low WBC | Arthritis Information

Hi Everyone,

I was on MTX and had a low WBC. I went off MTX Sept 1, 2008. My current test results came back still low WBC.

My big concern is I am finally about to start work again and using public transportation in Boston. I don't want to be in a position to catch everything around me.

I am currently on plaquenil and Enbrel shots and they are working. Yeah!

Any suggestions? I see my rheumatologist tomorrow to discuss.

Thank you,

Nori

P.S.

I'm also feeling fatigued most of the time. Could this be due to my low WBC?

Hey Nori, I found this website for you to look at, it is a chemo website for cancer patients but it does explain just about everything about blood counts, white and red. I didn't see anything under low wbc about fatigue but I have no medical training so I really couldn't tell you. Anyway, I hope this helps and I hope you are back to normal soon.
http://www.chemocare.com/managing/low_blood_counts.asp#LowWhite

Nori - my 18 months on MTX slowly took my normal WBC and other markers steadily downward, past normal, into danger zones. That's when I quit. Plus my liver enzymes suddenly skyrocketed. I could see no sense in what the rheumy was doing. He told me at diagnosis I had inflammation anemia, which you might want to look at. Since being off the MTX for over a year, my WBC, liver enzymes, etc. have come back up to normal and my anemia and fatigue have lifted and are gone. My pure white skin I have in FL which everyone commented on is now a light brown, normal skin color. I am still surprised not one doctor connected the white skin to anemia, with the low WBC, or thought it was abnormal. Sometimes you just have to put your foot down and I am glad I did. Good luck. I am definetaly getting my blood work results from now on.

nori, please post and let us know what your Rheumy has to say. I am interested.

Tink

I've had to go off of my mtx a few times due to low wbc count. I didn't notice any more fatigue than I normally had.

I've had extreme fatigue lately and didn't know why. I was called last week to let me know that from my bloodwork, they saw that my hemoglobin was way down.

Nori...how'd you make out with your app't?