I'm sick guys - long, but not rambling, just comprehensive

Lisa-I did read the whole thing yesterday, but wanted to process for a bit first--so I need a cookie :)

First, I agree that the doctor who said "because I'm a doctor, that's why" needs to have seen you for the last time!  What a moron!  In my opinion, as a one-time nurse, the docs who think they are God are the worst!  

And I've never heard the liver damage thing.  Doesn't even make sense physiologically.  

Whoever said to be tested for lupus, I agree.  Also, the CRP enzymes, even though your other cardiac tests are "fine", maybe they could do a angioplasty (or something less invasive) to check out your cardiac arteries.  The raised numbers while the WBC are back in normal range doesn't make sense for infection--unless your body isn't able to fight some kind of infection, which is another set of issues altogther.

Not much help-but I do hope you get some answers and feel better
Anna

Thanks, Anna!

The more I think about the internist, the more pissed I am, to be frank.  You know, when I said I had not read that in any studies & so I don't know where you're getting that info & he replied b/c he's a medical doctor . . . the detailed version of that exchange includes the fact that when he replied, he actually said, "you don't know where I'm getting that? (with a note of incredulity in his  voice), b/c I'm a medical doctor.", followed with a "huff" of air - like, he just couldn't believe I had actually said that.  THEN he says, what did you do your own surgery too?  THEN, as I'm trying to tell him of the 3 autoimmune disorders my mom has, he interupted me FIVE times.  AND, the fact of the matter is, I walked into his office & initially saw his nurse practitioner (quicker appt) with the original set of labs that already indicated anemia of chronic disease.  *I* told *her* that's what I had & explained the cascade reaction.  In the follow-up appt on Friday with the internist, the only things he told me were all of the things that I had told the NP in my first appt!!

I had also told the NP that I've long had VERY occasional (once every few wks) minor heart palpitations that "right" itself after about 10 seconds.  So, he codes my lab work with palpitations & nightsweats - fine.  The first thing he tells me when he enters the room is, so you came in b/c you had palpitations & nightsweats, right?  Um, no.  I came in b/c (as I told the NP), I had this bloodwork done that my PCP told me he couldn't interpret, I have figured out that I have anemia of chronic disease & my goal is to find out what the underlying cause is and, of course, I told her of all of my symptoms.  This exchange suggests to me that he did NOT read the notes from the intake appt & simply looked at the lab coding.  This is further suggested by the fact that he had made that joke about the complexity of the results and needing to practically pull out his biochem books to figure out . . . which he shouldn't have had to figure out if (well, if he knew his **** but) he had read why I came to him in the first place.

Ahhhh, I needed that vent.

That internist is a 3rd rate, arrogant & got no reason, pompous pigdog. Glad you got your vent on.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with such a mess. I'm thinking of you and sending you good doc finding vibes. Please do keep us posted on your progress. I care and want to know how you are AND it's damned informative. Peace out hon & be well. *hugs*

I'm sorry I didn't respond sooner - I can't read PMs at work (they are blocked, yet I can read and post on the forums...), and my phone will let me READ a PM but not actually RESPOND to it...anyway...

All that to say, I'm at a loss! I don't know much about hemoglobin even in relation to HbA1C, so I'm useless there. What a whirlwind of information for you to be trying to make sense of...I hope hope hope you find some answers (and better docs) soon!

Per labtestsonline.org:

If you have a hemoglobin variant, such as sickle cell hemoglobin (hemoglobin S), you will have a decreased amount of hemoglobin A. This may limit the usefulness of the A1c test in diagnosing and/or monitoring your diabetes. If you have anemia, hemolysis, or heavy bleeding, your test results may be falsely low. If you are iron deficient, you may have an increased A1c measurement.

So it is certainly possible that your A1C could be off. I would think, if anything, it might be falsely high given the increased number of lows you've been experiencing. Do you have a glucose monitor to see how low your levels actually are when you start to feel the symptoms? 

Hi Jill,

No problem about the delay & sorry about my own!  I dont have internet at home anymore & yesterday was just insanely busy for me at work.

I know that part of the lab work I got drawn on Monday included a breakdown of hemoglobin type - I didn't even know there were types!  There's like 5 of them, so they'll be looking at the little suckers in detail.

I've thought about getting a monitor, but honestly didn't want to spend the $$ on it.  I'm seeing the hematologist today & I'll talk to him about it. 

Thanks again though!