posted
Hubby just got some bloodwork back -- His RBC fell from 4.49 3 weeks ago to 3.75 This is the lowest it has ever been -- actually I think it is the only time in the last 7 years it has actually been low. Has hovered between 4.5 and 5 for the last year or so.
No wonder he feels so tired and his hands and feet are so cold.
He is still on Alinia for babs for 4 more days -- after 4 months at half dose and 4 more months at full dose. Does not really have any babs symptoms -- no sweats in quite a while.
Still on the Cortef and Benicar. Not feeling well at all. Not been doing well since stopping the Rifampin about 6 weeks ago.
Waiting for a phone call from his LLMD.
Just wondering if anyone thinks a low RBC could be from Bart/BLO/mycoplasma or the mystery bug?
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
My daughter has had low RBCs since she became very ill, she is on Iron infusions and pro-crit, she still has critically low counts...3.5 is the highest we've seen, usually around 2.8.
WBC's are low and she is given infusions for that too, which is odd since she runs high fevers daily.
We've thought my daughters low RBC's may be due Babesia infection, which she tested pos. for several times. She has BLO/Bart and Lyme too.
Posts: 371 | From CT | Registered: Jun 2008
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I am usually on the border of RBC levels or just under as well. It just seems to be part of this bloody infection complex!
Posts: 364 | From California | Registered: Sep 2005
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minoucat
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5175
posted
Hubby had low RBCs until recent IV tx for bartonella. His RBC are now well within normal, although still low normal, despite his babesia relapse.
A lyme friend undergoing erlichia/bartonell tx has had the same experience of increased RBC despite other continuing TBDs.
-------------------- ********************* RECIDITE, PLEBES! Gero rem imperialem! (Stand aside plebians! I am on imperial business.)
sometimesdilly
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9982
posted
hi, Bea-
for what's it worth, my red cell counts have always been perfectly normal these past 6 years.
several other counts have gone significantly out of whack, but never reds.
also for what's it worth, i think i have never had bart, just babesia and Lyme.
its all a puzzle.
hugs, dill
Posts: 2505 | From lost in the maze | Registered: Aug 2006
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glm1111
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 16556
posted
Hi Bea,
I saw in another post that you tx hubby for ascaris(I had this as well)Hookworm can cause anemia and I was wondering if you had him checked for this.
There is also something called clm (creeping larva migrans)associated with it.
Check to see if he has zig zag lines (look like veins on the sides of his instep.) Just a thought for you to consider.
Gael
-------------------- PARASITES/WORMS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE NUMBER 1 CO-INFECTION IN LYME DISEASE BY ILADS* Posts: 6418 | From philadelphia pa | Registered: Jul 2008
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Hubby has been on Alinia for 8 months now -- 4 months at half dose and 4 months at full dose. So I don't see how it could be parasites.
Anyway, I was surprised that his RBC fell -- just wasn't expecting that at this point in time.
He is on a very high dose of sublingual B12. Plan to have doc check his folic acid levels and iron status. It just seems like something is destroying his RBC as he has slightly elevated bilirubin as well. At least his platelet count is still ok, so I think that is a good sign.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
My red blood count has gone from low to low normal for most of my illness. One month it would be below normal and the next month low normal. I think it is because of Babesia which is what I am treating now.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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glm1111
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 16556
posted
Bea,
I was curious and just looked up the side effects of Alinia. One side effect is ANEMIA and the other is LEUKOCYTOSIS.
The other thing is that parasites are master survivalists and they adapt to any drug or herb we throw at them.
Changing modalities is important. Hubby may have gotton rid of them, but it is always good to be open that they are lurking somewhere.
I have gotton rid of a ton and I am still dealing with them.
Sorry your hubby has been so sick,
Gael
-------------------- PARASITES/WORMS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE NUMBER 1 CO-INFECTION IN LYME DISEASE BY ILADS* Posts: 6418 | From philadelphia pa | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
My RBC has gone down a bit with treatment, now it's about 3.8. Doctor is not terribly concerned. I think it explains why I get out of breath fairly quickly upon exertion.
B12 seems to make no difference. I have not found anything that helps.
Posts: 727 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2006
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