Maybe one for Poet Kelly?

I have had a couple of blood tests recently - one for an ER visit due to vertigo and the other for 3 months since surgery for the surgeon

ER blood test showed a 4.07 count for red blood cells which was low; Hemo was at 12.0 which was at the very lowest range of normal

So when I saw the surgeon last Monday he said all was okay and my ferritin was good.  Should I be concerned about the low red blood cell count?  He also addressed the vertigo as a complication that sometimes arises about 3 months out as autonomic dysfunction - if I actually pass out it is called neurocardiogenic syncope - same thing except for the passing out.  Thankfully that has not happened!  Just this darn vertigo.  Told me to increase salt and fluids as the primary treatment. 

 

Is your vertigo when you change positions?  I still get positional vertigo and am 1 plus year out from RNY.  I usually just lean on the counter or against the wall till it stops. 

Benign Positional Vertigo Treatment

Self-Care at Home

Prevention begins by maintaining good hydration and avoiding rapid movements of the head. Should symptoms of vertigo begin, the following suggestions may be helpful:

• Lie down with the head elevated slightly. Take precautions to prevent falls.
  
  
• Drink plenty of fluids.
  
  
• In the midst of a vertigo attack, do not drive, work at heights, or operate dangerous machinery since loss of balance may cause significant injury.
  
  
• Avoid sudden head movements and body position changes.

That was my initial diagnosis but not all symptoms fit.  My surgeon actually did research and presented a paper on this - neurocardiogenic syncope or autonomic dysfunction.  Said it usually occurs about 3 months from surgery date and basically your nervous system is not telling your brain to constrict blood vessels in your legs and sending blood to your core and head when you stand. 

The reference range for RBC used by my lab is 3.4 to 10.6, so according to that, 4.07 isn't low.  What did your surgeon say about your RBC?

How as your hemoglobin?  Iron?  What was your ferritin level?

The lab reference for RBC was 4.5 at the low end of normal.  My hemoglobin was exactly 12.0.  I don't have the other numbers since I am not home.  Thanks for your input.

Different labs have different ranges. So one Doctor will tell you is low and then you can a specialist and by their ranges the levels are ok. Experienced that many times.

I get the vertigo also since about 2 months out.  I find that if I drink a bottle of water before I have coffee or breakfast I do much better with it during the day.