Could dads meds lead to anemia?

[lovingdaughter]

Hello everyone,
  It's been awhile since I've posted. As a matter of fact I had to re-register. Wow what a change. Now I feel lost. Hope everyone is doing well. Update on dad, he has been really well for some time now. Working again, the motorcycle THING, retired again and enjoying life. But recently, he has had a set back. First off the Doc told him on Monday absolutely NO alcohol (which some of you might remember was a fear of mine). He also has been told he has a distended stomach & anemia. His blood counts are red=2.16, white=2.1 and platelets =46.I know he is taking, Norvir, Epzicom & Reyataz. He was admitted this afternoon for a transfusion & is waiting for the results from an ultrasound of his stomach & colon. If anyone has any knowledge to send my way please do.

                                     Thanks in advance, Lovingdaughter

[aztecan]

Hey LD,

Welcome back! Your dad's symptoms sound like those my dad suffered. He had a bleeding ulcer.

I perused the lessons and didn't see any overt references to anemia for any of the medications you mentioned.

Was your dad drinking alcohol regularly? A friend of mine, who is an alcoholic, recently ended up in the hospital with a distended stomach, but it was his liver reacting to his abuse of alcohol while taking the meds.

It sounds like your dad's doctor has things in hand. I hope he comes through this rough patch quickly.

I will keep him - and you - in my thoughts.

HUGS,

Mark

[lovingdaughter]

Mark,
  Thank You for the reply, my dad was off of alcohol for 2 years until a new HIV Doc told him "go ahead & have a drink it won't do any harm " not knowing his background.(said Doc since gone). He is an alcoholic & still won't admit it. The new Doc is someone his new Hiv doc refered him to, and now wants to take him off of ALL meds. So now the two new Docs are fighting with each other as to the treatment.

[Ann]

Hi LD! Good to see you again, although I wish it were under better circumstances.

We all had to re-register when Peter got us this new forum to play with. If you need any help to figure it out, check out the how to pages.

What a shame the new doc undid two years of sobriety with one uninformed comment. I hope his condition is brought quickly under control and some good comes out of it too... like maybe being a wake-up call for your dad.

Hang in there LD, and you know you are most welcome to come here and get stuff off your chest - anytime. Let us know how things go. Got my fingers crossed and you'll both be in my thoughts.

Hugs,
Ann

[J.R.E.]

Helllo Loving daughter,

I remember you from the other forums. I am sorry to hear of this turn of events in your fathers health. I really can't give that much advice, But if possible do keep us informed as to the results of his ultrasound for his stomach and colon.

It a real shame the new HIV doc gave such inept advice to your father,without asking just a few simple questions first, considering he had no previous knowledge of your fathers history.


I will be sending good thoughts your fathers way ! Its great that you are there for him, through this difficult time.



Take care of yourself-----Ray

[J.R.E.]

Loving daughter,

Here is a link to a lesson from this site regarding fatigue and anemia, you may find it helpful ;

http://www.aidsmeds.com/lessons/Fatigue6.htm



This link will supply you with info as to side effects from the meds :


http://www.aidsmeds.com/lessons/DrugChart.htm


Ray

[gerry]

Hi LD,

Your dad not only has anemia, but both the white count and platelet count are low as well.  It's probably not the meds that are doing this (particularly since he is not on AZT which is the one implicated with affecting the bone marrow, and therefore, the blood counts).  Alcohol itself is toxic to the bone marrow and could potentially affect red cells, white cells and platelets.  If he has an enlarged spleen, which can happen if his liver is becoming affected by alcohol, then that would affect the blood counts as well, particularly red cells and platelets.  Needless to say, he really has to stop the alcohol.  If not, it will just make his treatment even more complicated than it is now.  Do you know what his liver function tests show?  If it's becoming quite abnormal, he may need to consider a switch off the Reyataz/Norvir.  But even with that, he still needs to realize what the alcohol is doing to him and take care of that problem.  Easier said than done, I know.  But I hope he listens.

Gerry

[Christine]

Hi LD,
I don't have any specific advice, just want to say hang in there, and send good thoughts and prayers your way.

Christine