Everything I’ve seen says painless gross hematuria (two instances lots of blood, no infection, 59F, history of smoking) should be checked out immediately, but I can’t get an appointment for two months. 😭 Is this typical? I’m in the US, Washington state.
My husband has been severely anemic for over a year, hospitalized and transfused last June due to weakness, confusion, angina, SOB. Hemoglobin was 7. They scoped him top to bottom and then decided they didn’t know what the problem was and sent him on his way. His hemoglobin hovered around 8-9 for a year. Had a couple infusions which did nothing.
A few weeks ago I took him to the ER again and hemoglobin was 6.4. This time they sent him for a BMB.
Hematologist called yesterday with results (which we have not seen) and said "you don’t have cancer — you have myelodysplasia and will need shots every two weeks for the rest of your life".
Husband also has diabetes (type 2), cardiovascular disease, and Parkinson’s, btw.
Now I’m just confused as when I look up myelodysplasia I read that it is cancer. I wasn’t home for the call and my husband is not an ask the doctor questions type. I had him email to request a copy of his results and the diagnosis in writing. Is myelodysplasia not the same as MDS?