The anemia of CFIDS, CFS, FM per definition, is not found by doctors

WHY?  Too many autoimmune issues going on at once

So 'the numbers' are not representative of what doctors think they would be

AND if red blood cells are immature, the tests are not accurate, either

 

Why FATIGUE of CFIDS, CFS, FM is hard to find
There can be significant hemolysis which is invisible if all you do is a standard blood count, but shows up nicely as an elevated reticulocyte count ,  about 2.5 days after exposure
 ... This is called compensated hemolytic anemia."

Or more probably compensated AUTOIMMUNE hemolytic anemia   *
According to Robbins' Pathologic Basis of Disease, 5th Edition (1994), Chapter 13 (Diseases of Red Cells and Bleeding Disorders), page 584:

"With an increased demand for blood cells in the adult, the fatty marrow may become transformed to red, active marrow. Moreover, this is accompanied by increased productive activity throughout the marrow. These adaptive changes are capable of increasing red cell production (erythropoiesis) seven- to eight-fold. Thus ... such loss of red cells as may occur in hemolytic disorders produces anemia only when the marrow compensatory mechanisms are outstripped."

So a reticulocyte count might be a good screening tool for red blood cell damage/destruction due to exposure to certain types of solvents, e.g. glycol ethers, in patients who are not so badly damaged that they can no longer replace red cells as fast as they are losing them (i.e., they still have normal red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit).

Discuss: inspire.com/groups/diet-and-fitness/discussion/why-fatigue-of-cfids-cfs-fm-is-hard-to-find

Autoimmune Hemolytic ANEMIA Signs: (Why is it hard to find?) * *

These are symptoms of hemolytic anemia - what this chemical is said to cause.

(AUTOIMMUNE?)

 

hemolytic anemia

Symptoms

  • Chills
  • Fatigue
  • Pale color
  • Shortness of breath
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Yellow skin color (jaundice)
  • Dark urine
  • Enlarged spleen

Signs and tests
These are tests for hemolysis (red blood cell destruction). There are specific tests which identify the specific types of hemolytic anemia. They are performed after hemolysis has been established.

  • Elevated indirect bilirubin levels
  • Low serum haptoglobin
  • Hemoglobin in the urine
  • Hemosiderin in the urine
  • Increased urine and fecal urobilinogen
  • Elevated absolute reticulocyte count
  • Low red blood cell count and hemoglobin
  • Elevated serum LDH
Direct measurement of the red cell life span by isotopic tagging techniques shows a decreased life span.



This disease may also alter the following test results depending on the specific cause:
  • Uric acid
  • TIBC
  • RBC indices
  • Protein electrophoresis - serum
  • Potassium test
  • Platelet count
  • Peripheral smear
  • Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase
  • Serum iron
  • Hematocrit
  • Ferritin
  • Febrile or cold agglutinins
  • Donath-Landsteiner test
  • Coombs' test, indirect
  • Coombs' test, direct      COOMB's Test?  Skip it
  • CBC
  • Blood differential
  • AST
  • 24 hour urine protein

 

 
Has your doctor ever said you have too many immature red blood cells?

Then other tests don't read right

Same may be true for a host of autoimmune issues

Why is the test done:  Elevated absolute reticulocyte count
To determine if red blood cells are being created in the bone marrow at an appropriate rate.

A special stain can be used to identify reticulocytes, because they contain remnants of RNA. Fully mature red blood cells are terminally-differentiated cells lacking nuclei and nucleic acids. The number of reticulocytes in the blood is proportional to their rate of synthesis and release by the bone marrow. The body will respond to bleeding or hemolytic anemia (breakdown of red blood cells) by an increased rate of red blood cell synthesis under normal circumstances. A lower-than-normal percentage of reticulocyte is suggestive of a nutritional deficiency.

Source:  Yohoo.com/ health/ encyclopedia

 

There is a chemical which is known to cause this type of hemolysis, but throughout the years has evaded detection.  Unless you have multiple other odd symptoms, however, don't consider it *  *

5-24-04

Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia is more common than we realize

http://www.valdezlink.com/re/health/anemia/comment.htm

*

Exposure to Glycol Ethers and Subsequent Anemia  *

Thank you for your comments about exposure to glycol ethers and subsequent anemia. The scientific literature seems to support your concerns. Thanks for contacting the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences!

 

Other considerations  http://www.valdezlink.com/re/theanemia3.htm

What 2-butoxyethanol does:   I think I stumbled onto the fatigue doctors are looking for in CFS, CFIDS, FM.  Similar for the other glycol ethers?

 
I suspect the anemia of CFIDS, CFS, FM, 'gulf war syndrome' is AIHA or IMHA.

Body turns autoimmune due to exposure to GLYCOL ETHER.
Glycol Ether Exposure 'looks like' the flu
 http://www.valdezlink.com/re/flu/swine/glycolether.htm

Flu symptoms / exposure to glycol ether signs + THE ANEMIA that kills symptoms (mixed together) http://www.valdezlink.com/re/health/anothercauseofflu.htm#8

Besides depression, is memory loss, headaches, ANEMIA

A good overview on the immune system 

Cellular Immune Activation in Gulf War Vets

You can't just get some iron and think that the blood forming organs will process it

and all is well

 Check for autoimmune action on the kidneys  *  ...    liver  *     ...  *

The kidneys produce hormones that help build strong bones and help form red blood cells.

The kidney contains scattered cells that secrete erythropoietin,

a hormone essential for production of red blood cells.

"Anemia of prematurity occurs in premature infants at 2 to 6 weeks of age and results from diminished erythropoietin response to declining hematocrit levels. ... low serum levels of erythropoietin (EPO) Erythropoietin, or its alternative erythropoetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production. It is a cytokine for erythrocyte (red blood cell) precursors in the bone marrow. Also called hematopoietin or hemopoietin, it is produced by the kidney, and is the hormone that regulates red blood cell production. It also has other known biological functions. For example, erythropoietin plays an important role in the brain's response to neuronal injury.[1] EPO is also involved in the wound healing process"

Look at the Red Blood Cells - Find the Anemia *

"The red blood cells become round-like, rather than hourglass shaped (an exaggeration of configuration).  The change in shape is caused from the outer membrane becoming weakened, losing its ability to hold its elasticity."

16. Other MSDS Information on 2-butoxyethanol

NFPA Ratings: Health: 2 Flammability: 2 Reactivity: 0
Label Hazard Warning:

DANGER! HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED, INHALED OR ABSORBED THROUGH SKIN. CAUSES EYE IRRITATION. AFFECTS CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, BLOOD AND BLOOD-FORMING ORGANS, KIDNEYS, LIVER & LYMPHOID SYSTEM. COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID & VAPOR. MAY CAUSE IRRITATION TO SKIN AND RESPIRATORY TRACT.

Says the EPA / CA joint janitorial study: 

"Glycol alkyl ethers are commonly used as solvents. 2-Butoxy Ethanol is one of the most toxic of the glycol ethers.  You should use products containing butoxyethanol with extreme care. It is a poison that can easily absorb through your skin to harm you. When working with it, always wear gloves and goggles and be sure the you have enough ventilation."

Blood counts - Men's chart  - Women's Chart

Track BP, Blood Sugar, Body Temp

Check Blood Sugar, Body Temp, BP

 

"I'm convinced that metabolic features (changes in cholesterol and lipid profile, changes in glucose uptake and cell use, mitochondrial diseases and so on) are among main underestimated issue of 2-BE," says a French journalist.

"Glucocorticoid hormones are involved in how the body utilizes and stores carbohydrates, protein, fat and blood sugar."  How are your hormones?  High or low?

 

Suspect any Glycol Ether

What are the glycol ethers?  *  *

Glycol: any of a class of organic chemicals characterized by having separate two hydroxyl (-OH) groups, contribute to high water solubility, hygroscopicity and reactivity with many organic compounds, on usually linear and aliphatic carbon chain. The general formula is CnH2n(OH)2 or (CH2)n(OH)2.

 

EPA - CA Janitorial Study  *

Periodontal Disease - Autoimmune!

Degenerative Disk Disease - Autoimmune !  *

Can this fatigue lead to paralysis?   

definition:
extramedullary hematopoiesis: red blood cell production outside the vertebrae. Red blood cells are derived from the stem cells in the bone marrow throughout the body. When individuals become severely anemic, there is not enough space in the ctive bone marrow to produce hemoglobin, and the body begins to make blood outside the bone marrow: in the spleen, liver, and sometimes outside the vertebrae, which can compress the spinal cord, leading to paralysis

*

 

... with a brain tumor?"  *

What would be of interest to cardiologists regarding a patient's exposure to glycol ether?  *

 

3-7-10