[quote]Renton wrote:
DrSkeptix wrote:
Wait. Stop.
Anabolic steroids alone are a cause for polycythemia. Even aromatase inhibitors alone can elevate testosterone sufficiently (in men only) to cause secondary polycythemia. Also, if I understand correctly, and you have diabetes, there is a tricky little piece of kidney physiology that can cause false elevations of the red count.
If you do not have other findings of primary polycythemia–a big spleen, high neutrophils or high platelets–ask your doctor if you can stop your AAS for one month and re-check.
JAK-2 is often not elevated and I have not found it generally useful; I have no clue why a spinal tap is indicated (which I have had twice). You do not want an unnecessary bone marrow biopsy. It hurts, it costs, and if I am correct, it coould lead to misdiagnoses.
SO…ask your doctor if you should just stop AAS and AIs and re-check; after all, what is the hurry? And tell him that you heard it on the internet.
Phew - thanks for the post! The spinal tap is a cover all bases thing as they are checking me for cancer too (well that’s the impression I got - there was a lot of information in a short time).
My last cycle finished over 3 months ago - could this still be an effect from that? My Doc is fully aware of my use of AAS and the types/dosages I was on.
Maybe the kidney physiology you mention has something to do with it. I’ve shown increased protein levels since I was diagnosed diabetic and although in all other respects my kidney tests show no problems the protein issue persists.
I’ll discuss all your points with my doc though next week.
Many thanks.
[edit] I actually have a low platelet count. Should have made it clearer in my original post about my AAS usage.[/quote]
I’m chiming in a bit late here to say sorry to hear of those polycythemia and diabetes diagnoses, but it sounds like you’ve got a handle on things both mentally and physically.
I definitely think AAS use would have skewed the readings, since it causes erythropoiesis, increasing red blood cell production. Anabolic steroid use is known to cause Secondary polycythemia, but it should be a temporary condition which will eventually subside upon cessation of AAS. I do not believe your diagnosis should be pinned down to a genetic disorder (Primary polycythemia, I take it).
There is also Relative polycythemia which is apparent rise of the erythrocyte level in the blood; however, the underlying cause is reduced blood plasma. This is often caused by fluid loss eg. burns, dehydration and stress.
You aren’t showing the symptoms such as headaches, weakness, dizziness (vertigo), and/or a ringing noise in the ear (tinnitus), or itching (pruritis), especially after a hot bath, so it looks like your body is making use of the extra red blood cells right now and not finding them to be a problem…
I haven’t found anything that says polycythemia is associated with low platelet count; in fact it should be the opposite and cause higher platelet readings, should it not? I believe the platelets to be the irritating factor causing the above symptoms in this disease, and not the red blod cells, since they are associated with clotting. In my opinion.
If you have a low platelet count, in fact that should decrease the chances of troublesome clots forming.
I don’t know - your initial doctor’s diagnosis does not sound consistent to me and he seems to have ignored the fact that you used AAS which would have shown an increased red blood cell count in any case. I strongly think there is a good chance you are being misdiagnosed - however, with these things if they really DO appear, it’s best to detect and treat them early.
Anyway, don’t take this as an internet diagnosis as I am not an MD; but those are just my thoughts on the matter.
