If the cause is found and eliminated at an early stage, hemolytic anemia does not become a problem. If allowed to get progress it can be life threatening. I should know, because I NEARLY DIED FROM IT.
I had a foot wound that was proving difficult to heal, other than that I had no untoward symptoms and was feeling perfectly healthy, until the day I suddenly collapsed. I ended up in intensive care being treated for hemolytic anemia induced shock and, at one point, it was touch and go as to whether I’d live.
My hemolytic anemia was caused by penicillin, other drugs can cause it in certain individuals, so can some foods - fava beans for example.
The Ask Andreas questioner’s two blood test results were, as I said, classic tests used to diagnose hemolytic anemia. So, now you know the potential results, do you still say I was wrong to warn?
After I had read Andreas' response, I became very concerned. It is true that blood tests can vary from one crummy laboratory to another, but any blood tests done by a reputable laboratory will be valid and the poster's tests were clearly done by a reputable lab. Also, I cannot see any valid reason for saying that
Liver Flushing should affect blood test results, so the suggestion that the poster should wait 6 to 8 weeks for further tests worried me greatly because, if haemolytic anaemia were the problem, a 6 to 8 week wait could prove fatal.
At that point I didn't know what to do. I didn’t want to further alarm, but - after my personal near death experience – I didn’t want to just let this person wait, with perhaps serious consequences.
I decided to contact a moderator. I explained my personal experience, my dilemma about not wanting to alarm – in case AH was not the problem – and my worries about waiting for a follow up. I didn’t get a reply.
Now you know the full story, do you still think I was wrong to suggest finding out the reason for those blood test results? If you do, what would you have done?