I was hoping you could help me think things through alittle. I have seen my doctor 3 times in the past year and a half. (I can't stand going to the doctor). Two of these times was for deer tick bites. She did CBC's each time. The first time, a year and a half ago, my wbc was 11.4. A year later, I went in again with another tick bite, and my WBC was 12.5. at this same appointment, I also went in because all of my bones "burn" especially the bottom of my feet and my arms. I though it was from Lyme Disease. My doctor ordered a follow up CBC (a 6 month follow up) which I did yesterday, and the WBC came back 13.8.
I know these readings are not extremely high. I am concerned because they are high, and have been for such a long time, and keep increasing. My bones hurt, but not all of the time, I'm tired, and I bruise very easily. The reason I say this, is because I always have bruises (just a few) on my arms and legs and usually have no idea where they came from.
I am supposed to schedule an appt with a hemotologist/oncologist on monday, but I am going crazy thinking it might be leukemia. I asked the doctor over the phone, but she skirted the question.
Can anyone help me out, and tell me if this sounds typical?
Thanks!
-------------------- Powerful Women's Motto: Live your life in such a way that When your feet hit the floor In the morning, Satan shudders & says� 'Oh ****!...She's Awake!!
posted
Your WBC count is just barely above normal. High normal being around 11. Where is the leukemia idea coming from? From my personal experience, the people I have seen with leukemia have wbc counts in ranges like 50,000 or more.
Posts: 340 | From Ohio | Registered: Oct 2005
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D Bergy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9984
posted
I have always bruised easily. My mother was concerned about this when I was a child, and also worried about Leukemia since my aunt died of it.
I still bruise easily and there are plenty of causes for this other than Leukemia. I would not waste time worrying about an unlikely cause when there are many more common causes that are not life threatening.
I hope your appointment goes well.
D Bergy
Posts: 2919 | From Minnesota | Registered: Aug 2006
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posted
Thanks for your response guys! The leukemia idea is coming from several factors:
My steadily rising wbc over the past year and a half.
The burning pain in my bones.
The fact that the doctor is sending me to a hemo/oncologist
The way I bruise so easily (I mean easily, like if one leg is over top of the other at night, I will wake up with a bruise in that spot.)
The fact that I asked the doctor if she thought this could be leukemia, and wouldn't answer.
I know that 13.8 is not that high, but when you are talking about wbc count being 50,000, I believe you are referring to when a leukemia patient has a "blast".
I don't know if this is Lyme, Leukemia, a co-infection, or what. I really don't know what to think anymore. I have been bitten by deer ticks so many times, I've lost count, I know it's more than 20 times. I have been tested, they did find "OLD LYME ANTIBODIES" according to the infectious disease doctor. I would like to see a Lyme Literate Doctor, but, I really can't afford it, and I'm not convinced that they aren't going to take me for a ride. Does anyone know a LLD in Southeastern PA that accepts insurance?
-------------------- Powerful Women's Motto: Live your life in such a way that When your feet hit the floor In the morning, Satan shudders & says� 'Oh ****!...She's Awake!!
posted
not all leukemia is the same. the acute one is the one that people think of as "cancer"
my mom and uncle have the chronic leukemia. they are both very healthy. my uncle has had it 20 years, my mom about 15.
my uncle is 85 and still working in his yard, chopping down trees, wheelbarrowing.
my mom is 78 and runs rings around me, is very active, does aerobics 5 days a week.
Posts: 615 | From maryland | Registered: Oct 2007
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Michelle M
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7200
posted
Wild Thing,
You make my heart sing.
You make --
Oh, wait. That's not what I was going to say.
I was GOING to say:
You need to find a lyme literate doctor.
That would NOT be any of the doctors you're currently seeing.
Bone pain could be from lyme or Bartonella. So could bruising.
If you've had THAT many tick bites, there is no telling what kind/how many co-infections you have.
LLMDs are not out to "take you for a ride."
When doctors claim you have "past" lyme exposure, it's an indication they aren't very clever. They don't know that IgM/IgG responses can vary and switch back and forth. Also, the IgM you had (if any, recently) likely wasn't from IGeneX.
If you simply cannot go to an LLMD (and really, you MUST), then insist on full IGeneX testing plus the panel for coinfections for your area.
I have a strong hunch you have a dose of 'em!!
Get help. GOOD help.
Good luck,
Michelle
Posts: 3193 | From Northern California | Registered: Apr 2005
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Bruising can also be attributed to babesia.
I would lean toward tick-borne diseases as opposed to something else.
Especially with your positive history of tick bites!
Please find a LLMD asap.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
I am singing along with Michelle...
And in agreement with the only way to really know is to see a LLMD.....
post here for a doctor in your state
Or contact the Lyme Disease Association for a referral....
It is good you are doing research.
You'll get it figured out.
My LLMD still had me see the other docs just to rule out or confirm other conditions.
I found the other docs started asking me about lyme disease and why I was taking this or that.
The majority of docs are not lyme literate.
Some are even lyme denialist.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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lymednva
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9098
posted
I agree with those who have said to find a LLMD. PCP's refer patients out when they don't know what to do.
Unfortunately hematologists, who we would think are blood specialists, are also oncologists. Usually they think cancer if they don't have any other ideas, when it can be something simple.
I was referred to one when I had an extremely low white count. I was put through all kinds of tests, which caused my Lyme symptoms to flare for a month. He couldn't find anything.
The first time I saw my LLMD and mentioned it to him he knew immediately it had been due to a med I was on, but had taken myself off for other reasons.
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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TheCrimeOfLyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4019
posted
Bitten by ticks + symptoms and not treating lyme disease,
is like breaking your ankle + bones sticking out and not getting a cast on it.
Its obvious, in my opinion- to get to a LLMD and treat for lyme AND babesia ( it sounds like alot of ur symptoms are that).
I went through the gamut of having everything under the sun other than lyme, trust me. Once, I had MS. Another time, a brain tumor. Ad nauseum. I know how scary it is though and I kept thinking the worst.
Little did I know, lyme IS the worst for me some times.
-------------------- You want your life back? Take it. Posts: 3169 | From Greensburg, Pennsylvania | Registered: Jun 2003
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posted
Hello Wild Thing, I was diagnosed with Lyme disease last summer. I probably had it for six years and was being treated for fibromyalgia. I too bruise easily and from odd things. Like if I'm on a ladder painting and my leg is against a rung of the ladder I'll get these big (softball size) black bruises, but if I hit my knee on the coffee table, nothing. I also have the burning you described but only in my elbows. I do wonder if you had the bullseye rash after being bitten by a tick. I didn't, but since you said you went in for treatment of tick bites I wondered. My suggestion is to get on Google and query lyme symptoms. See how that looks (you may have symptoms that you are not attributing to illness, such as fatigue or loss of libido). Also you need to be tested for Lyme antigens, not just blood count. I would think your doctor would have tested that after the tick bites. Good luck and though I wouldn't wish Lyme disease on my worst enemy, I sure hope it's not leukemia. Kentucky Betty
Posts: 12 | From Maysville, KY | Registered: Jan 2008
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posted
I just wanted to say, I have a hema/oncologist because I have anemia/iron issues. He does not treat me for cancer and that has never been a subject we talk about...that's just the other half of his job.
S/He will just rule out any possible problems and then I think you should get to an LLMD. Even, my "top-notch" hema/oncologist couldn't and still can't figure out why I am anemic! It turns out it's probably babs, which I tested positive for! Thank goodness for my LLMD!!!
Posts: 215 | From Student | Registered: Oct 2007
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