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Re: need feedback from RD users
Thanks everyone for your responses. Ron, why does Dex cause the white cell count to rise? Suzierose, my dad has normal red and hemoglobin counts. Could the shortness of breath be caused by the R or D and will go away eventually?
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myelomacrazy - Name: myelomacrazy
- Who do you know with myeloma?: father
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2008
- Age at diagnosis: 66
Re: need feedback from RD users
Myelomacrazy,
Have him check his heart rate and blood preasure before and after taking the Dex. You can buy a wrist BB monitor ar Walgreens. They will give you fairly accurate readings. It is not uncommon for both BB and HR to go up after taking Dex. That may explain the SOB. If that is the case he should let his doctor know. Perhaps the Dex can be reduced or spread out over a couple od days instead of ingested all at once.
With respect to why Dex causes the white count to rise, I don't know why but it is factual. Perhaps someone else can give a more clinical reason.
Ron
Have him check his heart rate and blood preasure before and after taking the Dex. You can buy a wrist BB monitor ar Walgreens. They will give you fairly accurate readings. It is not uncommon for both BB and HR to go up after taking Dex. That may explain the SOB. If that is the case he should let his doctor know. Perhaps the Dex can be reduced or spread out over a couple od days instead of ingested all at once.
With respect to why Dex causes the white count to rise, I don't know why but it is factual. Perhaps someone else can give a more clinical reason.
Ron
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Ron Harvot
Re: need feedback from RD users
I realized that in my prior post I had made an error. My reference to Blood Pressure wrist monitor should have been BP. I used BB.
I also note the following which I am quoting out of an International Myeloma Foundation publication on Steroids:
It explains in layman’s terms the fact that Dex will increase the white count in the blood stream.
This is not a scientific explanation but is understandable.
Infections
Because steroids block white blood cells
from reaching sites of infection, these agents
may cause existing infections to get worse or
allow new infections to occur. A paradoxic
effect is that the white blood cell level in the
blood increases because the cells are not
exiting the bloodstream to enter infected tissues.
Any drugs that suppress normal immune
responses can make a person susceptible to
infections. Steroids may actually mask signs
that an infection is present. They may also
decrease a person’s ability to fight the start
of a new infection. Therefore, patients who
are taking steroids, including dexamethasone,
have an increased risk of all types of
infections (bacterial, viral, or fungal
Ron
I also note the following which I am quoting out of an International Myeloma Foundation publication on Steroids:
It explains in layman’s terms the fact that Dex will increase the white count in the blood stream.
This is not a scientific explanation but is understandable.
Infections
Because steroids block white blood cells
from reaching sites of infection, these agents
may cause existing infections to get worse or
allow new infections to occur. A paradoxic
effect is that the white blood cell level in the
blood increases because the cells are not
exiting the bloodstream to enter infected tissues.
Any drugs that suppress normal immune
responses can make a person susceptible to
infections. Steroids may actually mask signs
that an infection is present. They may also
decrease a person’s ability to fight the start
of a new infection. Therefore, patients who
are taking steroids, including dexamethasone,
have an increased risk of all types of
infections (bacterial, viral, or fungal
Ron
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Ron Harvot
13 posts
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