Sleep Apnea and Red Blood Cell Count

Then don't post what you don't know to be true.

Julie wrote:Then don't post what you don't know to be true.

Now, Now, That would mean he couldn't post ever, not cool! Even Guests can post here. Jim

Goofproof wrote:

Julie wrote:Then don't post what you don't know to be true.

Now, Now, That would mean he couldn't post ever, not cool! Even Guests can post here. Jim

and bi-polar members with >10k insulting posts to their credit. something you should be proud of jim

Julie wrote:Then don't post what you don't know to be true.

Nonsense, this is what a duly licensed doctor told me. Furthermore, it certainly is consistent with the subsequent events (red blood cell count has been normal all that time).

D.H. wrote:

Julie wrote:Then don't post what you don't know to be true.

Nonsense, this is what a duly licensed doctor told me. Furthermore, it certainly is consistent with the subsequent events (red blood cell count has been normal all that time).

Heresay your Honor, call the next witness. Jim

I was diagnosed with polycythemia and had to undergo a number of phlebotomies to reduce red blood cell count. Since my polycythemia was not the vera strain (genetic) the doctors looked for other underlying causes.

After a sleep test showed severe apnea I started on a CPAP program. I previously worked as a quality engineer before retirement and decided to chart my red blood cell count after each blood test. After implementing the CPAP therapy my counts went down to the point that I no longer needed phlebotomies. My red counts are still run high but no longer over the limits. As far as my sleep doctor and heart doctor are concerned, CPAP therapy reduces red blood cell counts.

I can only relate my experience with polycythemia. It is nice to not have to undergo phlebotomies each month.

After CPAP treatment the red blood cell concentration fell from very high to near normal,
it could suggest that the high red blood cell count is caused by sleep apnea?
The sleep apnea could stimulate more red blood cell production to carry more oxygen from your lungs to your cells?

Wait a minute, I just found this artical.
Sleep Disorders and Red Blood Cell Count: What’s the Connection?
http://www.sleepreviewmag.com/2015/07/s ... onnection/

john49 wrote:I was diagnosed with polycythemia and had to undergo a number of phlebotomies to reduce red blood cell count. Since my polycythemia was not the vera strain (genetic) the doctors looked for other underlying causes.

After a sleep test showed severe apnea I started on a CPAP program. I previously worked as a quality engineer before retirement and decided to chart my red blood cell count after each blood test. After implementing the CPAP therapy my counts went down to the point that I no longer needed phlebotomies. My red counts are still run high but no longer over the limits. As far as my sleep doctor and heart doctor are concerned, CPAP therapy reduces red blood cell counts.

I can only relate my experience with polycythemia. It is nice to not have to undergo phlebotomies each month.

I was in and out of the ER and doctors office ER doc diagnosed me with polycythemia and told me to follow up with my GP. Couldn't get an appointment for two weeks by then my hemoglobin was back down and I was feeling better. He did some kidney tests which came out ok and I suggested a sleep study because my old GP who retired had suggested I get one about 15 years ago and I blew it off. Also had my thyroid checked as I was super fatigued. My hemoglobin has stayed down and is at an 8 year low. Kind of explains why I would start to feel better in the evenings and when I would wake up felt terrible. The doctor thought I was losing my mind I think so glad CPAP has helped wish I would have had the sleep study 15 years ago. It's kind of strange the way it all came to a head like my body had finally had enough after all those years.

Well guess what! I found an article that seems to agree with what that doctor told me! Note that this article is from 2015 and cites a study dating back to 2006. Since this was in 1999 or 2000, that study was not available at the time. However, knowing what he knew about people who live at high altitude and what he knew about the effects of Sleep Apnea, and ruling anything else out with lab tests, he reached that conclusion!

Link ===> http://sleepapnea.aeroflowinc.com/the-s ... ell-count/

So where is the link to that article? Or should we just take your word for it all?

Julie wrote:So where is the link to that article? Or should we just take your word for it all?

Sorry, it's there now!

Thank you - it is very interesting and something that now seems a bit obvious if you think about 02 and how it works. I just checked my last labs ('15) and while Hgb & Hct are in the normal ranges, I'd like them a bit lower so will keep this in mind. I wonder if a more veg. diet can show up as a direct connection or only a general one if you know what I mean.

For me, the one blood test result that led my doc to suspect sleep apnea was a very high RBC.

Following sleep testing and initiation of xpap therapy, my RBC normalized quite quickly. (Sufficient nighttime oxygen was all it took for red cell count to normalize, within one month IIRC.)