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Created in 2008, Phoenix Rising is the largest and oldest forum dedicated to furthering the understanding of, and finding treatments for, complex chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia, long COVID, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and allied diseases.
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Would the red blood cell deformability be noticeable on a common blood test or has it only been recognized at Stanford using a special test?
I ask because my Dr said that my RBC shape looked completely normal
From my limited understanding that sounds highly likely. I will add that I believe that the cause could well be because of lack of phospholipids need to form cell membranes which changes their function in multiple ways not least of which is their deformability. This will be due to the extremely high detox load on the liver and lack of choline needed for the phase 2 liver detox processes. Lack of acetylcholine is another consequence and resulting constipation and memory problems. The majority of choline intake gets used up for more essential functions ie Liver detoxification leaving insufficient for other less essential functions acetylcholine production and cell membrane phospholipids.I am not certain but I think it's the "flexibility" that's the problem not the shape. They aren't as flexible as they need to be to get into tiny blood capillaries.
Maybe somebody else can confirm this.
That made me wonder whether RDW correlates with deformability and/or ME.
It's also associated with a folate deficiency. I've had a high MCV and benefit from both methylcobalamin and methylfolate.High MCV has been linked to B12 deficiency.