What can I eat to encourage red blood cell growth? I've been told red meat, marmite, (not sure if you get it in the UK) and fish, pretty much enything with iron, I am also now taking an iron supplement. If I become constipated I will know my iron intake is too high.
This Thursday my HB was 8.8, down from 9.9 from 2 weeks prior to that, and down from 12.5 2 weeks prior to that after an 8 unit blood transfusion, which started at 6.5.
I would much rather help my HB improve naturally than with another blood transfusion.
I feel ok, bit tired and I run out of steam easily, but as soon as my HB increases I will start feeling better.
My CML seems under control now, Gleevec is doing it's job, white blood cells down to 3.9, platelets at 165.
I am having another PCR test in a months time, I've been on Gleevec for 2 months now.
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Red blood cell encouragement
Hi Kurt....... good to hear Glivec is working. One of the sided effects is that it tends to suppress the red cells too for a while. My HGB was never more that 10 when I was taking Glivec. Since my transplant it has always been 13.5 or over.
In time it will rise but you might need some patience.
Meanwhile I suggest you take a more bio available form of iron. If you can find a homeopathic chemist you can get Ferum Phos (6x potency) which will help build up your iron levels.
Dr. Schleuser (sp?) Tissue Salts- Ferrum Phos 6x -is the same and might be easier to find at a health food shop or chemist.
Meanwhile eat plenty of dark green leafy veg and you could try eating liver 2 times a week (if you like it) and lots of tomatoes.
Supplement with a good Complete B Vitamin (with Folic Acid) and Vit E.
Hope this is helpful,
Sandy
I just had my 2nd PCR test, I've been on Gleevec for 3 months now.
Getting info out of my oncologist and any form of encouragement is quite difficult, here are the different readings from 3 months ago until today, it looks like I'm going in the right direction, please shed some light, someone...
BCR-ABL Endpnt - old 792 new 778
ABL Endpnt - old 436 new 448
BCR-ABL - old 39% new 25%
BCR/ABL:ABL ratio old 0.39000 new 0.25000
Old was the values 3 months ago, new is today's values.
I'm also hoping my HMG is settling, it went from 9.9 to 8.8 in 2 weeks, then from 8.8 to today's value a month later to 8.3, it has not dropped that radically, I still feel ok, although still tired. I've been eating all sorts of iron rich food as well as iron suppliments.
My next check up is on the 11th January unless I start feeling really bad before then.
Hi Kurt,
Regardless of what my HG levels were, I was always tired on Glivec, maybe that was just me, but I have been much less tired on Dasatnib.
I spoke to my GP about taking Iron and she told me that if I needed to take it, then it would need to be injections which I found odd as we all know that we can absorb from dark leafy veg and liver etc..
Not very helpful really, sorry!!
Vickie
My HB has improved quite radically, it went from 8.3 in December, to 12.4 a month ago, to 13.1 today.
My platelets yo-yo a bit, but not low enough to warrant any action.
I'm not sure if it has been my diet, or my bone marrow getting back to normal and doing what it is supposed to do.
My diet has involved lots of red meat,medium to well done, marmite (not sure if you get the same in the UK) and a fair amount of greens, not dark greens though, just cannot handle them.
I feel a whole lot better, I have better skin colour and am able to do a full day's work again.
I am now going on a fitness regime, slowly at first.
My 2nd BMB tomorrow..not looking forward to it...
Me latest fbc showd my HB at 14....wonderful! And my platelets are up a bit from last time too, and my white cell are staying pretty constant at 3.6 - 3.9.
Can't wait for the BMB results...
I also had another PCR check, will get the results tomorrow.
Aplogies, haven't been here for a while, I see the layout has changed...
Anyway, my progress thus far is I am now at a PCR of 0.55%, down from 39% at Dx. I have changed oncologists, had enough of the first one treating me like an idiot, wouldn't give me info, made me wait FAR too long to tell me the results of my latest BMB, scared the hell out of me by insisting I see him face to face to tell me the results, and charging an absolute fortune...Anyway, I went 'shopping' for another onco, found a wonderful one that is closer to where I live, actually TALKS to me, and gives encouragement. After giving me a quick physical and after seeing my latest blood tests, (which don't include any type of direct CML check) she said she would say I am pefectly healthy, all my blood levels are within min and max paremeters, HB only just at 14, my spleen has reverted to normal size, and she only needs to see me every 3 months.....Wonderful!
I feel great, just completed a 4000km motorcycle trip to Namibia as a 'feel good' present, and am now only on Gleevec, no other meds required. I have very few side-effects, those that I do have are not serious.