Low Neutrophils, WBC, high Monocytes

61 year old woman, just had blood test.  Neutrophils (absolute) 1.0, neutrophils 36, Monocytes 18, WBC 2.9.  No symptoms; healthy - eat well, work out daily, slender.  Only issue has been diarrhea which started rather suddenly beginning of March 2009 - had it for 4 months, then less often but still have it occasionally.  Stomach roils and rumbles a lot. GI suggested diverticulitis or IBS, though said it was unusal to start so quickly, and at my age.  Did take antibiotics and cipro in March of 09  - didn't do anything to change the symptoms.  Could these two things (blood test and stomach issues) be related?  What does the low neutrophils and high monocytes mean?  It scares me a bit.

[Londres70]

I think the two things are related.  The blood counts are concerning.  Neutrophils and Monocytes (two types of white blood cells) are important for immune response and inflammatory process in the body.  If I were to guess, it sounds like something autoimmune/inflammatory bowel disease.  

Have you had any scopes, images, etc.  Who is following up with the abnormal white counts?  

  

[CWatty]

Interesting; thank you so much for your response!  I'm going back in for another blood test on Tuesday (the other was taken 2 weeks ago), and my family doctor is following up.  He may send me back to the GI.  I haven't had any scopes or images yet.

[Londres70]

Yes, please make sure someone is following up with you ASAP.  Something is going on with your immune system.  

Keep us posted.  

[TakeGoodCare]

Please have doctors wean you off all antibiotics and steroids.If you are taking any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen stop those too.
You need to get an accurate read on what's going on with your body and some medicines will mask infection/suppress the clinicial tipoffs for infection leading to death from Sepsis (for example -  you might not get an increased white blood count with an infection) . INSIST on bacteria/bloodl cultures while you are weaned from other medications.  If you are on medications for serious illnesses/conditions, consult with your doctor on a plan to get effective infection screening. He/she may decide risks and benefits of such actions. and a urine culture (several sets of each).  My mother died under similar circumstances when Prednisone masked the clinical presentation of her symptoms and altered blood tests including blood and urine cultures.  Antibiotics can do the same.  Please be careful and ask your doctor to also do a test for autoimmune disease (ANA/ANCA/SSA/B serologies before taking medicine for rheumatological disease since they suppress your immune system and make you susceptible to infection or cause death while you have a hidden infection btrewing in the background (especialy since steroids reduce inflammation and therefore stop the body's release of acute phase reactants which are your bodies way of saying "'m in trouble".  Also ask for a CRP and ESR blood test to detect inflammation.