Low white cell count

[Mal H]

Have any of you ever had a low white cell count, and if so what did your Dr. contribute it to? My Dr. has been running CBC's on me almost every few months, for almost 2 yrs., now, and my white count is usually always the same....about half of what it should be. He's mentioned illnesses that I could eventually develop...lupus being one of them. But he hasn't told me anything that I can do to help the situation. I'm thinking of seeing another Dr. for a second opinion or even a hematologist, for that matter. Have any of you IC'ers ever had this problem. Could a low white count be related to IC?

Thanks for any feedback!

Mal

[Portia17]

Go to www.google.com and type in low white cell count and there are plenty of articles that come up

[Jeanne D.]

Mal,

My white blood cell count is chronically low. The hematologist cannot attribute it to anything being wrong. I take folic acid to help raise the production of new wbc's. My immune system has not be affected by the low count -- remarkably, I rarely ever get sick! My wbc count runs about 3000 (5000 - 10,000 is the normal range). My hematologist is not concerned since I am not suffering any ill effects from the low count. As long as you are healthy, I don't think this is a problem.

Jeanne

[Mal H]

Thanks for the responses, guys. I wasn't really sure if this something that I should be seriously concerned about or not. My wbc count has consistently been running 2500 -2600 for sometime, now. I've been pretty healthy but just seem really tired much of the time, but then again that could be contributed to work and two very active little girls of mine. I just don't like hearing those conversations of how I could eventually develop this and that. I mean if there is something that I could ever do to prevent developing this and that, I'd like to know.

My Dr. did put me on folic acid, twice a day, for a month but it didn't seem to raise my count so we didn't continue with it. Does it help with yours, Jeanne?

Dusty, I do sincerely hope that Lupus will not be another illness to add to your list nor mine. I have heard from many people whom have family members or friends with Lupus and they say that it is very manageable with the right medication. Hopefully, this is true.

If you guys do happen to gain any more info. on the white cell count issue from you Dr.'s please let me know, k?

Thanks again for the feedback!

Mal

[Katrina]

I have that problem as well...my doctor was very concerned...since then I have been taking vitamins to help. Although my doctor didn't say weather that has helped the white blood count or not other things have improved that could have been caused somewhat by that.

As far as could it be related to IC...possibly.
Mayo's site said this:
Possible causes of a low white blood cell count include:

Infection, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Certain medications, especially those used in chemotherapy
Bone marrow disease, such as leukemia or myelodysplasia In relationship to IC if our immune system has difficulty fighting infection or is too dumb to know the difference between an infection and our bodies (two of the possible causes of IC) it could be connected. Other possibilities are our diets and meds being part of it.

I sugest asking a doctor what you should do.

[walton54]

I've had that problem also. My count eventually went up and has stayed normal since (at least when it has been checked) but the doctors couldn't explain why it was so low. I still worry about that sometimes! They checked me for lupas at that time, also, but I guess it was negative because I never heard back about it. Good luck!!

[Dianne]

Mine too runs in the 3K range, one time as low as 2900. It's been that way for 20 years or better. I don't have any other diagnoses. My dr. thinks it's just normal for me. I'm rarely sick except for the IC.

[lianna]

I have had a very low white blood count for over 20 years too.... been tested for everything---it is just me:)