A hematologist is a doctor who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs. This specialist can identify conditions that have particular symptoms and progress latently in the body. People see this doctor when a disease has not been identified for a long time. Hematologists diagnose and treat diseases of the blood-forming organs and the blood, such as acute and chronic leukemias, anemias, lymphomas, myelomas, and hemophilias.
When should you see a hematologist?
A hematologist's work primarily concerns diseases of the blood, but keep in mind that hematologic conditions are systemic in most cases. This makes it quite difficult to say definitively which diseases call for a hematologist. In general, a hematologist works in the following areas:
- therapy for conditions related to blood clotting disorders, including hemophilia;
- treatment of malignant tumors of the hematologic group. This group includes diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and others;
- treatment of various types of anemia, and more.
As for when to see a hematologist, the following should be noted. First, a doctor who is examining you for entirely different reasons may advise you to visit a hematologist. Second, in some cases you can make an appointment with a hematologist yourself. You should do so if you notice:
- sudden weight loss and decreased appetite with no clear cause;
- chronic fatigue;
- frequent headaches;
- heavy sweating;
- sleep disturbances;
- numbness in the limbs;
- enlarged lymph nodes, etc.
People whose work exposes the blood-forming system and bone marrow to harmful occupational factors also need to make an appointment with a hematologist in Odesa. These factors include various types of radiation and intoxication with substances or medications that are hazardous to the body.
Hematologist and pregnancy: why is it essential to see this specialist?
It is worth making an appointment with a hematologist in Odesa not only when you have health problems. An expectant mother also needs to see this specialist. During pregnancy, a woman's body needs more vitamins and minerals than ever, and very often this is why she develops anemia.
A pregnant woman should also see the doctor if she has a blood clotting disorder. A hematologist also performs tests that show whether a woman carries thrombophilia genes.
What tests might a hematologist order?
Before your visit, you can check all the details with our staff, but it is better to bring the results of the following tests with you:
- complete blood count with white blood cell differential;
- coagulation panel: INR, aPTT, PTI, fibrinogen;
- homocysteine test;
- ferritin level;
- iron level.
This list is standard, but it may be expanded with other tests based on your medical history. In some cases, measures such as antithrombin, protein C, and protein S may be ordered. Sometimes you need to be tested for infections (HIV, viral hepatitis). In some cases, the hematologist in Odesa will also order a transferrin level and other tests. These tests will be ordered after the first consultation.
Preparing for the consultation
No special preparation is needed for the appointment. The only restrictions may come from the need to take a number of tests so that the specialist can understand the full picture of the disease. For the tests themselves, it is recommended that you:
- Try to avoid alcohol and smoking for a few days beforehand.
- Limit your fluid intake (the day before the tests).
- Avoid eating. Check with our staff about this, since it may not always be needed. The fasting period is usually 10-12 hours before the test.
- Stop taking medications. If you cannot pause them, tell the doctor which medications you take, how often, and at what dose. This supports a correct diagnosis.
To make an appointment with a hematologist at Alt-Med medical center, call: