new and new symptoms to boot

[Kandyb]

I am a 30 year old female just recently diagnosed with MDS. WBC 1.7; hypocellular 50%; no iron in bone marrow. I go to Moffitt in a week and a half. In the past few weeks I have experienced increased weakness, fatigue (like I need a nap right now fatigue); concentration/focusing issues. (at times I have trouble doing simple tasks) This is very unlike me, I work full time, go to school full time and have two young children. I am normally active, bubbly and sharp. I am getting moody and not as social as I was bc the fatigue is overwhelming. Any advice as to what is going on? Thank you

[Neil Cuadra]

Kandyb,

Do you know your red cell count? I'll bet it's quite low.

Your brain, your muscles, and the rest of your body are powered by oxygen, which is delivered by your red cells, carried by hemoglobin. A low red cell count can produce exactly the symptoms you've described: weakness, fatigue, and trouble concentrating and focusing. It's funny to think that your brain could be exhausted the same way muscles can be tired, but that's pretty much what's happens.

Your white count is low, which puts you at risk of infections, but you don't feel a low white count as directly as a low red count.

Good luck with your appointment at Moffitt.

[billyb]

Hello and welcome....1.7 is low, as Niel said rbc could be low that would explain being lathargic, at 1.7 you should try to wash your hands often and put hand sanitiser around the house and get everyone in the habit of using it, good luck next week and keep us posted....Billy

[Lori Patrick]

Kandyb, I felt just as you describe. I could have crawled under my desk and fallen asleep easily. You are doing the right thing by having it looked at closely. It took 5 months before I was actually diagnosed correctly. I put it off because I didn't want to miss work, etc. Let us know how the appointment goes. Prayers, Lori

[Kandyb]

Thanks everyone! I looked at my bloodwork again and my doctor never said anything but my red blood cells are slightly low and my B12 is low. Maybe that coupled with all the stress has me run down. Hopefully Moffitt will have some solutions for me because I'm having trouble getting through the day BLAH! It's crazy but I'm actually looking forward to going because I want some answers.

[Kandyb]

I went to Moffitt yesterday and the doctor told me that I didn't have MDS!?! I am happy but very confused. He said I was too young to have MDS. My Cancer Center doctor in town was very worried but the Moffitt doctor said my WBC of 1.7 could be caused by other things like autoimmune system destroying them and my bone marrow issues could be any number of nonissue things. He was not worried about the no iron stores or the hypocellular marrow. He said he has no clue why these things are happening but he isn't worried and he doesn't need to see me again. He knows what he is doing but I am so confused. How can one doctor be so worried and diagnose me and another say I'm fine?

[bebop]

get a second or even third opinion. something is going on with you being this tired hon. Did Moffitt do another bone marrow test for themselves?

[DebS]

I agree! Get another opinion. You are already tired. You don't need to be confused as well.

Hope you are feeling better!

[Heather8773]

I agree. It seems you have symptoms of low counts and slightly hypocellular for your age. A third opionion and new bmb will help you have peace of mind at least.
Hopeing the best!

[billyb]

Im not trying to worry you, but geting another opinion would put your mind at ease, my wife got her breasts checked every year and they told her not to worry it was just fibersistic breasts...they said she was to young to have breast cancer...needless to say at the age of 31 she was dx with stage 3 breast cancer, you know your body and if something is feeling different peace of mind can go a long way.....Best or luck and prayers....Billy and Tina

[Cheryl C]

I also agree you need to continue with your search for the cause of your weariness and low white cell count. I had "chronic idiopathic neutropenia" and was having a 3-monthly blood count for 6 years before being diagnosed with MDS, and then the specialist said I must have had MDS for a couple of years beforehand. It's possible to look well but be quite sick. The MDS was only discovered because I couldn't get an appointment to see my normal doctor and saw someone different.

I was diagnosed with hypogammaglobulinaemia at the same time as the MDS, which meant my body had been working very hard fighting infections. That makes you weary and unwell. Have your globulins been checked?

Doctors can sometimes get used to a patient's base condition and miss out on subtle changes.

All the best!

[Kandyb]

Thanks everyone for all of the information, I don't know what I'd do without the support! I just had my 2nd BMB and I'm waiting for the results but I do know my blood counts have gone down and my WBC is 1.43 now! Grrrrrr...... The doctor said maybe it was my medication so I stopped taking it and the count went down! I'm trying to patiently wait for results.

[Heather8773]

Hoping for good news! Let us know when you know