RBC Levels and Mechanical Heart Valve

Hi. Back in Oct. 2024 I had a SAVR with. mechanical valve. I understand that the healing process can take awhile and I was actually doing very well until about 6 weeks ago. I started feeling very fatigued and have other symptoms as well.

My PCP ordered blood work and my Reticulocyte count came back high at 130900, my Haptoglobin was low at < 10, my Hemoglobin has gone from 13 to 11.9 and my Lactate Dehydrogenase is 237.

Because I have a mechanical Valve, my PCP talked to a cardiologist who thought it may be due to my valve and that I am anemic. So she’s got me on iron and B12 supplements.

Hearing that, I contacted my cardiologist to see if maybe he should be monitoring me instead of my PCP. He doesn’t feel like it’s valve or heart related and suggests I stay under the PCP for now.

I’m not quite sure what to do. When I plug in the numbers for my levels, I come up with possible hemolytic anemia. If that’s the case, are B12 and iron supplements going to fix it? Should I see a hematologist or wait a couple of months to see what the B12 and iron do?

I would appreciate any advice or insight.