My new pcp has been a big help. Yesterday I had a lot of neuro symptoms and I thought I would be getting a phlebotomy, but there was a confusion at the lab as to what hematocrit I needed to have in order to have the phlebotomy. This was partly due to the old pcp leaving and the bad communication of the lab with the doctors. I had my eyes rolling back in my head when I looked at the computer, pressure in head, and weak legs. I knew this was probably because my hematocrit was too high (due to Polycythemia Vera) and that it would cascade into affecting my neurological weaknesses. My counselor said to call the pcp office and tell the new pcp what was happening. I got an immediate appt. and he changed my hematocrit level for phlebotomy to a little lower, so I was eligible for a phlebotomy today. Then he got me into the ATU because the lab probably would not have an opening this week. Not only this but he explained in detail to me why the neuro affects came about in PV when I not only had platelets too high but then got a too high hematocrit--it caused reduction of flow in the small vessels in the brain, thus less oxygen. He understood the whole shebang and even could explain it simply and completely. He not only gave me the phleb but he gave me half a bag of dextrose solution over 3 hours to fight dehydration.

I had been holding myself together with the low fat Swank diet, getting very rigid with it, trying to fight the neuro effects, but it finally got to the point where I needed to do something else. The other doctors have been lazy about doing anything, but this person was right on the "stick". So perhaps you wonder what this has to do with MS. I don't know but I know the diseases fit together and exacerbate one another if one lets them get out of hand. I am very grateful for getting a good doctor who understands things so well and will do something about it. I've certainly had my share of slow-to-act doctors as everyone on the forum has.