Low white blood cell count?

Okay been having some weird health issue but last week when I was in to the doctor (this one) said my WBC count had been low all year (I was just recouperating from bronchitis). So my main PCP and my surgeon had seen all my results and neither of them said I was low. And sorry, I don't have the results...I was sort of shocked.

So my question, could this be related to a vitamin defiency? I am generally 80 plus for vit D and over 1400 for B12 and I take my vitamins (calciums and multiples). I have questioned my iron before but they have never said anything about it.

Any one know anything about this or what I might want to beef up?

Deb366

I don't know if it matters but i am 4 1/2 years post RNY.

What do you mean by "low?" My WBC's were low, but the docs weren't concerned and ordered a repeat to be done in 3 months, to see if the trend was downward. They said any number of things could influence the count, including the time of day per some reports. Vitamins and iron levels do not have anything to do with it.



gail

My understanding is that blood cell count is related to illness and overall health, not to a particular nutritional deficiency.

For example, your white cell count will often go low when you are doing chemotherapy or after a bout with infection.

If your WBC is low, you are often at risk for infections because it means your immune system isn't working as well.

Usually that is the case, but I am very healthy and when I had the CBC done, I was well and not recovering from any type of illness. The docs said that any number of things can cause it, but they would retest it, to see, if it was trending downward. They didn't seem concerned at all, but I'm sure, if had been any lower, they would have been.

Do you do a lot of running around, not get enough sleep and generally burn the candle at both ends?  Stress can also cause you to be run down.

Nope. I exercise, eat well, and get about 7-8 hours of sleep/night. I am not run down by any stretch of the imagination. My other labs were great and the docs were not concerned.

Sorry that was my only thought for now. Hopefully you'll get a better reading next time you get the test done.

Thanks everyone who posted. I have been under alot of stress this year with carrying two positions at work and not having much time off. Maybe that is what it is. I asked the doc not to retest until later, and I am trying to get as recouperated as possible before I retest.

Deb366

Mine have been low since after surgery.  Do you know what yours are?  Mine are between 3.5 and 3.8 usually.

My surgeon's PA says they see this in RNY patients and not to worry about it unless your other lab work gets out of range also.

I would get copies of all my lab work since surgery and put them into a spread sheet so you can see any trends up or down on all of them. 

Good luck.

Linda