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475555 tn?1469304339

Bone marrow, hemoglobin, and hep C

There's never a dull moment in Tango Town. No sooner did I start to calm down a little after getting hit last week with this jazz about having my gall bladder removed, than I am told by a hematologist that my high hemoglobin level (16 to 17) is weird and that I have to have a bone marrow puncture or something. Like, another biopsy only worse? On general anesthetic?

Oy! I'm getting punch-drunk from all this. I mean, are these people serious or are they using me to practice on because there's no one else around?

What the heck is a bone marrow puncture (or punction, or whatever), how is it done, does it hurt, and what are the nasty consequences that the MDs aren't telling me about?

Anyone know?

Mike
(on the verge of throwing in the towel and drinking myself to death with red wine)
30 Responses
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475555 tn?1469304339
All my blood tests have shown my hemoglobin between 16 and 18 g/Dl. My hepatologist never said it was too high, but he sort of sloughs off everything as being unimportant. And according to a new test standard I found on the Net, normal for men after middle age is 12.4-14.9 gm/dl. So I guess mine is high.

Your guess is as good as mine what they are looking for. They don't tell me anything. But I've put my GP onto it. Maybe she can find out what it's all about.

M.
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Avatar universal
i would be asking questions after questions if dr wanted to a bone marrow bx for hgb as yours is not at a critical level.  are there any other problems going on? that dr's told you? just doesn't make any sense. as i said ask, ask ect!!!!!!!

let me know what's going on

julie
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Avatar universal
I assume they are referring to a bone marrow biopsy. A sample of your bone marrow is taken from a large bone, generally the pelvic bone. A needle is inserted into your bone and a sample of your marrow cells is retrieved. Then they go deeper and a core marrow sample is taken. I have never had one but I know several people who have and they say it's not comfortable but it's not unbearable either. I don't think any of them underwent general anesthesia for the procedure. I think they may have been injected with Versed or another twilight drug.

Your Hgb is within the reference range. I doubt your Hgb is the reason for the marrow biopsy - if it is I would question the procedure. Regardless I would question the physician about the reason for the bone marrow biopsy. I know that with some types of anemia/low red blood cell count a bone marrow biopsy is appropriate but, from what you say, that isn't the case. Significant elevations of some blood numbers can also warrant a marrow biopsy but an Hgb of 16 - 17 just doesn't "weird" to me.

Good luck,
Mike
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-hemoglobin-count/MY00112  

- turned up immediately among many others with a quick google search.  Seems to indicate your hgb level, while on the upper end, is normal as his3707 said.  
Helpful - 0
789911 tn?1368636783
•Normal hemoglobin level for men is 14-18 grams/100ml of blood.  This is what I just saw searching around... If that is how they measured yours wouldnt yours be normal?
Helpful - 0
789911 tn?1368636783
Hi Mike, sorry to hear your having to deal with one thing and then another.  Is this the first time your hemogloblin has been high?  What are they going to be looking for?
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