Hi, I have a myriad of health problems...two brain surgeries for Chiari I Malformation + Basilar Invagination, spinal surgery for tethered spinal cord, EDS type III, POTS, Neurogenic bladder, Fibromyalgia, Generalized Pustular Psoriasis, accompanied with Psoriatic Arthritis, Osteopenia, mild sleep apnea, and GI probs for past year...only, having one bm per month, with some blood in the most recent stool. Just saw, GI doc, he doesn't think it's IBS, or OIC, and is very concerned, so ordered a colonoscopy + upper endoscopy for next Thursday. My main concern for writing you, as a hematologist, are recent symptoms that ended me up in the ER dept, where they thought, heart attack, but turned out all heart function indices were in normal limits...however, they had to call upon a phlebotomist specialist, in another area of the hospital, to conduct an ultrasound of my veins, even though I was not at all dehydrated, and had eaten just before I came in. The phlebotomy nurse, used an 18 gauge needle for my IV, and even with venous ultrasound, had to DIG DEEP, in my arms, finally after hitting a vein, needle is in the vein, he looks, at the doctor, baffled, and says, "I'm in her vein, right now, and there is absolutely ZERO venous blood return!!?" So, after, about another ten to fifteen minutes of digging deep into the vein, and looking at the ultrasound, he finally (and very very painfully) was able to get just enough blood for my CBC/additional labs! The whole process took about thirty to fourty-five minutes!! And, everything was normal, except for my RDW was H 15.8, MPV also H 11.8, potassium L 3.4, and BUN L 7. I'm always very tired, sleeping a lot, very pale, cold with cold skin, bruise very easily, no appetite, losing 3-5lbs per month, when not trying to lose, no exercise, no diet, dizzy, more so upon standing (probably related to my POTS) but? And, just, generally, feel weak, and have severe pain, in my bones, not my joint pain, or Fibromyalgia pain, but distinctively in my bones! I plan to see a local Hematologist, in the Kansas City Metropolitan area, and I'm a 30 year old, female, with a 3 year old son. I'd greatly appreciate any advice and/or comments you may have as to what could potentially be causing these issues for me, and if you believe it could be hematalogical in nature?! Also, the issue with having ZERO venous blood return has happened with 3 different phlebotomists, now!! Thanks so much, Doctor.

Regards,
Megan R