Blood Test Has Left Me Rather Puzzled.

[jourdain2]

Hi everyone. Any clarifiication welcome on this.

I had a pre-op appt. recently before my hip replace/repare/not quite sure what they are doing (they aren't sure either until they 'get in there'.  Bloods taken etc..

As usual when I get through a hospital's doors my Blood Pressure soared. My GP rang this afternoon, a bit puzzled because B.P. is usually OK.  I've kept (and am continuing to keep) a morning, noon and night reading for her and the hospital's info..  It's usually fine.

What is puzzling is that I apparently have a high haemoglobin count (164 - 165 last year) and a very high Ferritin reading - this is too much iron - at 800 v. 300 norm and far too much Vit. C.

Like most people growing up in the 50's/60s we were told to eat nourishing food & iron and vit. C were stressed.  As an example we are having liver & bacon casserole on Sunday and I drink pure orange juice  in the morning and eat fruit, usually red grapes.  Thought I was eating healthily.

Does anyone have any knowledge of these readings and what they mean and how I counter them, please?

[Buenchico]

Have you got Celtic roots?  If so, your high ferritin level might have a genetic cause:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/haemochromatosis/

[jourdain2]

My mum was scottish, Buen - highlanders and islanders in origin.  I didn't know all this.

[jourdain2]

That's a new avenue, thanks a lot.  I do have a dash of Viking and generally the rest is original Yorkshire stock.  Never thought about genetics - wondered about  going on to white wine, stopping liver, broccoli, spinach (which I loathe, but ate because it was 'good for me').

[calmck]

I was going to say the same as Chris. 

[jourdain2]

I'd simply never thought about it, calmck.  I'll do a bit of research. Thanks again.

[Hopkirk]

Ditch the liver, no question.

[rowanwitch]

Ditch the orange juice.  Seriously .... A) It gives you a huge sugar hit keep it as a once in a while thing.  Eat whole citrus fruits instead 

B) vit c increases iron absorption,  

Look at your proteins, cut down on offal,and red meat remember recommended portion size is about the size of a pack of playing cards. 

Drink more water as dehydration may make a high count seem worse  

 

[jourdain2]

Thanks Rowanwitch.  I wondered about the O.J. every morning. I've been reading up and Vits C and A are baddies. I seem to have been doing everything wrong - whilst thinking I was doing mysellf the most  good.  I've taken a Multi-vit & mineral tablet every day for years -- I ditched that straight away, but need Calcium & Vit D.

It appears that it's very, very difficult to remove excess iron from the blood. Anyway at least we know about it now, but I'm worried about this hip op. because my sister is currently being investigated for a blood clot following her hip op. 8 weeks ago.

Thank you very much for your  help and practical ideas.  😃

[hellywelly4]

Hello Jourdain. I thought you were getting your op quicker than this. I do hope it happens quickly - I've got a painful groin and am waiting for a steroid injection so I really sympathise 

[jourdain2]

So did I hellywelly!  I am on the surgeon's 'URGENT' list!

I am in the position of being able to compare operations and systems.  I had both my hips replaced in France, 10 years apart.  So far I am losing confidence rapidly and, quite frankly, am 'gobsmacked' at the approach here.  I specifically exempt the people from criticism - they are working within an appalling system.

At the moment I am in no-man's land waiting for a notification to go for another blood test at the hospital.  I MUST (the nurse talked down to me at this point) notify the ward at this point, or else my op. could be delayed. Presumably this demand means that I am near the op., whenever I get it. There seems to be little communication or organisation.

I must have showers in a disinfecting gel and shampoo at specific times in the days before admission (whenever that is) - but they'd run out of the bodywash/shampoos so I'm not sure what to do about that.  Probably go back and ask for some.  It is very, very, very painful for me to go anywhere - OH drives slowly and carefully, but it is still a trial.

They aim to discharge me the next day with normal painkillers!!!!!!  I didn't get my drain removed until day 3 days after my op. and was on morphine until then.  In France they had got the time down to 5/6 days.  My sister told me that she has had to inject herself with blood-thinners for 35 days after her op..  Pardon?

As I said, I am rapidly losing confidence and my B.P. is going up!  :) and :(

Thanks for asking, sorry about the rantlet, but I am getting worried and apprehensive.

 

 

[calmck]

Don't worry to much about self injecting. It is a tiny needle into your stomach area. For the wash try asking the chemist for hibiscrub or similar. Haemachromatosis can be treated by removing blood, reverse transfusion, and could be used for you if you might need a transfusion during surgery. Next day discharge seems a bit off as you should be able to manage stairs with crutches before going home,. Good luck hope it's booked in quickly

[ladybirder]

Get it from Amazon Prime Jourdain and it should be delivered the next day.

[jourdain2]

calmck and ladybirder, thank you both so very much.  So reassuring.  I'll  look on Amazon.  I'm having dreadful early-morning dreams ( BP high when I wake - goes  down during day) partially because OH has day surgery booked for his head for 22nd March and leg veins to be blocked 5th April.  Hoping my op doesn't coincide (he has waited over a year  for one of them, 6 months for the other).

Life, eh?  :)  Thank you again.

 

[retrocop]

The self inject could well be Fragmin. I had two a day for a month post colon cancer. I HAD a serious aversion to needles.Not Now. A very large Irish just before jabbing does the trick😁. A long term friend of mine was also on Fragmin. Now namedFragmin Frank. Bon chance Mon cher xx

[jourdain2]

Thanks retrocop, very reassuring. I don't mind needles so much. I was a blood donor until told I was too old.   A shame really - this 'thick blood' might not have happened.

Anyway, this morning I had a phone call giving me the 27th March for my op.. So much better actually having a time-scale.  That's another difference, in France I had a date from the word 'Go'.  So I've got busy on arranging blood tests and the other things I'm expected to do.  I don't want spinal anaesthesia because I have a lower-back problem following an accident years ago (been offered an op. but it would put  me in a cage for 6 weeks, flat on my back, and if it  goes wrong it is scary) however the pressure is just carrying me towards that and there seems to be no-one to talk to.

Feeling braver anyway, thanks a lot everyone.

[jourdain2]

OK, after hip repair on Wed. I am now told that I am too low on salt and was given sodium tablets and told to eat a packet of  crisps a day!  (Not much cop for trying to lose weight.)

So, I've tried to eat sensibly - lots of fruit, good meat and a low salt diet (Mr. J2 has heart condition so has to avoid  salt) - all good stuff I thought.......... and here I am being told that it won't do  and I have to go for more blood tests!!!   I give in!  I'll let you know if I ever find out.  :)

[barry1010]

You are going through it, hope you are perky soon.  Enjoy your guilt free crisps 

[andres]

How did OH go on with his surgery?

[Khandro]

j.   Bon courage, it will all be fine.

[jourdain2]

Thanks, all of you.  Things are flying at me rather thick & fast at the moment.  OH gave me  rather a shock when he got back.  I was ready for the blood on the head etc., but the surgeon had said that if he had any anaesthesia left after the malignant 'knob on top' he'd also remove a tumour just below MrJ2s l. ear and he'd done that.

It was a shock to see half his ear missing as well and a very neat row of stitches, worthy of Dr. Frankenstein on best form circling half his neck.  I've told him that when he's healed up he can take me to some low 'dives' in Hull in perfect safety! . Any toughie would back off.  :)

I'm doing better today, mainly on 1 crutch and pain is easing, but I feel a bit light-headed and leg is rather swollen. No pain in it though. Sometime today I must tackle all his paperwork as well as mine - he hadn't a clue what anyone was saying to him..... wobbly plus deaf and blood had blocked one of his hearing aids.

But it was so lovely to wake up this morning and to be together with the sun shining through. I can buy new pillows etc. (blood had permeated coverings  I'd used).  Being together is what matters. That and friends who have been wonderful - in the village and on here.  Daughters will come to  clean house tomorrow.

We are lucky.