Down One End and Up The Other

[galvo]

Yesterday, I had the dubious pleasure of undergoing a gastroscopy and a colonoscopy. The good news is that nothing sinister was found in either passage. The ongoing worry is what is wrong with my haemoglobins? They were so low last week (69) that I was given 2 blood transfusions. Anybody have any ideas. The docs don't. Also, some of my fingertips are, intermittently, turning an attractive shade of blue. This phenomenon lasts for about 10 minutes. Any clues on this?

[cariad]

Sorry to hear, Galvo. I have no ideas save that I think these two phenomena are related - you are not getting enough oxygen through your blood. (Duh, right?)

I trust you are taking Aranesp/EPO/or similar? Getting enough iron? (the injections won't do much for you without sufficient iron). Of course, these are the glaringly obvious questions that your doctors should have already asked.

I cannot think what else it might be. Hope they suss it out for you. I battled severe anemia for the past 8 years or so, and in the end it was all down to that crashing bore Renal Insufficiency.

[YLGuy]

I am glad they did not find anything bad but I am sorry they did not find what was wrong. Did they find blood in your stools? (reason for scopes)

[Stoday]

I've had that Galvo. The blue thing, that is, after my first heart attack.

Give your old man an inspection, you'll be surprised 

You'll then understand the opening of Eskimo Nell —

When you grow old and your balls grow cold
And the end of your knob turns blue...

And a pretty shade of blue it is too.

[Riki]

*LMAO*  Stoday.. that was.... I don't knbw.....


I had the same thing happen to me about 5 years ago.  My hemoglobin dropped inexplicably.  I had ultrasounds and the scope and colonoscopy.  Like you, nothing was found.  I had a couple of blood transfusions and IV iron therapy once a week for about 6 weeks and it fixed things.  I was still on PD at the time.  They were never able to figure out what it was

[cariad]

I've had that Galvo. The blue thing, that is, after my first heart attack.

Give your old man an inspection, you'll be surprised 

You'll then understand the opening of Eskimo Nell —

When you grow old and your balls grow cold
And the end of your knob turns blue...

And a pretty shade of blue it is too.

Oh, the things I've learnt on this site!

[galvo]

I really don't know why I bother with medical professionals when Stoday is available!

Yeah, Cariad, I think you are correct. My wise old GP suggested this while the apprentice nephs reckoned it would be internal bleeding. I am on a high dose of aranesp (120 thingys) once a week and have iron infused also once a week.

No blood in the stools, YL. Which is going to upset the nephs. They will have to put on their thinking caps.

Curse you, Stoday. I had an awkward moment at lunch (restaurant wise) to-day, when a number of people observed me examining my old fella!

[cariad]

I really don't know why I bother with medical professionals when Stoday is available!

   

Everything you've written today has got me laughing, Galvo! I adore your wit!

[galvo]