Blood test results are all over the place ?

[jjourneys]

I’ve been anemic for a few years with unknown origin causing it.

This is still the case but now my platelets and RBC have gone really high? Plus have lost 10kg without trying or changing anything.

Have got a follow up GP appt but it’s weeks away, so I’m going to push for a quicker one I think …

Also, has anyone experienced this?

How are you doing? It all sounds very stressful for you. I hope you can get answers soon.

@jjourneysi hope you are ok

Thanks x next appointments are MRI on Saturday at 9am and Colon CT is now Tuesday (they only do them on Tuesdays, apparently). With the Colin CT I have to drink a dye twice over the 24 hours beforehand, and although I will get diarrhoea, it’s not the same as the prep before colonoscopy which is a complete emptying laxative. Then they’ll look at everything and see what’s what I guess?

I know it is a typo but calling the ct scan Colin made me smile.

Fingers crossed for you.

:)

I now have visions of a CT scanner shaped like Colin the Caterpillar. Which is a much cheerier thought than the accompanying diarrhea.

At least things are moving forwards and you should have answers soon, but the waiting is of course very hard.

Good luck for your results. Potential of internal blood loss causing the anaemia and also being linked to weight loss means it’s important you are getting this urgent review. Hopefully something simple like a stomach ulcer. Hope you feel better soon.

Sounds like they are looking at everything OP. You must be exhausted from all the procedures.

Your platelet levels can be reactive to a source of inflammation. I have IBD and my platelets can go through the roof if I’m having a flare (up to 1200 they are currently in the 500’s). IDA can also increase platelets.

High platelets can lead to a falsely high potassium reading as the blood clots in the tube the platelets release potassium.

Good luck with your tests (and say hi to Colin)

CBA thanks for the raised platelets and potassium heads-up xx

Do you know if that is the same with raised RBC count too? Although weirdly my Haemoglobin is very very low.

Also too low blood pressure, but they weren’t too worried about that until I was on a ward being monitored by nurses post sedation etc.

How did the MRI go yesterday? When do you get the results?

MRI was straightforward however I was really impressed as I’ve got a colon ct on Tuesday, and they had a package waiting for me at the MRI appointment for my prep and instructions for Tuesdays appointment! I said to the radiologist how impressed I was, and he laughed and said ‘no it’s okay, I was just at a meeting yesterday with the person who is doing your ct on Tuesday, and she’d seen you were coming in for mri with me’ (basically they couldn’t get the stuff out in the post quick enough for turnaround of the ct appointment).

No idea re results - I guess they’ll wait until Tuesdays test is over and then see what’s what?

Thanks for checking in Joy x

Wow, that is efficient! Hope it all goes well.

Been lurking… just jumping in to say I hope this week all goes as well as it could.

Thank you both x

1 down, 1 to go. Not long now until you get some answers hopefully.

I’m so invested in this thread as I’ve also had low ferritin (5 or 6 constantly for about 3 years) with multiple private iron infusions, and my GP has been fairly useless. I’ve just started a similar route with FIT test etc - keeping fingers crossed for both of us!

Really they were kind of putting it down to general gynae related stuff (fibroid / heavy periods) until the last year when my weight dropped 10kg, and my periods stopped due to menopause (I’m 50). But you never know, I might have these tests and nothing comes back, which I’m tbh hoping, as I’m pretty scared if it turns out it’s something serious that’s been left for ages! But will update either way. Note the GP still put 2WW urgent cancer diagnostic referral in, even though I had a negative FIT test (but included that result with the referral).

Just drinking the gross dye and starving after lunch today until tomorrow afternoon 🤮. Then this round of tests are done.

Great … think I’m now having an allergic reaction to the gastrografin oral dye … my left ear has started to swell and go red and hot. Facial swelling is a side effect! Typical eh?! I’ve called the CT department and left a message.

just an update - I’m not going to take the second dose, but I can still go ahead with the scan tomorrow 👍🏻

Oh you poor thing. Last thing you need. I hope they can still get a decent scan.

Yes they said one dose should be enough for them, so that’s good at least, and said not to worry and still starve/clear fluids and come in. But weirdly they said I should have got a reaction from when I had injectable dye a few weeks ago more so than ingestable dye, as it’s basically the same. But the ingestable one makes you have diarrhoea, whereas the injectable doesn’t, so they must be slightly different eh (I only thought this after)?

Anyway, not long left. x

Thinking of you today. I'm having my PET scan today too. Currently waiting for the radioactive dye to make its way round my body. I hope yours goes ok and they are able to get clear images.

Thanks for posting Joy. I’m home and the images were fine they said, so that was good.

My intestines being filled up with air was a very weird feeling, and actually felt quite uncomfortable (like gas stomach cramps), but quickly subsided once the scans had been done and they deflated me!

Currently my stomach now sounds like it’s doing the Macarena (!), as I’ve eaten now etc, so I expect I’ll continue to have the diarrhoea for another 12 hours or so, which they said to expect … but at least I’m not starving or anything as well.

Good luck with your PET scan today, and hopefully they bring you some positive news with regard to progression prior to you commencing the next stage.

The radiologist said I should get some results from the consultant within 2 weeks 🤞🏻. Sending strength and love and will update as and when needed x Jane x

Glad it went well today. Do you have another appointment booked in?