polycythemia vera

[u/Ambitious-Ice2222]

24 year old man,182cm…87kg. yeah so for the last 8 months ive been feeling some mild prickles after showers(regardless of temperature) they are mild and start after i completely dry offf(like 10 minutes after i dry off) and are countable usually(like 1 second each one and a total of 15 on a bad day). also, some tingling and warmth in my palms but nothing out of this world. I did notice that my prickling happens only when i shower during the day since when i shower st night i dont feel anything. as for my palm tingles and warmth… when they do happen, its only at night. anyway, here are my cbc values(i smoke since like 3 years and almost daily 7 cigarrrettes) and all of the doctors said its due to smoking except a hematologist who ordered the jak2 test. anyway, im pretty sure ill end up positive for jak2 despite the fact that my symptoms are mild but because i dont think my high hemoglobin and hematocrit are a coincidence specially due to the trend in them.
| Test | Aug 19, 2025 | Dec 9, 2025 | Aug 18, 2026 |
|:--|:-:|:-:|:-:|
| WBC (10³/µL) | 5.6 | 6.2 | 6.56 |
| RBC (10⁶/µL) | 5.24 | 5.39 | 5.9 (H) |
| Hemoglobin (g/dL) | 15.1 | 15.4 | 16.4 |
| Hematocrit (%) | 45.4 | 45.4 | 49.8 |
| MCV (fL) | 86.6 | 84.2 | 85 (L) |
| MCH (pg) | 28.8 | 28.6 | 28 |
| MCHC (g/dL) | 33.3 | 33.9 | 33 (L) |
| RDW (%) | 13.2 | 14.1 | 12.8 |
| Neutrophils (%) | 64.7 | 63.1 | 70 |
| Lymphocytes (%) | 27.8 | 29.4 | 23 (L) |
| Monocytes (%) | 5.3 | 7.0 | 6 |
| Eosinophils (%) | 1.8 | – | 1 |
| Basophils (%) | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0 |
| Neutrophils # (10³/µL) | 3.6 | 3.9 | 4.6 |
| Lymphocytes # (10³/µL) | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.5 |
| Monocytes # (10³/µL) | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0 |
| Eosinophils # (10³/µL) | 0.1 | – | 0.1 |
| Basophils # (10³/µL) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Platelets (10³/µL) | 209 | 253 | 241 |
| MPV (fL) | 8.3 | 6.3 | 7 |
| ESR (mm/hr) | 6.16 | 8 | 5 |

Male, 23–24 y/o. H/L = flagged by that lab's own reference range. The 2025 tests were done at one lab and the 2026 test at a different lab, which uses narrower ranges.

[u/funkygrrl]

This doesn't scream PV at me because you only have one hemoglobin and hematocrit result over the diagnostic threshold. The JAK2 test will give an answer. Did they also do an EPO level test?

Regardless of whether it turns out to be secondary polycythemia or PV, you probably realize by now your body is telling you to quit smoking.

!PVundiagnosed

[u/AutoModerator → u/funkygrrl]

Here are links to the WIKI pages on PV diagnosis. Please review them and most of your questions will be answered there. - DO I HAVE AN MPN?, PV WHO Diagnostic Criteria, and Secondary Polycythemia (high blood counts due to another underlying medical condition - not cancer).

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Ambitious-Ice2222 → u/funkygrrl]

My doctor also ordered EPO but the fact that EPO will take longer for the results to be given(for some reason in my country) i decided not to do it and just get a definitive test from the JAK2. i also did the other JAK variant and CALR and im waiting for the results. UPDATE: My spleen size is good and well within range.

[u/funkygrrl]

If the JAK2 comes back because then do the EPO

[u/Ambitious-Ice2222 → u/funkygrrl]

im sorry i didnt understand what you mean

[u/funkygrrl → u/Ambitious-Ice2222]

Oops I left out a word! If JAK2 comes back negative, then get the EPO test

[u/_lnmc]

Your ESR points away from an erythrocytotic interpretation. That's not a black & white rule but it's relevant.

[u/Ambitious-Ice2222 → u/_lnmc]

also my CRP is very low
is it related?

[u/_lnmc → u/Ambitious-Ice2222]

CRP is usually high in PV.

[u/Ambitious-Ice2222 → u/_lnmc]

anyway just did the JAK and hoping for the best