Blood Drug Testing

My girlfriend shows many of the signs and symptoms of anemia, but blood tests come back negative?

Her signs and symptoms: 1) Extreme chronic fatigue - she sleeps roughly 12 hours per day, but isn't capable of doing much for any of the day outside maybe three hours or so, sometimes not even that. We're talking too tired to even watch a movie or read here. 2) Shortness of Breath - She has had asthma symptoms for approximately two weeks. She does not normally have this response to allergyns in the area. She has never been diagnosed with asthma, but she does not think she's ever been tested for it. 3) Enlarged, sensitive spleen - Her spleen was enlarged enough one night to actually see a distention in her abdomen in the area of her spleen. 4) Lightheadedness, especially when standing She HAS seen a doctor about this. In fact, she sees a doctor regularly. She is a fibromyalgia patient and thus requires a lot of medical visits. She has had blood tests for anemia, including but not limited to a CBC. They came back negative, but her symptoms were much more mild then. My question: Is this possible? For the bloodtests to show a false negative? If not, what other conditions could cause these symptoms? I'm an army medic, which doesn't make me an expert in things like these, but I know a little about what questions to ask and I live with her so I can see her symptoms regularly, and they are worrisome. She's headed back to the doctor on Monday morning, and for the first time I'll be coming with her to help her with asking questions and articulating her symptoms (she's very shy.) I'll do my homework on any answers I get here and you might very well help me is asking the questions that will get her the treatment she needs. Thanks in advance. NOTE: On fibro - her doctors are starting to think they may have misdiagnosed her as she is not responding to treatments for it. NOTE: Spleen enlargement: Although you can't normally see any distention in her spleen, it is nearly always very sensitive to palpation. Even a light push will make her wince. NOTE: Spleen enlargement: Although you can't normally see any distention in her spleen, it is nearly always very sensitive to palpation. Even a light push will make her wince.

Public Comments

1. There are lots of causes for anemia. Since her symptoms are worse now, the doctor probably needs to order complete blood work again, and look at her RCB count especially. There could be an underlying cause for both the anemia (if she actually has anemia) and the enlarged spleen, such as infection or liver problems. Since you're going with her, go over her symptoms in detail with the doctor. Because her problem could be very serious, her doctor needs to aggressively look for the cause, and refer her to a hematologist, or gastroenterologist if necessary.
2. Her symptoms are not actually that indicative of anemia, these symptoms can be found in many different conditions, including Fibromyalgia. Who diagnosed your girlfriend with Fibromyalgia? If it wasn't a rheumatologist, I would be questioning whether this is an accurate diagnosis. If it was a rheumatologist, I would recommend a second opinion. Her enlarged spleen is not a symptom of Fibromyalgia and could be telling of something else more serious. It is possible to have a false negative on any blood test. They've never 100%. I'd recommend having them recheck her iron levels. Do you know what tests they did before diagnosing her with Fibromyalgia? I'm glad you are going to her appointment. My recommendation would be to ask for a copy of all her blood tests done in the past 12 months. Keep them in a file with everything. You can also research what they've tested (best website- http://labtestsonline.org/ ). I've had blood tests done, things have come up positive and doctors have said they were normal. I would also ask the doctors to do some new blood tests, ask for ANA (antinuclear antibody), ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) and CRP (C-Reactive Protein), Ferretin, anti-CCP, rheumatoid factor, complete blood count. These are blood tests used to look for autoimmune arthritis like Lupus and Rheumatoid Factor. I'm not saying this is what's going on, but I think you should make sure these are done. I'd also recommend asking for the Celiac Panel. Also, mention her spleen. I don't know much about this, but just from Wikipedia, it seems it's common in many conditions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splenomegaly). Before her appointment on Monday, you guys should write down all her symptoms and history. Doctors seem to cope better when we have it written down than just splerting it all out. If she gets any skin rashes or swollen joints or anything strange, I'd recommend taking photos. Also take a photo of her spleen distention, because things like this seem to disappear by the time you get into see a doctor. Fibromyalgia is over diagnosed. Most people who are diagnosed with it, do not actually have it. Just because someone doesn't respond to treatment doesn't mean they don't have it. There's no quick fix. I do not mean to be rude, but do not accept this diagnosis until you've rule out everything and it doesn't sound like you have. Good luck, I hope you guys get some answers soon.. ....
3. fms is highly overdiagnosed by idiot docs who use it as a general label for pain..... it is a specific neuro condition...most people actually have something different some aren't sick at all... has she had a FULL mono panel (EBV) not just the mono spot test...i had mono 2x---the second for 10 months--and it can cause an enlarged spleen look up lyme literate md just because someone does not respond to fms treatment doesn't mean its not fms--if thats what the doc thinks, he's an idiot...many people do not respond her liver needs to be checked focus on the enlarged spleen symptom to start with