[kaskae]

My 69 year old wife has blood so thick it is almost impossible to draw. It actually comes out like a very thick syrup on often the techs use both arms but still don't get as much out as the Dr. Wants. He says it is 'like' polycythemia but she doesn't have the physical symptoms and a cause can't be identified - she did have marrow tests. Daily aspirin doesn't help. My question is - would a plasma I've help with the viscosity?

I know it is not the normal Tx but the 'normal' approach is a 4 week process of removing blood but if they're rarely getting any, it seems kind of useless.

[J_9]

Welcome to AMHD! I would like to help you more but I worked all night and it's my bedtime now. In the meantime, have you looked this site over?

Polycythemia (High Red Blood Cell Count) Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment by MedicineNet.com

[kaskae]

Thanks, J 9.
Yes, I've been there and the Mayo Clinic site and most others. There is no familial history, no smoking ever, done the environmental testing, bone marrow seems fine, no dehydration, no previous medical procedures, phlebotomies help but only for about a month, sleeps lightly but otherwise well and is unchanged over the years, none of the usual symptomology, normal energy level, When the hemo tech noted that it was clotting in the tube and never making it to the bottle, it set off the fear factor at 5 bells.

The doc seems competent and caring and answers all questions if we remember to ask him in the short time we get to see him.