I'm not sure I can even dignify this with the label of "Speculations and theoretical queries," but it has been bugging me for a while. I have developed "galloping" (my term) polycythemia. When I started, my hemoglobin level made every medical person who saw it start to whistle, then catch themselves (over 21, normal is 13-16.) Oh, well, at least it isn't painful.
For the past couple months I've been getting tapped for about a half-liter of blood PER WEEK. I've only managed to skip a couple of weeks -- most of the time I'm over my set point, and need to "donate." (They actually just throw it away.)
There's an inherited form of polycythemia; I don't have that. My lung function and blood gasses were perfect (lack of O2 can cause it.) Ok, I can accept that it's "etiology unknown;" anyone around this site is long past the idea that doctors know everything.
I am troubled, though, by the severity of the condition -- most people with polycythemia settle into a pattern where they donate every month or two. Not me -- it's almost every stinking week! What the heck is going on?
Well, I really didn't post this to rant or complain, but I do wonder: Does anyone else here have polycythemia? If a lot of us do, then it could be an unknown side effect of the infection or the treatment. Like the title says: a long shot.
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Ron
On CAPii for CFSii starting 01/06 (NE Ohio, USA)
Began rifampin trial 1/14/09
Currently: on intermittent
Get your house a good carbon
This is exactly the time of year for carbon monoxide problems to start galloping.
Thanks, Norman, that's a
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Ron
On CAPi for CFSi starting 01/06 (NE Ohio, USA)
Began rifampin trial 1/14/09
Currently: on intermittent
How about at your place of
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6-07WheldonCAP CFS20+yr
(11-29-07 started Cholestyramine HS PRNi x 7d for porphyrin+endotoxinsi removal)
Check out Louise's Blog at; http://www.cpnhelp.org/blog/louise for the details of my treatment adventure!
Hey, thanks, Louise. That's
Hey, thanks, Louise. That's a possibility that I haven't checked out. No one else is sick, but they're not working where I am. Same office building, but different air flows. And, people vary in sensitivity.
It's another long shot, but what do I have to lose?
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Ron
On CAPi for CFSi starting 01/06 (NE Ohio, USA)
Began rifampin trial 1/14/09
Currently: on intermittent
By the way, when I specified
As for which detectors are good, I haven't researched the market lately, but the one I've gotten in the past has been the Nighthawk one that plugs into the wall (this model); although it obeys the standard as regards not alarming below 30 ppm (or even displaying the level), it has a digital readout, and hitting the "peak level" button displays the highest reading the sensor has found since last being reset, provided that it's above 10 ppm. Using wall power lets it use a heated sensor which is more accurate and reliable than the sensor the battery-powered ones use.