PVCs and anemia

[achrisvet]

Three weeks ago my 81 year old mother collapsed and was taken to the hospital. They found she was anemic (HCT of 23.7) and was having "recurring PVCs" They sent her home for follow up with her GP after giving her packed red cells. She just had a holter monitor for a day and an echocardiogram. The doctor doesn't discuss results with her, he just has the nurse tell her what she needs to do next. I'm a veterinarian, and it frustrates me to not know what is going on. After these tests he says he wants her to see a cardiologist. Can you think of any connection between PVCs and anemia? They don't know why she's anemic. They were planning on doing endoscopy to check for an ulcer or other GI bleeding, but they want to investigate the arrythmia first. I'm worried that the syncope may have been caused by a run of PVCs and not the anemia, and that level of anemia does not seem enough to me to cause a person to faint. She has previously been very healthy and active. I appreciate your input. Thank you.

[achrisvet]

That is a very good idea to ask for a copy of the report. I will call them on Tuesday. I am starting a file with all her medical info. She has already told them to tell me everything I ask. They are not telling her anything. Just "there, there, you'll be fine, we just want to check some things to be sure." That doesn't work for me. With my patients I go over test results with the owner, discuss the possibilities, and explain what we need to do to define the problem further. Thank you for the suggestion.

[PikaPika88]

As everyone said in these forum.  Always get a copy of report.  It is very handy for use in the future.  Many reasons worth to keep one yourselves like: Going to second opinion.  Compare the past and current.  In case the doctor migrates or surgery closed for some reasons, you don't need to pay for a retrieval.  A doctor might miss something in the report then you can pick it up.  Like attenting to the ER, you can show them too.  

I also have the rhythm problem and anemia.  They put me through 3 upper GI and 2 lower endoscopies.  All found normal.  I'm in menopause so no bleeding caused by that.  They don't know why I just unable to keep / build up the iron by myself.  Many many blood tests and all showed "normal".  They said now every year will give me an iron infusion.  I want to go to the root cause and fix it.  Not by given a bag and a bag of iron....... I believe it related to rhythm.  May be not enough oxygen to reach the cells.  That I suspect.  I never have breathing problem.  Our body is amazing, it can alter and change individual to suit the body needs.

[Jerry_NJ]

I do not believe there is any direct relationship between (causal) anemia and rhythm disorders.  Given one has both, they may aggravate each other, but I do not know that to be the case.

I support the need to see a cardiologist, but am surprised the primary care doctor (I assume) went through such extensive heart testing, rather than referring her earlier.  

I believe you have a right (your mother does) to a full written report on the test that have been run, and they need, of course, be given to the cardiologist taking on the case.