Coumadin Again

I saw the Dr today and am progressing towards getting off some of the medications. I started taking Coumadin again (for blood clotting) and will get my INR checked on Monday. If OK, I will stop the daily Lovenox injections, but will continue them until the Coumadin takes hold. Hopefully, when I get off the Lovenox (heparin), my platelet count will get back up to normal levels.

I have also stopped taking two antibiotics, Acyclovir and Levaquin. My prednisone taper is down to 10mg one day and 5 mg on alternating days. Another three weeks and I will be off prednisone, assuming no problems arise. I still have a little cough, but it is a lot better than it has been over the past six weeks. With the temperature below zero for most of the weekend, I have been staying in the house.

My JAK2 genetic test came back negative. It was positive before as it is for most MPD patients. It is another indication that my brother's bone marrow has taken over. Unfortunately, a Coombs test came back positive, indicating I still have problems with my immune system and red blood cell hemolysis. Possibly, the reductions in medications will help this to improve.

My ferritin level is at 4423, well above the normal range of 12 to 300. This is result of iron buildup from the 93 units of blood that I had transfused over the past 3 years. The Dr is contemplating using phlebotomies, with-drawing blood to reduce the iron level. It is too bad I cannot donate this blood. Not sure how many draws it would take since the transfusions were of packed red blood cells which certainly had a higher percentage of iron content than normal blood. An alternative is a drug named Exjade, but my immune system may preclude it.