About Karen Brawner Expertise I will answer questions regarding Lupus and any of the other 57 autoimmune diseases there are. I am not a doctor, but I do have systemic sclerosis with CREST syndrome so I know a lot about autoimmune disease and testing and trying to find a doctor/hospital that can diagnose the disease.
Experience I still have more testing to be done, but finally after 1 1/2 years of poking, proding, blood work, etc I have been diagnosed with systemic sclerosis with CREST syndrome. I will help you with your questions and help you find the answers if I do not know them through research.
Question In 2001 during a yearly physical I complained of being tired all of the time so my doctor did a full blood panel and found I had small red blood cells. After a 2nd test confirmed the 1st I was sent to a hematologist for more blood work. The hematologist said I had a chronic illness but whatever it was it seemed to be doing ok right then. He encouraged me to have yearly blood screens to keep an eye on things. This year I again had small red blood cells and they described them as "shiny". With that said, does blood cell shape indicate disease or not? and what does the shiny description mean to me? good, bad, ugly? I have emailed you recently about SLE and I am checking into a doctor at OHSU (Oregon Health Sciences University) whose emphasis is on Lupus. Anyway, you were so quick to respond last time I am asking again. Thanks, Belinda
Answer Dear Belinda, I am not a hematologist, but aI did a little research about blood cells and from what I gather, shiny basically means the red blood cells still contain hemoglobin..
As for the size, small red blood cells usually indicate anemia.... Like I said, I am not a hematologist and you really need to talk with your doctor and ask him these questions...
