Still high WBC!

[drummerman]

Ok, just got my 2nd blood results back.  My wbc is still at 10.5.  Now some internet sites say that 11 is the top mark of normal....others say 10.  My doc goes with 10.  He wants me to have another blood draw next week to check it again.  I asked him once before what happens if it does not go down and he said he would refer me to a blood doctor.   

As I mentioned in earlier posts , I went back several years and found that my wbc was high (10.5) on many occasions.

A favor from you is requested.... if you have past lab results would you please look and see if you have high WBC results?   Just curious.  Since high WBC can be the result of auto immune issues I believe that perhaps my immune system was so ramped  up fighting HCV that it still ramped up and has not yet settled down, even though it has been about 35 weeks since EOT.

Any other high WBC people out there? 

ps - I also an treating a low vitamin D issue which seems to go hand in hand with high wbc.

thanks!
dm

[drummerman]

anyone?
this is really freaking me out and I wonder if I am over-reacting?
dm

[KimInTheForest]

anyone?
this is really freaking me out and I wonder if I am over-reacting?
dm

Hi DM. I did check my lab results last night when I first saw your post. All of my WBC numbers for up to a year prior to treatment were in the low normal range. (Ref range at my lab is 4.0-10.0 giga/L.) Same thing during treatment. Post-tx they even dipped below normal for a time.

On my labs last month, my specialist ordered many "Immunology" tests due to my ongoing problems post-tx. I assume those tests would be indicators of an over-active or disrupted immune function. They all came back normal, or so close to normal it was not significant.

Perhaps you could ask your doctor for a panel of immunology tests to see if a heightened immune response could explain your high WBCs.

Good luck, DM. The worst part is not knowing what's up with these post-tx probs some of us are having.

kim

[FutureThinker]

Hey DM, I had my blood reports readily at hand so took a look at both Vit. D & WBC.  My lab's WBC norms are 3.8 - 10.8.  During my Harvoni treatment the WBC ranged between 5.0 and 5.8; prior to that over a 4 year period, it ranged between 3.1 (1X only) to 5.7.  Vit D norm for my lab is 30 - 100 ng, with mine ranging in the low to high 30s.  HOWEVER -- my hemoglobin and hematocrit are typically above the normal values.  My understanding is that these numbers are guidelines for the majority of the population, but your norm may be a little higher or lower.  If you have multiple labs that show a consistently, slightly high WBC, couldn't this be normal for you?   

Also, WBC counts can fluctuate, per what I just briefly read online, by emotional or physical stress, spleen excision, age, sex, ethnicity, smoking status, and effects of many drugs. I understand what the WBC count means & why you are concerned. But as hard as it is, try not to worry and see what the next blood work shows.

I remember when I got the HCV diagnosis one of the lab reports showed I had a slightly high ferratin number.  I was referred to a hematologist and it turned out to be nothing. So perhaps going to another specialist may give you some piece of mind. Keep us posted, FT

[drummerman]

Hi DM. I did check my lab results last night when I first saw your post. All of my WBC numbers for up to a year prior to treatment were in the low normal range. (Ref range at my lab is 4.0-10.0 giga/L.) Same thing during treatment. Post-tx they even dipped below normal for a time.

On my labs last month, my specialist ordered many "Immunology" tests due to my ongoing problems post-tx. I assume those tests would be indicators of an over-active or disrupted immune function. They all came back normal, or so close to normal it was not significant.

Perhaps you could ask your doctor for a panel of immunology tests to see if a heightened immune response could explain your high WBCs.

Good luck, DM. The worst part is not knowing what's up with these post-tx probs some of us are having.

kim

Thanks Kim,  will ask for immunology tests if this keeps up.
dm

[drummerman]

Hey DM, I had my blood reports readily at hand so took a look at both Vit. D & WBC.  My lab's WBC norms are 3.8 - 10.8.  During my Harvoni treatment the WBC ranged between 5.0 and 5.8; prior to that over a 4 year period, it ranged between 3.1 (1X only) to 5.7.  Vit D norm for my lab is 30 - 100 ng, with mine ranging in the low to high 30s.  HOWEVER -- my hemoglobin and hematocrit are typically above the normal values.  My understanding is that these numbers are guidelines for the majority of the population, but your norm may be a little higher or lower.  If you have multiple labs that show a consistently, slightly high WBC, couldn't this be normal for you?   

Also, WBC counts can fluctuate, per what I just briefly read online, by emotional or physical stress, spleen excision, age, sex, ethnicity, smoking status, and effects of many drugs. I understand what the WBC count means & why you are concerned. But as hard as it is, try not to worry and see what the next blood work shows.

I remember when I got the HCV diagnosis one of the lab reports showed I had a slightly high ferratin number.  I was referred to a hematologist and it turned out to be nothing. So perhaps going to another specialist may give you some piece of mind. Keep us posted, FT

thanks FT!
At least with your range of normal, I am normal at 10.5.
dm

[FutureThinker]

That's right, DM -- I don't know why there are such variations in the different lab norms, but your number isn't all that high, even for your doctor's norms.  I know how these lab reports can make us all crazy -- I remember well from previous reports  --  but worrying isn't going to reduce the number and may only increase it.

So, as I've said more than once, both to myself (many times!!!) and on this forum:  try to "stay calm and carry on" until you have some more info.  Again, the referral to another specialist may be a good thing.  Have a good Sunday, FT