04 December 2002
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I got a call from the office of one of my doctors on Monday. I was suppose to set an appointment with Dr. S, the hematologist, that saw me at the hospital when I was admitted about three weeks ago. I finally made the appointment today. I was informed that Dr. S is a very busy person and appointments are to be set a month in advance. Okay. I pleaded with the receptionist and got an appointment on Dec. 11th at 2pm sharp or "Dr. S will just leave. She has places to go and people to see. If you are late then you will have to set another appointment with her." I better get there early then.
During my hospitalization, I was given a CBC, also called a complete blood count. It is a screening test used to diagnose and manage many diseases. It is also used to help diagnose many disorders, including problems with blood, heart, kidneys, and nutritional status. I had about 3 CBC's while I was at the hospital. My poor veins couldn't take another test. My arms still hurts. The doctors told me about my hemoglobin count, which was at 3.2 (It was really at 3.7 but they told me it was at 3.2 so I would accept the blood transfusions - I had refused that option beforehand) and my hematocrit (percentage of blood composed of cells) levels. Both my hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were low.
Normal values for a female:
Hematocrit (varies with altitude): 36.1-44.3%
Hemoglobin (varies with altitude): 12.1-15.1 gm/dcl (grams per deciliter)
My values:
Hematocrit: 20% (I am not 100% sure about this)
Hemoglobin: 3.7
My cell count was at 40,000 and was up at 80,000 when I left the hospital. A normal person should have had about 150,000 or so I'm told.
Low Hematocrit may indicate that one of these conditions is present: anemia; blood loss; bone marrow failure; hemolysis, which is the separation of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying component of red blood cells, from the red blood cells; leukemia; malnutrition; multiple myeloma; over hydration; rheumatoid; arthritis; a long-term disease in which the connective tissue is
destroyed; specific nutritional deficiency.
Low Hemoglobin values may indicate: anemia; blood loss
Dr. S had told me that she wanted to do more CBC work to find out if my low blood count had to do with bone marrow failure. All I could think of that point is a big long needle being stuck in my back. Ouch!! I surely do not want to do that. I hope It will not come to that point. I think I'd rather be anemic than have to go through that or Leukemia (which they said it still might be a possibility). Doctors need to stop scaring me.
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