I am getting IVIG right now, and they drew labs this morning (just my renal functions).. and when they pulled my blood out it looked black! Both nurses commented on it, and I noticed it too.. kind of freaked me out!

Could that be a sign that I am retaining Co2?? I dont' have a headache or feel overly tired, but I have felt like I am not deep breathing well at night, though last night felt fine.. I Have been recovering from the Flu this week though, so am a little short of breath with this nasty cough, though not bad as compared to previous times! It was just freaky!!

We had them add on a full chemistry to get my co2 level as well (though I know it's not an ABG), I will be curious if it comes back elevated.. Have yall ever had something like that happen?? I sware I have the weirdest symptoms sometimes!

You're probably dehydrated. I hope you're really pushing fluids or you could have one doozy of a headache.

Good luck.

I think you should ask to see a doctor and talk to him about hemolysis! There are many causes for it, including not using a big enough gauge of a needle. Don't panic! But you do need someone to evaluate it right away, okay? So please insist on seeing a doctor, possibly a hematologist. None of us can tell you what is going on, only a doctor can!

I hope you'll start feeling better soon.


Annie

I'd talk to your doctor ASAP. Hemochromatosis is Iron overload...and the color of the blood reflects your iron status.

Testing for hemochromatosis or polycythemia vera (too many red cells which is a different disorder) involves,
total ferritin levels, and total blood iron. This genetic issue is more common than believed, and testing for it is not complicated, expensive or painful.

Hemochromatosis is not tested for in regular blood work, and has to be ordered separately.

Venous blood is darker than arterial, but shouldn't be "blackish".
I've had blood taken with a butterfly needle which does burst red cells, and my potassium is typically higher because of this.
But it has never looked blackish.

If there is anything all that wrong, the labs should show something.

Thank yall all so much.. I will see if I can get a hold of my Dr and see what we need to do.. It is so strange, as I have had my blood drawn A LOT throughout this process.. and it has never looked like that (that I am aware of).. it was very obvious... I dont' have a headache (like many things with too many RBC's etc usually will cause).. I wonder if the flu could have caused an exacerbation of something causing the blood color. ... All of this worries me... all of the symptoms.. not having a concrete diagnosis is scary! I am late getting my IVIG, thanks to the flu, and my eyelids are sooo droopy I can barely see out of them!!

I'll let yall know if I hear anything back about the blood! I have not had iron studies done in the past, I'm never anemic, nor are the hb hct ever elevated thus far.. Can carbon monoxide do that?

Not necessarily.... if certain labs are not run in the first place.
They look at differential and white cell count mostly for IVIG.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methemoglobinemia

http://www.google.co.il/imgres?start...:27,s:100,i:85

Oddly enough, acetaminophen causes methemoglobinemia in cats.

https://www.addl.purdue.edu/newslett...ing/acet.shtml

Thank yall so much.. I knew there was some disorder that could do that, but couldn't remember what it was called- Alice - my blood looked like the blackest one of those tubes!! It was shocking! And.. ever since my daughter was born 3 years ago, I remember when I was holding them thinking that my skin was so purple compared to everyone elses.. I just thought to myself "I have old skin and my babies have new baby skin" haha

The rheumy noticed the purple tinge to my skin, ,but it seems to be in the livideo riticularis distribution.. I am going to see my PCP next week and I need to do a few things, wear a holter monitor, do a sleep study, and I'll add this new bloodwork to the mix too..


Southblues- do yall think that me taking ibuprofen like it's candy this past week could have caused it?? I took one tylenol before the infusion (500mg), but took ibupofen quite a lot this past week due to the flu/fevers etc..