LymeNet Flash: Low White Blood Count

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»	LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » Low White Blood Count

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Author

Topic: Low White Blood Count

Beth25
Member
Member # 6270

posted

Has anyone experienced a low wbc related to lyme or lyme treatment?

thanks
--Beth

Posts: 15 | Registered: Sep 2004 | IP: Logged |

Beth25
Member
Member # 6270

posted

To the top hoping for a reply!

Posts: 15 | Registered: Sep 2004 | IP: Logged |

chainsaw joseph
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 6611

posted

Your post just caught my eye.Befor I forget erhlicia can cause low WBC.High doses of meds can cause it too.I have had low WBCs for about two years.Mine run about 3.5,they are suppose to be at 4.5.You might not want to be around alot of people if your WBCs are low so you dont pick up any colds or things too easy.

Posts: 308 | From new bedford,Ma. | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged |

lou
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 81

posted

I have had low wbc count for several years now. Haven't ever gotten any explanation.

Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged |

lla2
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 2364

posted

in the general world of medicine a low wbc is indicative of a viral infection of some kind..a high wbc a bacterial infection...

could be EBV?

Lisa

[This message has been edited by lla2 (edited 09 April 2005).]

Posts: 4713 | From saunderstown, ri Usa | Registered: Apr 2002 | IP: Logged |

cigi
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 6600

posted

I have my blood taken every week. My wbc is always low - I'm on iv rocephin. She usually takes me off for a few days and I take ceftin till it goes up. It's been like that since I've been on antibiotics in general, but worse since IV.

Good luck -

Cigi

Posts: 320 | From Upstate, NY USA | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged |

Nal
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6801

posted

Yes, my WBC has run low off and on for the last few years. No one was ever concerned about it which really torks me off now!!! Stupid dr's.

Nancy

Posts: 1594 | From Colorado | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged |

hodologica
Member
Member # 6408

posted

I had lowish white cells and sometimes subnormal platelets during my 18-month decline into CFIDS (equivocal IGeneX WB). Monocytes would have good numbers; lymphocytes and (especially) neutrophils not good.

Now I have subnormal white cells. I suspect its atovoquone (Mepron) that pushed me from low to subnormal. Googling will rapidly show you that treatment-emergant neutropenia occured in 3-5% of patients in the clinical trials (as a caveat, note that these were not healthy subjects but sufferers of full-blown AIDS). I'm also on zith which seems to cause this stuff more rarely. And also doxy and artemisinin, which I havent searched about yet in this connection.

What the connection may be between lyme itself and low white cells, I know not.

Posts: 62 | Registered: Oct 2004 | IP: Logged |

Beth25
Member
Member # 6270

posted

Thanks y'all!
Anyone else with this problem???

Am worried about the possibilities - even though I've been trying not to. Was kinda hoping that it was for sure just the abx or another weird Lyme thing.

Doc is sending me to a Hematologist/Oncologist to check into it further.

-Beth

Posts: 15 | Registered: Sep 2004 | IP: Logged |

hwlatin
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 4123

posted

Beth how low are we talking about.

Posts: 533 | From Las Vegas, NV | Registered: Jun 2003 | IP: Logged |

Beth25
Member
Member # 6270

posted

Hi -
Just wanted to share that I got new bood work results today and all is looking much better!! White count is up from around 2000 to 6000. Thank goodness!

Beth

Posts: 15 | Registered: Sep 2004 | IP: Logged |

zipzip
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 6226

posted

quote:
Originally posted by Beth25:
Has anyone experienced a low wbc related to lyme or lyme treatment?
thanks
--Beth

could be very indicative of a Lyme co-infection with ehrlichia, which invades white blood cells.

co-infection testing for this is very important.

the preferred treatment is oral doxy 400-600mg a day for 4-6 weeks. the dosage needs to be high enough to work. sometimes the antibiotic rifampin is used as well.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/ehrlichia/Organisms/Organism.htm

Posts: 795 | From nyc | Registered: Sep 2004 | IP: Logged |

tickitout
LymeNet Contributor
Member # 6982

posted

My white count has been low for many years. I dont' know what it is related to. I though perhaps medication but even when I am off it is still a problem.

It has been just above 1 when I first got lyme but usually stays around 3.

I know my neutrophils were very low but don't know about the others.

I am usually not out in public and stay clear of family affairs when someone is there I know is sick.

Sometimes people don't realize they are a danger to one who has a low white count. I know all too well how illness affects everything on top of the lyme stuff.

I don't think any of us need anything else to deal with.

Posts: 139 | From nj | Registered: Mar 2005 | IP: Logged |

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