Almost empty .. down a few pints !

[harrietW]

Hemoglobin 50
At almost 5.5 weeks post Sergey l had someone take me to hospital to find l was down a few pints. I am on my second blood transfusion in as many day. Baffled. . . This has obviously cause me many problems in my post op recovery. No answers no reason determined yet. They intend to keep me in hospital a few days yet to try and figure thus out.
Anyone ever had this experience! !! ????

 

[Seaton]

Best to you, Harriet.
Hope things stabilise and improve soon.

 

[cldlhd]

I guess this could explain some of the issues you've been having. Hopefully this will get fixed and things will be back on track soon. This may be a stupid question but how do they tell how low you are/

 

[harrietW]

Cldlhd
Very fatigued faint nauseas l was having to force myself to do everything. . No color in my face or body actually. Very pale no energy sick to stomach my heart was pounding so loud in my head. Clamy couldn't stand up weak and shake legs .. and more.
Blood test - hemoglobin should be120-180

 

[pellicle]

Harriet, this sounds serious ... have you seen a doctor?

ask for blood test to check for Endocarditis

 

[harrietW]

Well pelicle while yes l've been in hospital since Saturday about 7 ish ..
Are those symptoms of endocarditis? ??
Because they seem stumped also my iron is now double what it should be outta know where ..
So there was blood loss somewhere l have seen a couple of doctors and internalist s l wish l could undo all of this ... it's also family day here in Canada so everyone back tomorrow. I hopefully will see my Cardiologists and consult with my Surgeon tomorrow.
I have been very very sick

 

[harrietW]

They were going to do scopes yesterday but decide not to be to invasive. .. hopefully we have answers tomorrow .. l left a msg with my Heart surgeon's office today.

 

[harrietW]

Pelicle have you ever heard of the valves to tight that it crushes the red blood cells.

 

[pellicle]

Hi

Pelicle have you ever heard of the valves to tight that it crushes the red blood cells.

no, and that would be illogical as then the blood would not pass through. The valve diameter is a good half inch ...

but back in the old days with the old ball and cage types there was an excess of blood smashing going on which triggered thrombosis, which is why Dicks INR is set higher for his valve than for the more modern ones.

I can think of nothing (neither can your specialists it seems) at all that would link your iron levels to your valve ... there are other causes of high iron (totally un-valve type related).

I'm confused a little ... your iron is high and your haemoglobin low? Is that right?

Endocarditis presents as a fever and general mailaise. Since it can be fatal I'd strongly suggest a blood test to get that off the table if it has not already been done. The hospital should be doing that ... ask the obvious question "have they".

 

[pellicle]

pointless duplicate created 10 minutes after posting

 

[harrietW]

Pelicle. .
Crazy thing is only just today they talked about high iron levels a doctor walked in aND stopped a high iron cocktail IV that was ordered yesterday by an internalist. The on call doctor walked in and ordered 5he nurses to abort the lv as my levels were twice the normal . Now where and how that happened is beyond me because the we're infact low previous and even after surgery 6 weeks ago .
So right now my inr is 2.9 l received blood transfusion all day as l also recieve 2 days ago but lots a high % so they will redo my blood work in the morning and we will see what happens.
I am having trouble with the Internet here a bit at the hospital so they are posting when online again.
Thx for you trouble shooting pelicle !

 

[pellicle]

I wish I was a better shot ...

 

[pellicle]

there is something I thought of in your post, but its not caused by "too tight" valve its caused by something else ... perhaps the valve alignment, perhaps the valve leaflets) its called hemolytic anemia ... I didn't want to mention it because its not got a good solution ... and your valve was AVR right? Not Mitral??

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3627285/

Only 70 cases of hemolysis after mitral valve repair have been reported in the literature. In nearly all of these cases, replacement or rerepair of the valve was the definitive treatment for hemolysis.

and I don't want to worry you on a conjecture which may be false

 

[harrietW]

Pelicle
I had mitral valve repair 28mm physio 11 (l believe that's a ring) as well as 23mm aortic valve replacement carbonetic and 23mm aortic root repair
So l think it possible you nailed it after reading these studies although rare it sound very likely. . And l'm going to pray your wrong for obvious reason.
I don't think they could get one more ounce of blood in me right now if they tried ... lm interestedto see what my reading are over the next couple of days l believe l will have a echo tomorrow and my docs with have a conversation cardiologist and surgeon and on duty here at hospital. Let's hope we get answers.
Thx you for your time and input. I will keep you updated.

 

[pellicle]

Hey Harriet

wish there was more that I could do ... we'll know more when the next batch of results come in.

lets hope its something else.

 

[harrietW]

Yes let's hope !!
Thx l will be asking a thousand questions tomorrow but almost afraid l only have to ask one
I will keep you posted

 

[pellicle]

to add to your list are these:

if there is an internal bleed resulting in the hemoglobin loss, where is it going to and will this cause a problem (and how much blood has been put in so far)?

 

[Paleowoman]

Hi Harriet - I'm relieved to hear from you, I was wondering where you were (well I knew we were all unable to get on forum from Saturday night). Did you make the journey to see the cardiac surgeon last Wednesday ? Is that how they discovered your iron levels were so low ? At least you are in hospital and they should be able to sort this out. You are in the right place.

 

[honeybunny]

I am so sorry you are dealing with so much, well....crap....excuse my language. And dealing with it alone. It's one thing to have an SO or close friend or family member advocating for you but when it's just you and the doctors/hospital staff, it is just overwhelming. I'm glad pellicle is here to give you some guidance. All I can give you is my prayers. Hugs to you ((((((((Harriet))))))))

 

[dornole]

Praying for you Harriet. I've been told that the turbulence from my bad mitral valve can bust up some red blood cells but not to cause the kind of symptoms you're having. I sure hope they can get you sorted out soon. Praying for the smartest doc in the place to figure this out and fix it - and lots of strength for you to do your job of hanging in there.