I had an appointment with a hematologist yesterday. While the blood work hasn't returned from the lab yet, for the more detailed results, the doctor says I am still anemic. My red blood cells are "too small" and a bit too low in number. She initally suggested iron infusion therapy, and then took it back, stating that she hadn't really given it to pregnant patients, and that it did definitively cause birth defects in lab animals. I know that other folks have had that therapy while pregnant, and some have had bad reactions and anaphalaxis also, so I don't mind forgoing it myself. She suggested that we control the anemia with blood transfusions as necessary, and we'll know more when the bloodwork is finished. We chatted about B-12 deficiency, just in case I am already lacking. The nurse gave me a B-12 injection, just as a precaution, and if my B-12 is low, I'll go back for 4-6 more shots daily, and then weekly. While checking symptoms, I definitely have many of the "symptoms" of anemia, and a few of low B-12, but it hasn't been very low before, so we'll see.
Today, I have a prenatal visit with the midwives, and since their office is right near the hematology clinic, I was able to drop off the preliminary bloodwork yesterday for the nurses to peek at before I go in.
I had an appointment with a hematologist yesterday. While the blood work hasn't returned from the lab yet, for the more detailed results, the doctor says I am still anemic. My red blood cells are "too small" and a bit too low in number. She initally suggested iron infusion therapy, and then took it back, stating that she hadn't really given it to pregnant patients, and that it did definitively cause birth defects in lab animals. I know that other folks have had that therapy while pregnant, and some have had bad reactions and anaphalaxis also, so I don't mind forgoing it myself. She suggested that we control the anemia with blood transfusions as necessary, and we'll know more when the bloodwork is finished. We chatted about B-12 deficiency, just in case I am already lacking. The nurse gave me a B-12 injection, just as a precaution, and if my B-12 is low, I'll go back for 4-6 more shots daily, and then weekly. While checking symptoms, I definitely have many of the "symptoms" of anemia, and a few of low B-12, but it hasn't been very low before, so we'll see.
Today, I have a prenatal visit with the midwives, and since their office is right near the hematology clinic, I was able to drop off the preliminary bloodwork yesterday for the nurses to peek at before I go in.