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Have Got Multiple Chronic Illness, Epilepsy And Sjogrens. Blood Work Done. What Should I Do?

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Posted on Sat, 4 Aug 2012
Question: hi: i've got multiple chronic ilnesses. RA x 20 years, epilepsy and sjogrens. My last RA blood work was:
showed low CO2 - it was 17 with normal being between 19-32
high hemoglobin, high hematocrit and high MCV
myCRP was also high
My question is : should I have this looked at further..or just wait until I have bloodwork drawn again at my regular RA visit in September?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ioan Dorian OANA (1 hour later)
Hi,

Thanks for your query.

To help me guide you better, please answer to the following questions:

Have you recently suffered from dehydration, severe vomiting or diarrhea, or excessive sweating?
Was a bicarbonate level also done? If yes, what were the results?
Do you feel anxious a lot of time?
How high were hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV and CRP? Before this episode, what were the lab results when you had blood work drawn and how were the results then?

I am looking forward to your reply.

If you have any more queries, feel free to ask.

Regards
Dr. Dorian Oana MD, PhD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Aparna Kohli
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ioan Dorian OANA (1 hour later)
Hey: I do not suffer from anxiety...I'm a Marriage and Family therapist, so I do know the symptoms. No, I have not had dehydration, vomiting or excessive sweating..I do have frequent diarrhea. I don't think I had the bicarbonate levels performed.
Hemoglobin was 15.2 on a 12 to 15 scale
hematocrit was 46.9 on a 36 to 46 scale
MCV was 101.5 on a 78 to 100 scale
On previous bloodwork--all wa snormal except for CRP and a MCV of 101.6
I hope this helps
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ioan Dorian OANA (4 hours later)
Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

The hemoglobin or red blood cell count is perceived to be abnormally high due to an increased concentration of blood and this can happen as a result of plasma volume loss from diarrhea.

Anyway, hemoglobin, hematocrit and MCV have been just slightly modified, while CRP was high last time too. So, in my opinion, just wait until you have bloodwork drawn again at your regular RA visit in September.

If you have any more queries, feel free to ask.

Regards
Dr. Dorian Oana MD, PhD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Aparna Kohli
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Ioan Dorian OANA

Oncologist

Practicing since :2006

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Have Got Multiple Chronic Illness, Epilepsy And Sjogrens. Blood Work Done. What Should I Do?

Hi,

Thanks for your query.

To help me guide you better, please answer to the following questions:

Have you recently suffered from dehydration, severe vomiting or diarrhea, or excessive sweating?
Was a bicarbonate level also done? If yes, what were the results?
Do you feel anxious a lot of time?
How high were hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV and CRP? Before this episode, what were the lab results when you had blood work drawn and how were the results then?

I am looking forward to your reply.

If you have any more queries, feel free to ask.

Regards
Dr. Dorian Oana MD, PhD