Possible polycythemia.... worried

Allergies, blood and immune system
1

Hi my name is Robert. During my visit to my psychiatrist my pdoc wanted to know my lithium level so they did a blood test as they usually do every six months. She was concerned with some of my readings and has referred me to my general practitioner. I am obviously concerned with some of my readings and wanted to see what you guys thought.

Normal

WBC. 6.6. 3.8-12.8

RBC. 6.34 4.2- 5.7

Hemoglobin. 16.3. 14-18.0

Hematocrit. 52. 42.2-53.8

MCV. 82. 81-102

MCH. 25.7. 26.9 -35.0

MCHC. 31.3. 30.4-34.8

RDW. 42.2. 38.2-53.0

Platelet count 269. 137-397

I am having trouble understanding how my MCH count could be low but my RBC count be high. Also my hematocrit is also fairly high. Is this usually indicative of Polycythemia ? In your opinion how do my numbers look ? Just looking for some insight I am a tad worried.

Thanks, A lot

2

Hello Robert. 

Having had a look at your figures really I cannot see you have very much to concern you as far as PV is concerned.  Your platelets are good which is important and apart from those you mention particularly the rest are well within bounds.   You should realise that your blood measurements are rarely static and can be affected by different factors.  I have suffered from PV for many years and it has advanced into another but similar disorder.  During this time my readings have varied greatly and if I worried about any small differences, such as you describe, then I might have been well pleased.  Do you suffer fatigue, night sweats, weight loss or fever and perhaps itching, as these symptoms generally indicate perhaps PV.   You do not say why you were referred to your GP.  I would suggest it could be to examine your readings more closely.  Normally, if PV is suspected then you would have expected to be referred to a Haematologist for further testing to clarify your situation as these doctors are the blood disorder specialists who would treat the disorder.  Without itemising each separate  result shown I would suggest that your readings are not indicative of you having PV, which is a very rare disorder.  I have yet to meet another PV sufferer despite the numbers of patients who use this forum.  I suppose one might say that it could be the commencement of PV but it does not seem likely.  I would recommend that you first discuss things with your GP, explain your fears to him/her and I am sure you will be given an accurate diagnosis.  The GP can refer you to a Haematologist if needed.  In conclusion I would say that high or low blood counts can be caused by other diseases unrelated to PV etc.  Let us hope you are PV clear, it is not a comfortable complaint to have to live with, and although there are increasingly more treatments becoming available, it still remains incurable.  I expect you will receive more responses from other PV sufferers who may be able conclusively to set your mind at rest.

Best wishes.    

Peter.

3

Hey, did she mentioned specifically something related to PV? Or is that just your guess? 

4

My pdoc had mentioned that she thought I might have a blood disorder and to seek out my general practioner.

5

It seems pretty normal values apart from the elevated RBC... 

acid uric?

any related PV symptom ever in the past?

6

I can't think of any symptoms that I may have. Nothing stands out to me. I was also concerned with my level of hematocrit at 52. Should this be a real cause for concern?

Thanks for your time !

7

Your levels are pretty much the same as mine, although my hemoglobin is a little higher and RBC si within normal.

Ive been pushing several doctors now to go investigate further because any kind of PV is usually very difficult to diagnose at first glance. So i've pushed and change from one doc to the next, i even went on to go to private labs and perform a long list of tests by my own.

Thats how i find my EPO (erythropoietin) was in the lower levels within normal.

And also, finally after several doctors dont paying attention at all to the blood tests y found an expert hemtahologist actually speciallized in PV. So im seeing him at the end of this month but he already ask me to perform the genes tests.

A lot of people is assymtomatic most of their live and get diagnosed just by chance.

Ive never really had any symptom that i can objectively think of but going back in memory there are some typical things that i've might slightly experienced.

Ive always had tendency to have a reddish skin (plethora), counted by one hand but still itchy feets after warm bath.

I've never been diagnosed with high blood preassure but always been on the upper normal level towards high preassure.

Of course, ive been under severe health stress and anxiety over the past two months. Im lucky enough to have bloood tests records since 2010 and all the related RBC levels are always on the upper normal range. So, it might be that im just like that or effectively theres some blood disorder of any kind.

I actually insisted on keep pushing on doctors because in 2 months my acid uric went under from mid range to upper normal level and i might be experiencing some sort of gout like discomfort in the left knee. Which is usually a symptom of PV.

But i have to say, in 2010 when was the other most stressful time in my life apart from this last 2 months, blood tests results are almost exactly. So dont really now if anxiety and stress can cause this kind of elevations with or without having PV.

So we will see in the upcoming weeks.

What about you? How old are you? Where do you live?