Oh that’s just frustrating when there’s no definitive answer and you’re feeling like a yoyo!

Our bloodwork can really vary on a daily/weekly basis, often presenting some interesting puzzles. Last summer, after several months of finally having my labs look relatively normal during weekly blood tests, my WBC took a nose dive while my LDH shot up, indicating I must have some raging event going on inside! But I had no fever and no indication of any infection. With the results of the blood work, I should horribly ill! I felt perfectly healthy and energetic so the test results where a real mystery!

I had twice weekly blood tests then to keep an eye on things. Finally after week 3 of getting worse and dropping to a dangerous neutropenic level, it prompted a trip back to Mayo for a bone marrow biopsy. My doctor fearing the leukemia returned. Thankfully the biopsy was clean and within 2 weeks after that the bloodwork mysteriously returned to normal. In my case, though we can’t prove it, my doctor felt it was my new immune system fighting some re-emerging cancer cells called Graft vs Leukemia. Which is why I had the transplant…to do just that!! It’s rare to have caught it happening. But it just shows what can be going on inside when we’re not even aware it’s happening.

Just thinking out loud, wondering if your meds could be causing the immune system to be reacting to your shrinking prostate and the procedure you’ve had. There is a change in your body chemistry and the tissue. With the shrinking tissue those cells are cast off into the blood. So you could see an elevation in macrophages/monocytes that would be cleaning up the dead tissue cells. LDH-lactate dehydrogenase is used as a tool to indicate and measure tissue damage. On your CBC panel do you see a LDH number? And how about a SED rate which will show inflammation?

Well, you’re scratching your head along with your doctors on this one. Hopefully you’ll get to the bottom of this soon. They may opt to do a wait and see while having more frequent blood tests every few weeks or so.

When is your next visit to your next CBC?