Low white blood cells after liver transplant: Is this normal?

@hughwmyers, I pulled your question into a discussion of its own. I'm tagging fellow members like @craigcraig @rosemarya @footballmum @amyintucson @valbob, who have experience with liver transplant and getting blood testing done in the month after transplant.

You're right that with a low white blood cell count, you want to be careful about getting an infection. How often do you have blood tests?

Good evening from Canada 🇨🇦
During my first 6 mos post liver transplant my white blood cells and platelets were so low I had to have a couple of transfusions and eventually they had to take me off all medications except for Tacrolimus. I spent the first year at home and only went out for blood tests. I had my transplant during covid so things were a bit more extreme. Prayers for you on your journey ❤️🍁🇨🇦

@colleenyoung Hi Hugh ! Every one is a little different but for me.... I have my two year call with Mayo on Monday and other than some stenosis I seem to be doing well. After I had mine Mayo kept me in AZ for 2 months and while there had me do blood draws and testing 2 to 3 times a week. Then when I got back to CO just once a week and now once a month. I stayed inside much more at first but now get out as I deem. It's no fun at first but as another liver transplant patient once told me "it gets better and better". And he was right. Both more and more back to the old normal and easier and easier with the new stuff like pills twice a day etc. . I was walking my golden retriever on long walks in less than 6 months after. My take is we are lucky to have the opportunity to have these challenges as opposed to where we would be if we did not have our transplants. Congratulations again on your transplant ! Hope you have a Happy Easter. Hang in there ! (--:

Ty so much for the advice. I will look forward to once again playing a round of golf but for now I will take it very easy and rehab as much as I can.

@colleenyoung

Currently I am doing blood tests once a week. My white blood cell count went up this week. I go back to the dr next tuesday. I will post after that. I really appreciate all of the advice Ty so much.

@hughwmyers,
I located my old lab results, (I keep everything) and noticed that my WBC was tagged as (L) - lower than normal, until 9 months post transplant. That was 17 years ago, and I don't remember anything about it, except that my Hemaglobin was also low and I was prescribed to take iron vitamin at my 4 month check-up.
Extra labs are a normal addition to our post transplant care. Thinking about you and thankful for the good care that you are receiving.

I just went back into the portal and looked at my weekly test results for the first 4 months following my transplant in August 2024. After the transplant my white blood cell count was normal, but it steadily declined over the first month into below normal territory. It remained below normal for approximately 1 month until it climbed back into normal territory where it is today. Just know it takes time for your body to acclimate to the medicine and everyone reacts somewhat differently. That's why we go for weekly blood tests in the beginning so the medicine is adjusted for the individual. It's all about finding the right equilibrium and it takes a little time. Just know that when you finally get to that equilibrium, life is good!

Ty for your advice.