posted
My PCP is sending me to a hemo. My WBC has been getting lower and lower, and now I have developed red spots on my legs. We have eliminated certain meds that cause the WBC to lower, but that has not helped.
I am a little nervous about seeing him. But even my LLMD said that it was probably the next step, just to rule out stuff.
When I googled this guy, it said he was from Rhode Island and did his fellowship at Yale, worked at Brown, an affiliate of the Dana Farber Cancer Inst. and is an oncologist.
Should I panic now? What do I need to watch out for?
-------------------- "Few of us can do great things, but all of us can do small things with great love". Mother Theresa
merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
Dont panic. Most Hemotologists also do oncology. I went and it was no big deal. My LLMD wanted to rule out some things. They did suggest a bone marrow biopsy, but I declined. They may want you to do one too. just wantd to tell you my experience. It was no big deal.
its just a blood doctor.
good luck Melissa
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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My experience with a hemo was relatively benign, he was pretty clueless and his knowledge base in regards to EBV (which is why I went) or lyme, (which my son has, and I happened to mention to him) was non-existant.
He was willing to admit it though, which was nice to see.
Since EBV and Lyme were not what he 'does'. he simply performed the necesary tests, ruled out lymphoma, did them again 6 months later to make sure, and that was the end of it.
Hopefully, the doc you see will be equally benign!
I hope all goes well for you, and that you get your answers.
disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
WOW. I'm so glad you posted this because this is exactly what I was thinking of posting next week.
I, too, have a VERY low white blood cell count and have since I was in high school (was bitten when I was 14 or so; I'm 24 now). Mine has always been in the low range, but it jumps around (but jumps around staying in the low range). The range is usually ALWAYS in the 2's (2.4 or 2.5 usually). It's only twice ever been 3.0 or 3.1. And the normal, healthy range is 4.0 - 10.5.
This last lab test I had done the WBC were 2.2. The lowest I've seen them yet.
My "neutrophils (absolute)" are also always low. This last lab I had done they were 1.0 when they are supposed to be 1.8 - 4.0 or something like that.
So my LLMD really has never worried about it much especially since it's been low since high school, but since it's now 2.2 and the lowest we've ever seen it, he told me the next thing to do if I wanted would be to see a hematologist. So I made an appointment with one and will be seeing him not this coming week but next week.
I, too, am a little worried about telling him I have lyme and co-infections. Not sure he'll even know what co-infections are anyway.
How low has your WBC been and for how long have they been low?
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
UP for more?
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
i went to one over ten years ago. I really can't remember much about it, but he ran some blood tests and ruled out some things.
Posts: 615 | From maryland | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
Went to Hem/Onc from 2003 - 2006 for treatment of polycythemia vera (too many red, white and neutraphils.) I had some phlebotomies or removal of blood and a bone marrow biopsy.
The doc didn't know anything about the infection panel done at FFC. He suggested IDSA doc for Lyme etc. He doesn't know anything about Hemex tests, hypercoagulation or treatment of it with heparin.
After starting on Abx, my problem with excess hemaglobin/hemocrit disappeared leaving me with more questions than answers.
Posts: 192 | From Dwight, IL USA | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
My levels were 2.5 a month ago, 2.6 last week. I have always tested normal before this. I was just slightly below normal when first diagnosed 3 years ago.
I don't know what the other #'s were, but my monocytes were also low. Low neutrophils happen more often than low monocytes, according to my LLMD.
-------------------- "Few of us can do great things, but all of us can do small things with great love". Mother Theresa
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