Polycythemia solutions?

[Andrew0409]

I’m almost certain my red blood count is high, a lot of symptoms like headaches, elevated BP, and some shortness of breath.

I usually donate blood, but i’m in Italy and i am unable to because I don’t have the italian health insurance.

What can I do?

 

[Andrew0409]

I’m certain I have high red blood cell count, a lot of symptoms like elevated BP, shortness of breath, headache.

Problem is, I can’t donate blood right now in Italy. I do not have the italian national health insurance that is required. I have a private one.

What can i do?

 

[KodiakGrrl]

vitamin E is known to help thin blood
however!! you really need to get your ass to a doctor ASAP

 

[Bigmurph6]

Italy has to have a blood bank system to donate blood right?
If not order a collection kit from a med lab supplier just make sure that it has the anticoagulants included and you can draw your own blood

 

[KodiakGrrl]

almost certain blood count as high does not constitute a good reason to donate blood… and self treatment isn’t going to fix the issue. he needs labs and an assessment … polycthemia is no fucking joke and you can die

 

[Bigmurph6]

I tell everyone to get labs and 80% probably don’t.
Im just giving him another option if he did want to donate. Im going to give him my best advice to answer his question.

I definitely agree that seeing a real medical professional is the way to go. You say you can’t because you have to have insurance. In Italy they won’t let you see a doctor?

 

[Andrew0409]

Italy has to have a blood bank system to donate blood right?

Requires you to have Italian health insurance. Italy is the land of laws and regulations. King of the bureaucracy.

 

[Bigmurph6]

How can you go to the doctor?
In Italy as a non citizen?

 

[Andrew0409]

Italy is pretty weird. You have to go to the GP first and they will write you a “script” to see a specialist. My insurance is not Italian, it refunds emergency trips if it qualifies or they will send a GP to me from the nearest one they work with. I live in the country side and sometimes it’s hard to find one that’s not hours away from a city hospital.

Yes my insurance sucks, I’m waiting for my residency card to apply for the national health insurance. But it takes months, things are so ridiculously slow here. I got the min required to live in Italy. And am waiting to switch.

 

[Andrew0409]

self treatment isn’t going to fix the issue. he needs labs and an assessment … polycthemia is no fucking joke and you can die

It’s not a joke for sure, but it’s induced by Aas. So I know the cause and the solution that works for most people is to donate blood. I don’t speak Italian very well and it’s really difficult to do simple things like blood work.

I don’t live in major cities like Rome and Milan. I live in the country side basically. Doctors here don’t have the best English speaking abilities.

 

[Andrew0409]

What’s up with the thread though, I can’t seem to see it on the main page feed.

 

[KodiakGrrl]

you don’t have polycthemia then

 

[Islandswole]

Polycythemia is a very pressing issue, it is not self treated. You need to see a Hematologist as soon as possible. Edit: were you ever actually diagnosed with this or did you get read too much webMD?

 

[Andrew0409]

I thought it’s what it is called when AAS gets your RBC high? Is this incorrect? I know polycythemia vera is a cancer in the bone marrow, but polycythemia is the term when too much rbc is produced? The opposite of polycythemia is anemia which many steroids treat for.

Is this incorrect?

 

[Islandswole]

Actually you are correct, that would be secondary polycythemia. Primary polycythemia or polycythemia vera is the blood cancer. I’m glad you are aware of the differences. Order some blood work online, get your levels check and make sure that’s the issue then go from there. You could always order a self kit to draw blood but, that’s where I draw the line.

 

[Islandswole]

Sorry I couldn’t be more help, I know it has to suck being in the countryside in a situation like this and not being fluent in their language.

 

[Andrew0409]

not being fluent in their language.

I take 20 hours a week of classes from absolute beginner. It’s a pretty difficult language. And I speak a few languages. The grammar is really difficult, and I speak Chinese and korean lol.

I will see if it’s possible to figure out a doctor that can help me with some English if possible. But i’m wondering what I will say, how do I direct the doctor to testing for this issue…without saying i’m on aas? It’s not like this is a common unless you have bone marrow cancer, and I do not want to go through all that testing if he thinks thats why I may have this issue.

 

[KodiakGrrl]

are you doing any cardio … and when I say cardio I mean simply walking?

 

[Andrew0409]

when I say cardio I mean simply walking?

Yes, I actually walk a lot. And up and down hills. I walk at least 15min to my Italian class and 15min back up and down a hill. I also walk to get to other places within 15-20min and back daily. Cars are not convenient to park, especially since I got a large SUV. So I walk, and walk often. Oh, and also 15min walk up another hill to the gym and then back.

 

[KodiakGrrl]

any idea how many steps? 15 min could mean anything … I walk real slow so that may or may not be very far lol… do you have any allergy or breathing issues ie… asthma?