type 1, anti immune hemolytic anemia, bone marrow aspiration

[Brinley]

hello,
Following an abnormally low hb1Ac reading of 12, I was sent off for more tests & it looks like the reading was caused by anaemia (so hats off to Northerner for raising this as a possibilty)
However it's not caused by all the usual suspects, so I am in the middle of being rushed through tests to establish if it is anti immune haemolytic anemia or, if not, I'll have to have a bone marrow aspiration, as next on the list is a blood cancer.
Am terrified but trying to be practical between the panic attacks so;
Is anyone else out here Type 1 with the AHA blood disorder & if so, what questions do I need to ask the haematologist? (My experience so far here in Italy is that each specialist works inside his own little box)
Treatment in the first case would be cortisone - again, any hands on experience?
If it's not the AHA & I need to do the bone marrow aspiration, any useful hints?
Thanks for your time

 

[grovesy]

I think Speiclists everywhere tend to work in their own boxes.

 

[Amigo]

Hi Brinley, sorry to hear you may have AIHA (it’s auto immune haemolytic anaemia not anti immune).

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/312508.php

This gives a good (American) overview of the condition. It’s essentially an autoimmune condition (primary or acquired) in which antibodies attach to the red blood cells but are not recognised by the body. Instead, they are targeted as foreign substances and destroyed. In the process of the antibodies being destroyed, red blood cells are also destroyed, resulting in anemia.

It’s an acquired form of the condition that’s suffered by some blood cancer sufferers but absolutely does not have to have cancer as it’s cause. I appreciate it’s scary and the thought of a BMB is too (unfortunately they are going to be a regular part of my treatment landscape). However, it may not come to that and there’s a host of tests they can do before this. I hope they find an innocent cause and treat you for it. Strange you haven’t been showing any symptoms though if it is AIHA. Best wishes.