posted
My bloodwork consistently comes back with results of smaller than normal red blood cells. They just keep getting smaller and smaller.
Something tells me there is a link with this and my symptoms but I just can't make the connection. I do not have anemia.
I've never gotten a straight answer from any Dr about it. Does anyone else out there have this and have you gotten answers about it? Thanks
Posts: 237 | From WV | Registered: Mar 2007
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Truthfinder
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8512
posted
Smaller than normal red blood cells are called `microcytes'. Iron deficiency is the most common cause but certainly not the only one. Here's a simple article about microcytic anemia.
-------------------- Tracy .... Prayers for the Lyme Community - every day at 6 p.m. Pacific Time and 9 p.m. Eastern Time � just take a few moments to say a prayer wherever you are�. Posts: 2966 | From Colorado | Registered: Dec 2005
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posted
I've been checked for anemia several times and my iron levels have been ok. The size of my red blood cells before I got sick were in normal range.
They were normal even in the beginning after first becoming ill, but the worse I've gotten, the smaller the red blood cells. I passed the low end of normal a long time ago. They just get a little smaller each time my blood is checked.
I just can't shake the feeling that it's connected to my symptoms and not just a random thing.
I thought I read somewhere (but can't find it now) that abnormally small red blood cells are common in some areas of the world where malaria is prevelant. Something about smaller red blood cells being harder for malaria to enter if that makes any kind of sense.
Posts: 237 | From WV | Registered: Mar 2007
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
So, medically, your condition is known as microcytic anemia.
The link to microcytic anemia above includes the following statements:
"Microcytic anemia can be a side effect of an infection, an inflammatory disease or cancer. Three factors are thought to create this anemia: 1) RBCs with a shortened lifespan...."
You have an infection (lyme plus other coinfections), you have an inflammatory disease (lyme disease causes major inflammation), and if you have babesiosis, you have red blood cells with a shortened lifespan.
Babesiosis is related to malaria, as you know. It gets inside and explodes our red blood cells so that our bodies are constantly having to make new ones. We have a greater ratio of immature red blood cells than a healthy person because of this.
So, I don't believe this is a random finding at all.
The doctors probably are stumped, so that's why they can't give you an answer. What do they know about babesiosis?
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karenl
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Member # 17753
posted
I had this condition only once in 2006, I was told my cells are released too early.And it is a bone marrow problem. It is normal since. Had extreme bartonella.
Posts: 1834 | From US | Registered: Oct 2008
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posted
Thanks - I read the links but TF put together for me what my fuzzy brain wouldn't. Bless you.
Posts: 237 | From WV | Registered: Mar 2007
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Amanda
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I have Babesiosis, but I have the opposite problem, my red blood cells are getting larger. LLMD says anemia causes the red blood cells to become larger, to make up for the fact there are fewer of them. I also have normal iron.
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Truthfinder
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
As I understand it, iron levels in the blood only indicate what is 'available'. That doesn't mean that the iron is getting to the bone marrow itself. So, iron deficiency could still be the culprit even if tests are normal.
Small RBCs can be immature cells, but I'm thinking that immature cells have strands or fibers in them and other traits that visually differentiate them from mature RBCs that are abnormally small.
-------------------- Tracy .... Prayers for the Lyme Community - every day at 6 p.m. Pacific Time and 9 p.m. Eastern Time � just take a few moments to say a prayer wherever you are�. Posts: 2966 | From Colorado | Registered: Dec 2005
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