Concerned about Blood Test Results and symptoms

[lacarrie]

I am a 27 yr old healthy female. 1.5 weeks ago I started having mild headaches with pressure at the temples (seems to occur more in the early evenings). They are not constant but daily and respond fine to advil. Headaches are unusual for me as I rarely have them.  About 5 days ago my right lymph node on jaw line was tender and swollen. I also had a slightly sore throat for a day. I began Keflex  b/c I had an infected ulcer in my mouth that I went back to the dentist to look at b/c I had just been there for fillings. the ulcer went away, the lymph node is not tender anymore but still swollen. I went to my PCP b/c of the headaches and lyph nodes and b/c I was feeling slightly foggy(this has resolved due to the anxiety of worrying I think). He ordered a blood & urine test & everything was normal except the WBC was low at 3.4 and the Bun was low at 6. The WBC is what worries me the most & am very concerned about this. Recent Med history: I am HIV negative, was tested when I had routine blood work for my 1st child 6 yrs ago and have been w/ my husband since.  Other test in the past year are 2 Abdominal Ultrasounds, an un-enhanced abdominal and pelvic ct scan and breast ultrasound and mammogram...all normal. I had these b/c I had pelvic pain around ovaries in Dec-April..the pain went away & has not came back. Also had an abnormal pap smear & tested positive for HPV. Had 3 pap smears since all normal,& colposcopy said mild dysplasia...which resloved itself without treatment. My doctor said that I have a virus which most likely cause the low WBC count and to repeat it in a few weeks. The lymph node concerned me & now w/ the blood tests am very worried itis something more serious. My doctor made it seem that is is common and it is not that low. Is this very low or normal low? due to my headaches & lymph nodes should be very concerned? The doctor felt the lymph node & said it was benig it does feel movable.Would yoube more worried w/ sypmtoms and WBC 3.4? Thanks for your time

[J.M. Keyes, MD]

Hi there,
I agree with your physician.  If your lab low normal, is 3.8, then 3.2 is not overly worrisome.  The fact that your node was tender is actually good- makes it more likely that it was due to infection... malignant nodes are generally not tender and are hard and not movable.  It sounds from your exam that it is benign.  I agree you should have your bloodwork repeated in a few weeks, even just for your own peace of mind.

Good luck,
JMK MD

[lacarrie]

I made a mistake actually my  WBC was 3.2 with the lab showing the normal range being as low as 3.8.  Everything else was normal on the CBC results.

[lacarrie]

Also The swollen lymph node now seems to be getting smaller..does this rule out cancer?

[lacarrie]

I now have a bit of soreness under my left rib cage..spleen? Is this symptom worrysome?