11.3 Hemoglobin and shaky

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

I COULD USE SOME ADVICE. I was denied Aranesp Wed as my HGB was NOT under 11. I could have fought for them to call my insurance co, but when they asked if I was tired I had to say NO, which shocked me! The Phyto Formula and NADH my onc/supplement genius put me on a mnth ago KICKED IN. That's the good news. Details of that are in CHEMOBRAIN thread, if any one is interested.

And yesterday I had a headache in the back of my head. I NEVER GET HEADACHES. Thought, maybe sinuses. Then I kept feeling light-headed. Shaky. Though maybe I'm over-identifying w/my husbands plight w/Shingles and then dizziness and falling and losing consciousness and emergency room 2 X in the last wk. I'm admittedly a nervous wreck watching over him. We're trying to get a handle on his multiple issues (detailed in CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC yesterday).

My fingertips are tingly. I NEVER HAVE THIS EITHER.

Can any one tell me if such symptoms ever occurred w/them and were they attributable to LOW RED BLOOD CELL COUNT. I have never been under 11.3, and I keep dropping generally until I get my Aranesp. Even a half dosage does the trick for mnths. I am aware of the down side/potential side effects of such meds, but I'm concerned. I AM THE DESIGNATED DRIVER IN THE HOUSE AT THIS POINT, TILL WE STABLIZE PAUL. Did I mention he has a raging case of Shingles since 5/29? Any thoughts??????????

If my light-headedness, and of course it is Friday night and I won't call over the weekend as I am surely not an emergency as of now -- I will call Mon. However, my hubby has an orthopedist appt Mon AM, for the foot he broke in the 1st fall. Then we have a urologist appt in the afternoon, for his urine retention issue (which developed when they tk him off the alpha blocker for his CONTROLLED heart condition because it can cause a precipitous drop in bld press, which in fact occurred and caused the dizziness and the fall). And at this momet we may have to go back to the emerg rm tmrrw for exactly that -- to again have a catheter inserted. He's having a major problem. I am beside myself.

Paul is a 6'1" robust man who is generally highly active, gets over flus in 12 hrs, never missed a day of work, has been my rock since '95 (when I was dx) in every imaginable and unimaginable way you can or can't think of. We've been married 41 yrs.

I am staying strong despite it all, defiant till the end. Just a bit less jolly and harmonious at the moment. Full of loving energy which I'd like to share w/all you wonderful Warrior Women... ANDI