1st Appointment with Hematologist/Oncologist May 18 2011

I went to my 1st appointment with the Hematologist/Oncologist, Dr. James Moore, at the Front Range Cancer Center, Harmony Center, Ft. Collins, Colorado.

James Moore, MD

Dr. Moore completed his medical school training, internal medicine residency, and hematology/oncology fellowship at the University of California-Irvine Medical Center.  He is a board certified diplomat in Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology, and Hematology.  Dr. Moore has done a wide variety of cancer research at UCLA, UC Irvine, and the internationally renowned City of Hope Medical Center in California.  He has multiple publications and abstracts to his name, most recently based on chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).  His professional interests include the hematologic malignancies (lymphoma, myeloma, and leukemia), lung cancer, and genitourinary malignancies (prostate cancer, kidney cancer, and bladder cancer).  He currently is the chair of the Poudre Valley Hospital Institutional Review Board (IRB) and encourages participation in clinical trials.  In his spare time, Dr. Moore enjoys hiking, backpacking, camping, winter sports, and landscape photography. From http://www.frontrangecancer.com/bio_jm.php

Dr. Moore took a history and examined me for enlarged lymph nodes, spleen, and liver - I had none.

Dr. Moore offers something called "See My Chart" online and I signed up for that which will allow me to watch my lab tests as they come back with results.

Dr. Moore wanted more blood to be analyzed and sent me to the laboratory next to his office in the Redstone Building where they drew 11 vials blood. If I wasn't anemic when I went in - I sure was after I left~ Here are the tests ordered on May 18 2011.

I left Dr. Moore's office thinking nothing was really wrong with me and one of the blood tests would reveal my less than varied diet which I could work on to improve my anemia.

Anemia May 17 2011

I had noticed over the last month or so that I was weary, especially in the afternoon. When I got to my sister, Jani's house in Greeley, Colorado I was unable to keep up with her pace walking the dogs - having to jog intermittently to match her pace. Other than the afternoon weariness and lack of walking pace, I didn't notice much else. Admittedly, my diet has been less than varied and hasn't included many veggies. I'm been dieting for the last year and lost nearly 30 pounds. I've been very active walking the Mine Hill in Mackay, Idaho with Kemmer almost daily and shoveling a gazillion tons of snow all winter.

Jani and Judy walking Zoe, Kady, and Kemmer in Greeley, Colorado

Entry 1: The Beginning...May 11 2011 to May 16 2011

I had my blood drawn for routine analysis at my annual physical exam with my family practice doctor, Dr. Eliz Albritton in Ft. Collins, Colorado on May 11 2011.

The next evening after most doctors have wrapped things up for the day, my vigilant doctor called me to to let me know the blood tests revealed that I was anemic.

WBC low at 2.8; hemoglobin low at 11.1, platelets normal at 211, ANC (absolute neutophil count low at 1.20; and total protein high at 9.9.

Click on the photos to make them larger and clearer.

My doctor wanted me to go to the Laboratory at McKee Medical Center and get my blood redrawn with an additional check for iron deficiency. Off I went to the lab to have my blood drawn.

Of course, it was the weekend after the blood results came back, so I called my doctor's office first thing Monday, May 16 2011. The receptionist told me that my doctor had left a note that she wanted to see me in the office and gave me an appointment for 8:45 AM.

At the office visit, I learned that I had normochromic (normal color of red blood cells), normocytic (normal shaped red blood cells) anemia with a low B12 level. with no iron deficiency. In addition, my white blood cells were lower than normal. My doctor thought it best if I saw a Hematologist and made me an appointment for May 18 2011.

WBC normal at 4.3; hemoglobin low at 10.6; platelets normal at 200; ANC (absolute neutrophil count slightly low at 1.96; Vitamin B12 low at 321 and Total Protein high at 9.9.

Instructed to get 250 mcg of B12 and take one daily.

In addition, we discussed the merits of having a repeat colonoscopy since I had one just two years ago that was perfectly normal. Decided that test may not be warranted now. However, since I've had heartburn all my life and take Prilosec almost daily, she ordered an EGD (swallow the camera test) to look for a source of bleeding. I took the card to test my stool for blood over 3 days.

My other blood results May 11 2011

My doctor, Eliz Albritton, MD

 

Eliz Albritton, MD

Specialty:
Family Medicine

Locations:
303 Colland Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80525
Phone: (970) 461-8031
Fax: (970) 461-8932

Profile:
As a family practitioner, Dr. Albritton treats patients of all ages, focusing most specifically on women’s health issues and geriatrics. She received her medical degree and completed her internship at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and went on to serve a residency at Fort Collins Family Practice. Dr. Albritton is board certified by the American Academy of Family Physicians, which also granted her its Pfizer Teacher Development Award.

Interests and Activities:
I enjoy open-water swimming, scuba diving and snowshoeing.
Medical School:
University of Colorado School of Medicine

Internship:
University of Colorado

Residency:
Fort Collins Family Practice

Board Certification:
American Academy of Family Physicians

Specializing in the following Diseases, Conditions, Procedures:
Women's health, geriatrics

Awards/Recognitions:
AAFP Pfizer Teacher Development Award

Affiliations:
McKee Medical Center, Medical Director - Good Samaritan Society

Language(s):
English, French

Practicing Since:
August, 2001
Withdrew From Practice: 
Summer 2012 and Moved Out-of-State for Medical Reasons

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