassium, vitamin count...etc) all normal or above normal and nothing of any concern.

Teresa_Green

jenniewb wrote: »

Just incase anyone does have any insite: the bit I was confused over was my red blood cells. They are too large (or "enlarged"). Usually this is down to alcohol abuse but I don't abuse alcohol! I don't go over my daily limit let alone my weekly limit and when I do drink, its only once or twice a week max. I don't think alcohol is to blame here.

I also have a below normal white cell count which is something I'm used to and expect. It is a worry but not a worry IYSWIM. The rest of my minerals (iron, potassium, vitamin count...etc) all normal or above normal and nothing of any concern.

I have been reading your thread and wondering how I can help, others have already made some good comments and suggestions.

I am a nurse and it is difficult because you don't seem to have a specific question and just seem to be generally anxious about what your results might mean?

Please have a read of the following links:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/macrocytosis/AN01287 - Enlarged Red Blood Cells

http://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-edge-newspaper-2011/feb-04b.html - Low White Blood Cell count

Generally, the blood results could mean anything or nothing, they may be related to your Diagnosis or not, sometimes people can have different blood results for no specific reason at all.

As the links above show, there are many different possible causes in fact.

Even if Alcohol abuse can cause enlarged red blood cells, it does not mean that is what is causing yours, and as you have said you do not drink, then that is pretty conclusive that is not the cause in your case!

The Doctor at the Hospital is there to answer your questions and should be explaining this to you, if you are struggling to wait until your next appointment at the end of the month then could you make an appointment to discuss your concerns with your own GP or a Nurse at the surgery in the meantime?

Another idea could be to phone the Consultant's Secretary at the Hospital, they may be able to help too.

Hope you feel better soon x

Edited to add: it is possible that the Blood results are a symptom of your Diagnosis. Many times symptoms can be vague and really it is for your Doctor to get to the bottom of all this and explain to you what it all means x

jenniewb

Teresa_Green wrote: »

I have been reading your thread and wondering how I can help, others have already made some good comments and suggestions.

I am a nurse and it is difficult because you don't seem to have a specific question and just seem to be generally anxious about what your results might mean?

Please have a read of the following links:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/macrocytosis/AN01287 - Enlarged Red Blood Cells

http://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-edge-newspaper-2011/feb-04b.html - Low White Blood Cell count

Generally, the blood results could mean anything or nothing, they may be related to your Diagnosis or not, sometimes people can have different blood results for no specific reason at all.

As the links above show, there are many different possible causes in fact.

Even if Alcohol abuse can cause enlarged red blood cells, it does not mean that is what is causing yours, and as you have said you do not drink, then that is pretty conclusive that is not the cause in your case!

The Doctor at the Hospital is there to answer your questions and should be explaining this to you, if you are struggling to wait until your next appointment at the end of the month then could you make an appointment to discuss your concerns with your own GP or a Nurse at the surgery in the meantime?

Another idea could be to phone the Consultant's Secretary at the Hospital, they may be able to help too.

Hope you feel better soon x

Edited to add: it is possible that the Blood results are a symptom of your Diagnosis. Many times symptoms can be vague and really it is for your Doctor to get to the bottom of all this and explain to you what it all means x

I was expecting the low white blood cell count- it's part and parcel of the long term effects of things and not much I seem to be able to do -despite trying! It was the enlarged red cells I was more curious and a bit thrown by- I have never had that before- the specialist spoke about it as though it was almost normal in my situation so weather or not it is and I just was never told about it before or if it's not bad enough to be "concerned" is another matter.

I'm going to try to see my GP next week but am not holding up much hope because it's so hard to get an appointment when I am free to attend one (plus the average 1 hour waiting time for them to be running late). Just feels a bit too OTT to go to A&E where my local walk-in centre is based. I know from past experience though, when I've seen my GP in the past they don't seem to do anything unless I instruct them to: they'll turn to me and ask me what I'd like them to do, to which the answer is always the same "uh, I don't know, make the pain/problem go away?" so unless I really know what the problem is I'm not holding out much hope!

Tiglath

OP - was it your MCH (mean corpuscular hemoglobin) count that's high, leading to a lack of oxygen in the blood? If so, I have the same thing and I don't drink at all. My GP's not worried about it though.

Teresa_Green

jenniewb wrote: »

I know from past experience though, when I've seen my GP in the past they don't seem to do anything unless I instruct them to.....so unless I really know what the problem is I'm not holding out much hope!

OK, then when you see the GP say that you are concerned about your Blood results and would like the Doctor / Nurse to explain to you if in fact you need to be, as currently this is causing you some distress which may be unnecessary, and which is not good for your health!!

Let us know how you get on x

pm04gn

If in doubt patient.co.uk is always worth a look

http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Macrocytosis-and-Macrocytic-Anaemia.htm

Sounds like you have a raised MCV this is caused by many things included alcohol, b12 deficiency and folate deficiency.
B12 and folate are measured in a different blood test (with iron stores/ferritin)

HTH

lizt1

This really doesn't sound like this is something you should go to A&E or a walk in centre for, they are for urgent care/emergencies, not for querying the meaning of test results.

This really needs to be explained to you by your GP or specialist for your condition as only they will have access to the info about your condition which they will need to put the results into context.

Bur definitely not a good idea to go to A&E, as you have had neither an accident, nor an emergency!

suki1964

lizt1 wrote: »

This really doesn't sound like this is something you should go to A&E or a walk in centre for, they are for urgent care/emergencies, not for querying the meaning of test results.

This really needs to be explained to you by your GP or specialist for your condition as only they will have access to the info about your condition which they will need to put the results into context.

Bur definitely not a good idea to go to A&E, as you have had neither an accident, nor an emergency!

No one has suggested the op go to A&E, indeed the op is even worried about going to her local walk in ( as suggested by NHS direct) because it is based in the A&E department

jenniewb

pm04gn wrote: »

If in doubt patient.co.uk is always worth a look

http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Macrocytosis-and-Macrocytic-Anaemia.htm

Sounds like you have a raised MCV this is caused by many things included alcohol, b12 deficiency and folate deficiency.
B12 and folate are measured in a different blood test (with iron stores/ferritin)

HTH

Thanks but not sure it applies: my iron count was too high! Very odd I know but not when I consider that I take multi-vit pills aimed at women.

jenniewb

suki1964 wrote: »

No one has suggested the op go to A&E, indeed the op is even worried about going to her local walk in ( as suggested by NHS direct) because it is based in the A&E department

Correct

My local walk-in centre is at A&E. I've used it before (I got very ill over Christmas and the GP's surgery was closed for Christmas but I wasn't able to breathe properly due to a chest infection and the pharmacist and NHS direct told me to go to a walk-in-centre.) It shares it's waiting room and in fact even arrival desk with the A&E department, you watch people withering in agony and even screaming whilst they wait, it just makes me feel I shouldn't be there and I sort of don't think I should be there.

I know it's not actual A&E but I still feel a bit OTT for going to what is an emergency place just to get answers to medical questions which what doesn't appear to be life-and death.