We had been looking for a new rental home this past month. My mother had been living with us and sharing the rent but when she hooked up with my stepfather, she moved out about 6-7 months ago. Unfortunately, we can't afford this house by ourself. My husband doesn't work...not because he's lazy though! He was more than willing to get a job but I want him to focus on school (he's a full-time culinary arts student). He has that bad heart and just school and family take up a lot of his energy. So my mom had agreed that she would not leave us hanging and would continue to help out. Well, I'm an independent kinda girl and don't want to continue this way. And I look at what I make monthly and wonder, where does it all go???? Anywho. We found a house right around the block from where we currently live! It's the same house even! The same amount of space, layout, etc. Just a little less upgraded. But it's $650 cheaper a month!!!!! Woohoo!!!!! So we move later this month. Now let the packing begin....ugh!
In other moves....I went and saw the FNP regarding my 'spells'. Because these spells are really getting aggravating...and very persistent. She ran a buttload of tests (some of which I would have declined had I known she was checking them - like syphillis, gonorrhea, chlamydia - really? C'mon I know I don't have STDs). Anyway, here are the significant results....for all you medical people that want to play guess the pathology...Norms are in parentheses.
Med Hx - beta thalassemia, hypothyroidism, spondylarthropathy, IBS, PMDD
Meds - levothyroxine, Yaz, folic acid, rantidine, multivitamin, zyrtec, methotrexate, humira, vicodin prn, skelaxin prn
Symptoms - Low-grade temps (normal is 97.5 area, these run anywhere from 99-100 degrees), fatigue, weakness, muscle and joint pain, shoulders and neck very painful at times especially.
WBC 12.6 (4.0-11.0) This has also been mildly elevated in the last two CBCs I have checked.
RBC 5.58 (3.7-5.4)
Hemoglobin 11.6 (11.5-16)
Hematocrit 37.9 (35-48)
MCV 68 (78-100)
MCH 20.8 (27-34)
MCHC 30.6 (31-37)
1+ Anisocytosis
2+ microcytosis
Retic count 2.0 (.5-1.5%)
Remainder of CBC WNL.
Serum iron 40 (35-175)
TIBC 412 (250-400)
% Saturation 10 (15-50)
Ferritin 368 (9-120)
CMP WNL
CRP 11.7 (<8.0)
Vitamin B12 286 (243-894)
Folate >20 (3.1-17.5)
Rheumatoid Factor <7>
ANA screen positive (negative) This has always been negative in the past
ANA titer 1:160 (<1:40)
HIV, Hep B and C all negative
Transferrin 336 (188-341)
Lyme disease negative
Urine culture negative
Thyroid panel WNL
And there you have it. Feel free to ask any questions and play detective. I have some thoughts in mind but frankly find those ideas a little scary. The FNP wants me to see a hematologist so I have that appointment scheduled for just over a week from now.
4 comments:
Hematologist visit is definitely needed. Perhaps some strange heme issue r/t the beta thalassemia? Symptoms makes me think of an anemia (beta thalassemia, which you have). The numbers are fairly normal, which could be just the way your body is able to compensate for the disease process.
The ANA things...some autoimmune response?
lupus
AYC - anemia does not cause increased temps or joint pain. But joint pain is likely related to autoimmune disorder but could be a symptom of other things as well. The ferritin level is pretty high, even for having thalassemia. That was the FNP's concern.
The ANA can be r/t a variety of conditions including lupus as anonymous suggested. But it is associated with other things as well such as sjorgen's syndrome, RA, leukemia, etc. There's a fairly long list.
I think the ANA is related to the overall picture of what my labs look like.
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