[Mary Degenkolb]

Low hemoglobin due to Revlimid

by Mary Degenkolb on Thu Jan 23, 2014 3:27 pm

I am currently 2 years out from my stem cell transplant, the one that uses your own stem cells. I have been on varying doses of Revlimid for maintenance.

This past September I came down with double pneumonia and did 10 days in intensive care. Then in December, I got pneumonia again, and extreme exhaustion! My heart would race, I could hardly walk 5 feet without racing heart and out of breath. I also could hear my blood rushing past my ear drums and was having little nosebleeds.

I mentioned this to my doctor and he said he would do a hemoglobin level on me. I guess he forgot to do it because I ended up with 3 massive nosebleeds, and 3 ER visits to stop the bleeding and a blood transfusion, all in less than 5 days!

My question is this: Has anyone else had a recurring nosebleed due to low hemoglobin? How long after transfusion before you feel better?

I'm still in remission, and don't know who to ask.

[Dr. Edward Libby]

Re: Low hemoglobin due to Revlimid

by Dr. Edward Libby on Fri Jan 24, 2014 12:48 pm

Hello,

In general one does not have nosebleeding from a low blood count (anemia). This would be much more common when your platelets (another type of blood cell) are low. Platelets help the blood to clot.

In terms of the fatigue that patients feel from a low hemoglobin, this should improve immediately after getting transfused back to a safe blood count/hemoglobin.