Hematology is the study of blood, and all things related. Babygirl met with our first-ever hematologist today. (Hematologists are also oncologists. I make sure I always tell my anemic patients that they aren't going to the cancer side of the hallway.)
She continues to struggle with gradually dropping blood counts. Her most recent transfusion was March 30th, and her hemoglobin has continued to gradually drop ever since, but slightly slower that it has been. This week she is down to 6.5 again (normal 12.4-14). We had the hematology appointment scheduled, so I was grateful that we hadn't needed to transfuse ahead of that, in case it would interfere with any of the tests they wanted to run.
It's never really a good sign when you see an uber-specialist scratching his head. I did tell him about nephrology's "erythropoietin resistance" theory.
He ordered another 12 tubes of blood, hemoccult testing (to see if she is bleeding from the gut. I've suggested this to EVERY doctor we've seen, including GI), and would have ordered a transfusion except that she already had one scheduled for tomorrow. She's having it today instead.
He wants to see her next week to go over results. Next step will likely be a bone marrow biopsy.
DeeDee
PS Really grateful for the transfusion today instead of tomorrow. Here's hoping she feel better for a weekend of Glamping with a friend!
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