White Cells depleting

Hi everyone, I have been in the hospital for 12 days - 10 days have been in isolation due to white cells depleting to a 2.3.  They call this problem neuprenia (sp?)  I never had a problem with white cells before gastric bypass surgery.  I am curious to find out if there are others out there that have noticed that their white cells have been getting low in thier lab work.  I would also like to know what you are doing about this problem.  My Dr suggests that I do the bone marrow testing but I think it will show negative.  I think it is a deficency that cannot be measured in my system.  Any input is great appreciated. Debbie

Hi Debbie, Did u just go for a routine blood test and find this out, or have u been sick? Please let me know. Take care

I had pains in the stomach area....thought it was RNY related only to find out it was shingles.   They had been taking blood every day and on the third day it was discovered I was at 2.3 and need to be put in isolation.  I do want to be sure that our community checks their white cells as well.  We need to have them to fight infection and I do believe people overlook it.  I was told mine had been going down each year after the bypass in my routine blood labs with my surgeon.  I want to be sure everyone pays close attention to this.  I believe I got the shingles because my immune system was low to begin with....it just got a lot lower with the addition of shingles.  Let me tell you they are very painful.  I don't wish this on anyone. Debbie

Debbie, how are your protein and albumin levels? We need those raw materials to make WBC's and so it could be a protein deficiency. If not, then neutropenia (you were SO close in your spelling!) can be caused by lots of different things. I know you don't like the idea of a bone marrow aspirate -- they were going to do that to me because of my anemia -- but it would definitely help them figure out what the problem is.

I haven't noticed a decrease in my WBC's but I'll definitely keep on it. Good luck with your health, Debbie. That sounds really scary. :(

Vickie

I am on the low end of normal for both the protein and albumin levels.  I guess I will have to do bone marrow biopsy after  these shingles are out of my system. Thank you for your reply. Debbie

Neutropenia would not be related to your WLS.  Bone marrow biopsy is necessary to diagnose the cause.  Common causes include leukemia and lymphoma but there are other problems that can cause this.  It will be necessary to see a hematologist to work this up.  I'm sorry you've been sick and hope it does not end up being too serious.

I am seeing a hemotologist since Jan 07 regarding this issue.  We had only been watching counts every three months and in June I looked to be at the low range of normal.  Then I contracted shingles and they are not sure if the shingles shoot my levels down so low or if my body did it before the shingles.  Thank you for your input.  I guess more testing will be needed.  I hope to feel better from shingles soon.  I definitely don't wish this pain on anyone.   Thanks again! Debbie

Shingles is awful.  One thing that helps if you have pain lingering after the actual blisters have healed is Lidoderm, a patch with lidocaine in it that you wear 12 hours a day.  It is placed over the area and builds up in the tissues so that you have at least some relief 24 hours a day in the area where you put the patch.  It helps cut down on the amount of pain medicine you have to take. The shingles would not cause your counts to fall further.  You developed them because of your existing immune suppression.  I hope you get good answers soon.

RA and lupus can also cause white blood cell counts to be low.  When my WBC count drops, it usually means I'm about to have a flare. 

Can you tell me what RA is?  My mother in law has lupus.  I didn't realize that it could attack the WBC.  Thank you for the info. Debbie