Managing Cytopenias: RBCs

A big part of MDS is the low bood cell counts. Low red blood cells is a major feature for most MDS patients, although mine are not very low. This info on Low Red Blood Cells is from: Chemocare.com - a program of the Scott Hamilton CARES initiative
http://www.chemocare.com/managing/low_blood_counts.asp
(i loved Scott both as an ice skater and as an announcer! cool to see this other work of his) I'm editing more now but it's still the work of Chemocare

LOW RED BLOOD CELL COUNT (Anemia, low hemoglobin, low hematocrit)

Red blood cells carry oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. A complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test used to check your blood count. The RBC, hemoglobin, and hematocrit are tests to see if you have low red blood count.

Normal Adult Values Male Female

• RBC 4.5 - 6.0 M/ul 4.2 - 5.4 M/ul
• Hemoglobin (HgB) 14 - 18 g/dL 12 - 16 g/dL
• Hematocrit (Hct) 40 - 52% 37 - 47%

Note: Normal values will vary from laboratory to laboratory.
/// note from kayla: Kaiser, where i receive my care, has much lower low end of normal for females:

• RBC Count 3.60-5.10 M/uL
• HGB 11.5-15.0 g/dL
• HEMATOCRIT 34.0-46.0 %
• MCV 80-100 fL
• RDW, RBC 11.9-14.3 %

Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a calculation of the variation in the size of your RBCs. In some anemias, such as pernicious anemia, the amount of variation (anisocytosis) in RBC size (along with variation in shape - poikilocytosis) causes an increase in the RDW.
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is a measurement of the average size of your RBCs. The MCV is elevated when your RBCs are larger than normal (macrocytic), for example in anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. When the MCV is decreased, your RBCs are smaller than normal (microcytic), such as is seen in iron deficiency anemia.
end kayla note////

back to Scott:

When you have low red blood cell count you may feel:
* Fatigued
* Weak
* Short of breath
* Increase in your heart rate
* Dizzy or lightheaded when you change positions quickly

If you suffer from low red blood cell count, you may experience:
* Headaches
* Chest Pain
* Pale skin

Things you can do to help manage your low red blood count:
* Rest between activities.
* Plan ahead and save your energy for the most important activities.
* Avoid or stop activities that make you short of breath
    or make your heart beat faster.
* Ask others for help.
* Eat a diet with adequate protein and vitamins.
* Drink plenty of non-caffeinated and non-alcoholic fluids.

When to call your doctor or health care provider about low blood counts:
* Severe weakness.
* You feel dizzy or lightheaded.
* Your heart is beating faster.
* You feel short of breath or are having difficulty breathing.
* Call immediately if you are having chest pain.

Your doctor or health care provider may prescribe or suggest to treat your low red blood count:
* Epoetin alfa (PROCRIT).
* Darbepoetin (Aranesp).
* Iron supplement.
* Multivitamin.
* A diet high in protein.
* A red blood cell transfusion.

//// kayla notes: with MDS and other forms of bone marrow disease, supplements and diet change will not fix it and iron supplementation can make matters worse for some so don't go trying to fix this with out your doctor's advice!
i know that docotors don't prescribe transfusions or procrit until patients are significantly below normal. i forget the numbers so i will do research on the levels at which doctors start treating low RBC counts and post that soon. til next time, kayla