Tear drops in peripheral blood smear

Posted by evelyngsg @evelyngsg, Aug 4 5:51pm

I’m a 15 yr anemic female, and I was looking at my test results for June 17 and I saw it showed 1+ for tear drop and 2+ Anisocytosis. Now Google is saying if I have a tear drop it might be some bone cancer. I’ve been having bone pain but it might me anxiety related since I suffer from severe health anxiety

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2121 | @leslie2121 | Aug 5 8:46am

Best bet is to ask your doctor- I would think they would tell you if you have anything concerning they found.

Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Aug 5 9:52am

@evelyngsg,
Hi Evelyn, Boy oh boy, don't we just love to run to Dr Google when we see something noted on our lab results...I'm guilty too! While it can be a great source of information sometimes what we read fills us with dread or worry or uncertainty! With just a few short words...instant stress!

You're concerned about the mention of tear shaped blood cells and anisocytosis, which are also misshapen blood cell, in your lab results. From my understanding it isn't too unusual for this to happen with people who have had anemia for some time. You may have had this happening for quite a while but never noted it on your labs before.

Seeing that you've had anemia for many years, has your doctor determined the underlying cause? How is your anemia being treated?

evelyngsg | @evelyngsg | Aug 5 7:12pm

In reply to @leslie2121 "Best bet is to ask your doctor- I would think they would tell you if you..." + (show)

@leslie2121 yes that’s what I took so tmr I have a visit with my primary care doctor.

evelyngsg | @evelyngsg | Aug 5 7:13pm

In reply to @loribmt "@evelyngsg, Hi Evelyn, Boy oh boy, don't we just love to run to Dr Google when..." + (show)

@loribmt I got diagnosed with anemia few months ago, I take iron pills but then stopped taking iron pills. During that time when labs were done I haven’t taken them ever since. Figuring out the cause tmr.

Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Aug 6 4:50pm

In reply to @evelyngsg "@loribmt I got diagnosed with anemia few months ago, I take iron pills but then stopped..." + (show)

Hi @evelyngsg Oops, think I misunderstood when I read your comment and took it to mean you had anemia for 15 years. Sorry ‘bout that! You’re 15 and recently diagnosed with anemia…
Anemia can leave you feeling pretty sluggish. When you’re anemic, your body isn’t making enough red blood cells which carry oxygen throughout your body. The most common cause for anemia is iron deficiency.

Besides iron deficiency there are other reasons a young woman might become anemic. Did this coincide with the onset of your period? My daughter went through a similar experince when she was younger. It seemed to correct itself over a few years.

It can take a bit of sleuthing to pinpoint the cause though. You mentioned that there were tear drop cells found on your labs. That isn’t a cause for alarm. But it might be a helpful clue your doctor can use to find the underlying cause of your anemia.
Speaking of doctors, are you working with your family doctor?

Sometimes it can make a difference consulting with a hematologist. This is a doctor who specializes in blood conditions. Blood condition doesn’t mean a blood cancer! But the expertise and experience of a hematologist may allow them to zero in faster on why you’re anemic.

You were taking iron pills for a short time. Did your doctor suggest you stop taking them?

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