low wbc

[ladydy48]

I am a 61 year old post-menapausal woman usually at my ideal weight of 120 (5'4") I eat healthily and exercise regularly. In '98 I had a burst appendix with all the side effects - end result is 6 1/2 feet of the small intestine and 6 inches of the large were removed with the ic valve (so you know how careful I am about my diet) Even though I inject 1/2 cc B12 every other week, since nine days ago I am quite fatigued and have lost a pound a day. I am now 112 (yuk) I am very concerned. My WBC is border line low (4.2) and my MCH is mildly high (33.3) All other reading seem to be normal. Any ideas? Should I add something to my diet (I do not eat red meat but I have animal protein for lunch and dinner daily) that can remedy the problem of the WBC?

[meow81]

I took a H1N1 vaccine shot on Sunday and happened to have a blood sample taken on the following day. The report shows that my lymphocytes are slightly below the minimal normal range. Is the vaccination the cause of the drop?

[SassyLassie]

I think if it were me, I would ask my primary care doctor, it is more than likely nothing, but always a good idea to make sure by asking.

I know a high WBC means infection. Here are some reasons for a low one:

Viral infections that disrupt bone marrow function
Congenital disorders characterized by diminished bone marrow function
Cancer or other diseases that damage bone marrow
Autoimmune disorders that destroy white blood cells or bone marrow cells
Overwhelming infections that use up white blood cells faster than they can be produced
Drugs that destroy white blood cells or damage bone marrow
Specific causes of low white blood cell count include:

Allergy, especially severe allergic reactions
Drugs, such as antibiotics, diuretics and prednisone
Hypersplenism, a premature destruction of blood cells by the spleen
Infectious diseases
Vitamin deficiencies

Or, it can mean nothing at all. Blood cells are tricky to diagnose, so, to set your mind at ease, I would see the doctor.