WBC High | Arthritis Information

I got my blood results and everything looked pretty good. MY CRP was 1.8 but that's not terrible. ESR was normal. My WBC was pretty high though- 13.5. My neutrophils were high also- 10,544. Has anyone got those kind of readings and what was it? I'm down to 5 mgs. of prednisone a day so it shouldn't be causing that.
I went on line and read that stress can cause this. I have been under a lot of stress lately but it seems odd that stress would elevate white blood cells to me!

I have no clue, wantto....... but almost any infection or allergen can up our WBC.. I wouldn't worry myself.... You have enough going on...... *hugs*I think infections cause elevated WBCs. I am probably wrong.

Holy sh*t! As bad off as you are with your own health problems you have the gall to give medical advice??????? No, I just do not want her to stop 5mg of pred cold turkey that is all. I occassionally give medical advice. Especially when I have been on the med for over 5 years myself.

I do not want anything bad to happen to wannabe.

I have been on prednisone for 19 months. I know you should never go cold turkey- I'm just talking crap. One day I did forget to take it by accident and I felt fine- but that was only for one day.
I went from 40 down to 2 and then I flared in January and got put on 10. I got over the flare but I never got back to the level of comfort I was at before the flare and the prednisone dose doesn't seem to have an effect on it. I had flared because I had to go off my MTX for 3 weeks because of an infection. I'm now on the maximum dose and if anything I think that's why the flare went away.
Yep. The dose I am on does not seem like it helps either. Heck it does not even do anything for the inflammation I have. It helps with the pain some, but it does not last long. I was told it is to last 24 hours, well... mine wears off within 18 hours. That is when the joints swell more and the pain gets worse. That is why RD said I could taper because she agreed with me that is was not helping me any.

This disease is a real pain.

Yeah it's pretty much depressing. I don't have to deal with anywhere as near much crap as you do and I still hate it. I have some swelling I've noticed but no one else can see it because I have tiny bones so to them I just look like an average person- only I know it's not normal for me. Which is also to say it's not that bad- I did have extensive swelling in the beginning where I couldn't even put shoes on so the doctor was able to get me to a much better place. Also I don't have the kind of pain that makes me unable to work anymore. I've almost forgotten what it feels like to feel good but I still remember enough that it's a real drag to notice ouch it hurts to use your joints. Again- it's not excruciating but enough that you notice it. [QUOTE=joonie]No, I just do not want her to stop 5mg of pred cold turkey that is all. I occassionally give medical advice. Especially when I have been on the med for over 5 years myself.

I do not want anything bad to happen to wannabe.
[/QUOTE]

And THAT qualifies you to dole out medical advice??????????????

Please do try to sleep in tomorrow. It might make you feel a little better. Or at least lay in the bed for a while after waking up. Remember Sunday is rest day.

Thanks Joonie- I am still more fortunate than most so I have to keep that in mind when I complain. Laying in bed is a good thing- I'll try that tomorrow WTB......why don't you call your RD Monday and ask them about the high wbc count? Maybe they'll want you to see your GD or maybe they'll tell you it's nothing to worry about.I am on a short course of prednisone. I am supposed to cut down to 5 mg next week for a week and then stop. I did 15 mg for a week, then 10mg this week. I think if you are on pred for a short term you can get away with cutting down cold turkey. Well I hope so.

Things to remember about prednisone and infection. Prednisone can mask infections. So it is worth seeing your GP about. Prednisone masks pain and swelling that might other wise be more visable. I have heard other people say they get high white counts from RA. I had a 16.9 WBC from an abcessed tooth about a year and a half ago. I honestly had no idea what was wrong. I was sick I was weak. Sometimes we treat our arthritis pain and the arthritis still hurts. We are not always aware of all the other pains like ear aches and tooth aches because of the pain meds. Food for thought.

So true, Milly. Good post. I dealt with pain from a gum abcess for months. Not paying much attention to it and several thousand dollars later, one tooth extracted, awaiting a bridge, and lots of antibiotics I feel so much better. Our RA meds do mask other symptoms and pain. I have a high threshold for pain and have been in trouble several times because of it. Best to talk with your doctor about the tests. LindyThanks all- I actually have an RD appointment this Thursday so I'll discuss everything with him. After reading that stress can cause it that would be my #1 guess and I would like to show the results to the son who has been causing it and say do you understand you are making me physically ill!!!! milly and LinB!! I agree that our meds can completely mask symptoms.... wantto.. great advice to call your PCP..... best to you!

ETA: Neutrophils increase in response to bacterial infection. They destroy bacteria by enveloping and digesting them, a process called phagocytosis. When many neutrophils are needed, they are released from the bone marrow as immature cells, called bands or stab cells.

and from another source:

An increased percentage of neutrophils may be due to:

you may have TWO of the reasons going on........... relax.. like Snow said... take it easy and be kind to wanttobe