1. < Blood Cancers & Disorders

WBC count keeps getting lower and lower

Posted by Sophie93 @sophie93, Feb 9, 2024

First off, I have not been diagnosed with any blood disorder. But this just stands out and makes me worried:
On the last few bloodworks I have done, I have noticed slightly low WBC count at first. Repeated it after 2 months - it was even lower. And now on the last one is even lower, the lowest it has ever been :/ Everything else on my bloodwork is pretty much in the reference ranges.

What could be causing this? Any experiences? I don't remember being sick. If it was a virus/infection of any kind, how could this last for months? Shouldn't it have resolved by now?
And what is an alarming low WBC count? Right now mine is 2.1.

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drawlings0803 | @drawlings0803 | 1 day ago
In reply to @loribmt "Patience was never my virtue! 😂 I really had to do a serious mental shift during..." + (show)
@loribmt

Patience was never my virtue! 😂 I really had to do a serious mental shift during my AML/BMT journey…retain my type A personality! LOL. There was nothing else to do but watch the clock…wait for results… so now, nothing bothers me anymore.

But when you’re waiting to get the ball rolling, this period of hurry up and wait can make a person rabid inside! You just want to get on with your life!
I don’t think I received word of my donor until after my 2nd appt with my transplant doctor, which was a month after my first meeting with him. The first appointment was my consult with him but also for blood work to get the DNA analysis started.
Those results can take several weeks so don’t despair. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes. You can always drop a note to your transplant team to see if there’s any updates.
After a donor list has been found it takes time then to cull out the most likely matches. When I sat down with my doctor at the 2nd appointment, he brought up my DNA numbers on his computer screen. Then a split screen with 3 potential donors. He zeroed in on one in particular, citing that this was his first choice. The donor would be contacted to see if they were willing to follow through with the commitment. That appointment was the middle of May. I think it might have been another 2 weeks before I was contacted that my donor agreed and we then had a target date of June 28th for the transplant. So, while your two weeks of waiting feels like 2 months, it’s not out of the ordinary for securing a donor. Hang in there!
I’m here if you need me for anything! Hugs!

I agree with you that being able to stay nearer your home with a team that you trust just feels right, This is a lot to go through and finding ways to simply your life right now and bring comfort is a huge benefit.

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Thank you Lori for totally ‘getting it’. Remember the Tom Petty song ‘The Waiting is the Hardest Part’? Well…..
And thank you for sharing the timeline of your own experience. It really helps AND reminding me there’s a lot going on behind the scenes.
I just looked at the calendar & I saw transplant Dr on May 13.
Man it feels so much longer!
Appreciate you - I really needed a shoulder! 💗

REPLY
drawlings0803 | @drawlings0803 | 1 day ago
In reply to @loribmt "Patience was never my virtue! 😂 I really had to do a serious mental shift during..." + (show)
@loribmt

Patience was never my virtue! 😂 I really had to do a serious mental shift during my AML/BMT journey…retain my type A personality! LOL. There was nothing else to do but watch the clock…wait for results… so now, nothing bothers me anymore.

But when you’re waiting to get the ball rolling, this period of hurry up and wait can make a person rabid inside! You just want to get on with your life!
I don’t think I received word of my donor until after my 2nd appt with my transplant doctor, which was a month after my first meeting with him. The first appointment was my consult with him but also for blood work to get the DNA analysis started.
Those results can take several weeks so don’t despair. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes. You can always drop a note to your transplant team to see if there’s any updates.
After a donor list has been found it takes time then to cull out the most likely matches. When I sat down with my doctor at the 2nd appointment, he brought up my DNA numbers on his computer screen. Then a split screen with 3 potential donors. He zeroed in on one in particular, citing that this was his first choice. The donor would be contacted to see if they were willing to follow through with the commitment. That appointment was the middle of May. I think it might have been another 2 weeks before I was contacted that my donor agreed and we then had a target date of June 28th for the transplant. So, while your two weeks of waiting feels like 2 months, it’s not out of the ordinary for securing a donor. Hang in there!
I’m here if you need me for anything! Hugs!

I agree with you that being able to stay nearer your home with a team that you trust just feels right, This is a lot to go through and finding ways to simply your life right now and bring comfort is a huge benefit.

Jump to this post

Oh - & although I’m not going to MDA, I am going to Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center. I’m able to get my bloodwork & infusions at Methodist The Woodlands, near my home, which has been great. But I’ll be going to TMC for the transplant.

REPLY
kdalda75 | @kndaustin71 | 4 hours ago
In reply to @loribmt "Good morning @drawlings0803. You and I are about the same size and I often felt my..." + (show)
@loribmt

Good morning @drawlings0803. You and I are about the same size and I often felt my med doses were too high for my weight! Adjustments made a huge difference for me with some of the drugs and it looks like it has for you too! That’s really fantastic to have gone a month without a transfusion! Very encouraging!
We’d talked about your possibility of having an BMT. Any news on that front? Did you have a consult at MDA?

Jump to this post

just to insert......it would be wonderful if physicians would consider the "size" of their patient when prescribing medication that is weight sensitive. I am 5 feet tall and weigh 93 lbs and have often received too much of a medication for my size. I always request tablets so that I can half the dose then proceed to full dosing if no problems.

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