High White blood counrt | Arthritis Information

My Dr called last night and said that my bloodwork showed elevated white count . This has happened before. I know it means infection ( maybe ). Anybody here have the same?I had it all the time when I was on high doses of prednisone. Now that I'm not it has calmed down. However this time my neutrophils were elevated.65,

Call his office back today and ask what that might indicate. I am curious also. Are you feeling alright? Were they slightly elevated?

Not feeling great but then I never am. He wants me to see a blood Dr. P.S. I'm on 4mg of Methylprelisone6t5- I don't want to alarm you but someone I work with was refered to a blood doctor due to elevated white blood cells and she was checked for leukemia. Her levels had been very elevated for about a year though. They did not find leukemia and they are going to re-test in 6 months.

which of the white cells was elevated esinophils, neurophils, etc? makes a difference.. like: esinophils may mean allergy or infection of a type...

good luck!!

Don't know babs. I speak to him tomorrow. It could be infection, inflammation that goes along with a flair, or a few dozen other things. CLL would also be what a hemotologist would look for. Good luck and I hope it's just inflammation.

Ann

Ann is right, a high white cell count could indicate inflammation, infection, it also occurs with people who have severe burns which can be ruled out in your case. Prednisone, however, and no matter how small a dose causes white cell demargination. Normally, you have pools of white cells that are hanging out on the walls of your blood vessels. Prednisone makes these guys want to come out and play.

If your white cell count isn't over 19 or 20 thousand I would have made two slides of it and done a manual count looking for immature white cells. (bands, myelocytes, metamyelocytes, and blasts) By the way, I'm a laboratory technician who specialized in hematology.

Having said that I want to share my experience with this matter. When the current flare began in June my white cell count got as high as 40 thousand. The docs were all concerned that I had leukemia and had a hematologist/oncologist come in and do a crapload of testing all of which came back fine. I knew I didn't have leukemia because I always insist on getting copies of all labs done to keep in my personal medical record here at home.

It's probably nothing but wouldn't hurt to look into it a little more.

Bob

Wow, Bob. you're amazing. How did you know you didn't have leukemia?

Pip

Thanks Bob for the answer. I thinking it's the steroids6t5, I hope everything checks out okay. Please let us know how it goes.When I looked over the report of the manual differential I saw that the reviewing tech didn't see any abnormal cells in circulation. In leukemia you will see a ton of cells that are normally only seen in bone marrow in circulation. That's how I knew that I didn't have leukemia. Wow!

Hugs,

Pip

Thanks to all. Seeing the Vampire Dr today ( blood Dr )Hugs,

Pip

good luck,

tink

i am typing this while holding my grandson. he is napping in my arms. i am 1 finger pecking...

Good Luck, let us know how it went.Good luck...think positive

Bob

Best of luck 65- let us know what they have to say.Ok the Dr was a nice guy. Took some time to talk about history etc. Looked at previous labs etc. He took a lot of blood also. Within minutes he got back my WBC. The range is 0 to 11.4 ( normal ) Mine was 11.9 He said he is almost certain it's from steroids and that I should not worry. He will do a batterry of other stuff to be sure. Called my Dr and I'm back on MTX. I have not had any in 4 weeks and I now have a lot of tendonitis going on Great news! My WBC was always high when I was on a higher dose of prednisone too.6t5,

That is great news. Good luck with your treatment plan! HG