On 11/30/2007
TeresaP wrote:
Hi Everyone
I was hoping you could help me think things though alittle. I have seen my doctor 3 times in the past year and a half. Two of these times was for deer tick bites. She did CBC's each time. The first time, a year and a half ago, my wbc was 11.4. A year later, I went in again with another tick bite, and my WBC was 12.5. I also scheduled this appt because all of my bones "burn" especially the bottom of my feet and my arms. I though it was from Lyme Disease. My doctor ordered a follow up CBC (a 6 month follow up) which I did yesterday, and the WBC came back 13.8.
I know these readings are not extremely high. I am concerned because they are high, and have been for such a long time, and keep increasing. My bones hurt, but not all of the time, I'm tired, and I bruise very easily. The reason I say this, is because I always have bruises (just a few) on my arms and legs and usually have no idea where they came from.
I am supposed to schedule an appt with a hemotologist on monday, but I am going crazy thinking it might be leukemia. I asked the doctor over the phone, but she skirted the question.
Can anyone help me out, and tell me if this sounds typical?
Thanks!
Responding so you don't go crazy :)
There are a lot of factors that might cause one's WBC to rise. Blood cells are made by the billions each day. It is possible that a CBC WBC would change from say by 2 - 4 thousand in one day. That said, it would be good to see what is called a "differential". If you are going crazy, it is not unreasonable to ask for this and to make an appointment with your doctor for educational reasons. One kind of question might be: What KINDS of WBC are rising? Is it monocytes, lymphocytes, neutophils... etc.
Chronic low grade infection, which might include a low grade fever, or a virus can cause increase of WBC. What is of interest, I think, is your platlet count. Your WBC can be a little high (in some labs 11.4 is within normal limits.) but if your platlet level is normal, then your small vessls may be just a little weak -- essecially if you have blood sugar issues or you're a smoker, drink alcholic beverages, or are simply older in age. Also, a particular antibiotic or antidepressent might cause this?
Often Doctors are looking at the WHOLE picture. THEY only go "crazy" if the labs are WAY out of norm or your symptoms are acute. They watch closely and ask themselves, "IS this patient "going crazy"? And wonder if there might be other issues that in ones life might be difficult and possibly hard to controle. If this is the case, the sometimes we people hyperfocus on other things like labs that seem more black and white. Unfortunitly, the truth is Labs are NOT black and white.
My friend, with normal labs -- regularly checked due to diabetic -- had been feeling a little sick... then some flank pain. She went to the doctor and had a CT scan... stage 4 cancer in all major organs. Labs? All within normal limits.
SO... all this to say. "Don't go crazy!" One step at a time. It is good that you are doing a little research. And know this too... Leukemia is not the worst thing that can happen in ones life. :)
LOVE and PEACE
em