[Marlene]

Hopefully your doctor has checked your serum B12, folate and iron levels as well as your homocystine and MMA. You can have a "low normal" B12 serum level but still have a B12 deficiency. Any low normal result in the presence of symptoms is highly suspect. That's why you need to have your MMA and homocyctine checked. If either is elevated, then I would suspect a deficiency.

It's unfortunate that many doctors only go by B12 serum levels to verify a deficiency.

Have you considered going to NIH or another center focused on the treatment of AA for second opinion? I felt it was necessary when John was first diagnosed so that we could hear the very limited options available. Most docs only settle on one treatment and stick with it. Also, even though our local hematology/oncology clinic is very well repected, none of the docs had ever treated someone with AA since it is so rare.

Your are right that Procrit is not a cure but it can help improve your HGB. Your doctor can check your EPO levels (How much growth factor your kidneys are producing) and if its under 500, then there's a good chance procrit will help your HGB. But if your HGB is at least 12, it's not advisable to do.