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22 Nov |
Always expect the unexpected General Health, My MCL
Comments (4)
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Last month when my oncologist said she was going to order additional tests that hadn’t been performed for awhile, my only concern was with the PSA test.
I had heard having an enlarged prostate typically produces a false positive, which then requires a very painful biopsy to confirm the diagnosis of prostrate cancer. Assuming Certain I had a large prostrate, because of frequent trips to the bathroom, seemingly mostly at night, I was fully expecting to see a high reading, and kept thinking about this painful test, and what to do about it.
But NO, my PSA didn’t turn out to be a problem at all. It was only .73 ng/mL, which based on everything I’ve been able to glean from the internet is a relatively low number. (The lab did not provide a reference range for my test.)
So then what is causing those frequent trips to the bathroom at night, you might ask?
Could it be the blood glucose level of 106 mg/dL, I reported in my previous post, may not be a lab error after all, especially considering my glycohemoglobin level came back at 6.1% (reference range 4.8 - 5.9%)? It turns out, frequent urination is a symptom of diabetes. Fortunately, I don’t have any of the other symptoms, except for maybe some irritability, which Becky may attest to. 
So now that prostrate cancer and a heart attack don’t appear to be a problem, (total cholesterol was 137, HDL 42, LDL 87, and triglycerides were 41), all I have to worry about is my lymphoma, and the possibility of diabetes.
This just sounds like a wake up call to me, to do what I haven’t been doing for the last few years. It’s time to commit to eating healthier, eliminating all sweets, and increasing the intensity and lengths of my workouts.
I plan on being under 150 pounds by this time next month (currently I’m just under 160 pounds), after which I expect a marked improvement on both fronts, but also not forgetting the title of this post. And hopefully I might even see an improvement in my cycling.
Tags: diabetes
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21 Nov |
Latest blood counts My MCL
Comments (3)
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Well this month my doctor ordered some additional tests, which haven’t been checked in quite awhile, on top of my usual CBC and LDH.
Now, I’m almost wishing she hadn’t. Here I was cruising along quite happy, learning my hemoglobin remained stable at 12.6 g/dl, my lymphocyte count had dropped below 90 thou/cumm again, and my LDH had improved, from last months 160 IU/L reading, to 126 IU/L , that is, until I received my glucose results.
Seeing a glucose reading of 106 mg/dl (reference range 70-99 mg/dl) was very disconcerting. Not even the stock market climbing almost 500 points could help.
I emailed my oncologist, and she agreed to another glucose test next month, to confirm the reading. I’m hoping it was just a lab error. I’d hate to think I may have the onset of diabetes. That’s not a pleasant thought, especially on top of my MCL.
Having to give up sweets won’t be a problem, but the thought of having to give up wine is just unacceptable.
Tags: blood counts
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19 Aug |
Not sure how to feel Cycling, Diagnosis, Edie, My MCL
Comments (1)
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Just got my latest blood work today, and I don’t know whether to be happy or concerned.
My lymphocytes dropped from 120 thou/cumm to 93 thou/cumm, which is good, but my hemoglobin dropped to 11.6 g/dl, my platelets dropped to 185 thou/mcl and my LDH was up to 160 IU/L, which are all bad trends. (No mention of polychromasia.)
Now while my hemoglobin and platelets have been down at those levels before, this is the highest my LDH has been since it was at 153 IU/L back in January.
[BIG SIGH] I just hate this! The prospect of starting treatment any time soon weighs so heavily on my mind now, especially since Edie has decided she wants to try and go for the transplant again, I can’t seem to think rationally any more.
I’m hoping racing at Eldorado tonight will clear my mind.