Bone marrow, hemoglobin, and hep C

[mike716]

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)

[mike716]

Thanks for the comforting words, Jenny. I'm starting to feel less freaked out about it. Although i have the sneaking suspicion they're not going to find anything at all, and that it's from smoking, just like Bobby said above.

M.

[mike716]

Oh, well that doesn't sound so bad, if they did it to your grandma. Maybe it's a good idea, then. They might find something.

I waiting to see what my GP and hep MD have to say.

M.

[mike716]

Hi, Lil. One of my many blood analyses, around a year ago, showed high serum ferretin (around 280 ng/mL) and saturation of 60, which I guess is pretty high. My hep MD said not to worry about it, but he says that about everything.

I did have a liver biopsy, and they did a staining for iron, but it came out negative. How do you figure that? Maybe the specimen was too small, or not representative of the whole liver, huh?

If it's normal for a hepatitic like me to have elevated hgb, why would they want to do a bone marrow puncture? Any idea?

Mike

[mike716]

I don't know what they're looking for, maybe it is iron overload, but does that cause high hemoglobin? It's all Greek to me, frankly. I don't even know if it's got anything to do with my request for a phlebotomy, re the trial. A bone marrow puncture sure doesn't sound like a lot of fun.

[JennyPenny2009]

I'll take the bone marrow biopsy over the liver biopsy. It wasn't bad at all. But you do need a doc who is very experienced at doing it. They inject the area with a local, no twilight or general is used, and you feel pressure. It isn't really pain.

Newleaf gave you good advice. There are many things that cause high levels of hemoglobin and it is important to know which one is causing those slightly elevated levels.

[Bobby1952]

Mike
   My hgb is always 16-17 and my GI told me not to worry it's cause is  because I used to be a smoker.  

Bobby