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Blood Work?? What could it mean?
Can someone please help me make since of these flagged on my blood work.....
WBC 14.2 (H)
MPV 10.5 (H)
NEUTROPHIL 10.56 (H)
MONOCYTES 0.9 (H)
K 3.4 (L)
A/GRATIO 1.4 (L)
ALT 25 (L)
The last 2 weeks my speech has become very slow and monotone, heavy hair loss, dizzy/lightheaded upon standing, weak, joint/muscle pain, memory loss, nausea, bad taste in mouth, ulcers in mouth, sores in ears, bumps on scalp, etc
WBC 14.2 (H)
MPV 10.5 (H)
NEUTROPHIL 10.56 (H)
MONOCYTES 0.9 (H)
K 3.4 (L)
A/GRATIO 1.4 (L)
ALT 25 (L)
The last 2 weeks my speech has become very slow and monotone, heavy hair loss, dizzy/lightheaded upon standing, weak, joint/muscle pain, memory loss, nausea, bad taste in mouth, ulcers in mouth, sores in ears, bumps on scalp, etc
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi, I'd think that the problem from the hair dye was not infection but was an immune sensitivity reaction, like an allergy.
You could also have had an allergy to antibiotics. Did you get hives on your arms? If so, you'd have to be very, very careful to never take that particular antibiotic again.
Are you taking magnesium oxide? That's the commonest form sold, but is the least absorbed. Most others are better and are roughly about equal to each other though are much more expensive. Have you tried epsom salts baths? (magnesium sulfate can be absorbed through the skin)
As far as your negative ANA test, maybe it was just a bad test, a "false negative". If not, then consider that antibodies are usually long lived, i.e. for months. How long were you healthy when you had your test?
Or you might have something that isn't lupus bit acts just like it. Bu then, the treatment might be the same anyway.
You could also have had an allergy to antibiotics. Did you get hives on your arms? If so, you'd have to be very, very careful to never take that particular antibiotic again.
Are you taking magnesium oxide? That's the commonest form sold, but is the least absorbed. Most others are better and are roughly about equal to each other though are much more expensive. Have you tried epsom salts baths? (magnesium sulfate can be absorbed through the skin)
As far as your negative ANA test, maybe it was just a bad test, a "false negative". If not, then consider that antibodies are usually long lived, i.e. for months. How long were you healthy when you had your test?
Or you might have something that isn't lupus bit acts just like it. Bu then, the treatment might be the same anyway.
As far as sun sensititvity, yes, only lately though. Ive realized the last few weeks that i get little red bumps on my face. I always have clear skin and just started noticing this.
I did find that preeclaympsia is linked to autoimmune disorders. I'm wondering when I was put on those certain antibiotics for the infection I caught from the hair dye, if that kicked something in, bc since then is when I started really having problems.
I know magnesium plays a role in the RLS and I think I read somewhere that maybe a deficiency in that causes something with the heart. I started taking one mag vitamin a day 2 days ago.
I know magnesium plays a role in the RLS and I think I read somewhere that maybe a deficiency in that causes something with the heart. I started taking one mag vitamin a day 2 days ago.
COMMUNITY LEADER
and your low A/G ratio could be from autoimmune diseases such as lupus (too many Globulins/antibodies being produced)
or from liver damage
or from liver damage
COMMUNITY LEADER
Take any average person, put them in a lab so that every time they fall asleep, someone will immediately wake them up. Within a few days, you can't tell them apart from a bona fide psychotic.
Most people who think they don't sleep at all, do in fact sleep some. But not enough sleep, and insufficient sleep easily and inevitably creates problems with poor memory and inability to concentrate. Maybe also irritability, etc. Also that causes or aggravates physical problems. Getting lots and lots of sleep should probably be a prime goal.
I just looked for you and do see that some people with lupus do use the antihistamine Benedryl.
It shouldn't surprise you that RLS is also associated with lupus.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21324968
A lupus group would be the place to ask about possible DIY remedies. Chopping the legs off might be excessive :)
Most people who think they don't sleep at all, do in fact sleep some. But not enough sleep, and insufficient sleep easily and inevitably creates problems with poor memory and inability to concentrate. Maybe also irritability, etc. Also that causes or aggravates physical problems. Getting lots and lots of sleep should probably be a prime goal.
I just looked for you and do see that some people with lupus do use the antihistamine Benedryl.
It shouldn't surprise you that RLS is also associated with lupus.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21324968
A lupus group would be the place to ask about possible DIY remedies. Chopping the legs off might be excessive :)
COMMUNITY LEADER
I believe your thinking on this is very good and that your ANA was negative because you were in a good period. As far as I know, lupus is not the same in everybody anyway, and you might have an atypical case. You also might have genetically a very active immune system and high levels of histamine, which not all people with lupus have.
Guess what biochemical usually causes itching? Histamine. Chills can be caused by histamine, too. Histamine also causes artery dilation, which causes low blood pressure. You had that period of high blood pressure but I don't know much about pregnancy symptoms.
Natural anti-inflammatories might be something to try, starting with small doses. Turmeric/curcumin comes to mind, also ginger.
Have you ever heard of quercetin? It's in onions and citrus, it tends to make immune cells stop releasing histamine. Histamine can cause insomnia, too.
Guess what biochemical usually causes itching? Histamine. Chills can be caused by histamine, too. Histamine also causes artery dilation, which causes low blood pressure. You had that period of high blood pressure but I don't know much about pregnancy symptoms.
Natural anti-inflammatories might be something to try, starting with small doses. Turmeric/curcumin comes to mind, also ginger.
Have you ever heard of quercetin? It's in onions and citrus, it tends to make immune cells stop releasing histamine. Histamine can cause insomnia, too.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Well, if you one day can read through the other thread, you'll see where we were talking about having to become your own expert when a person has an unusual condition or combination of conditions. Unfortunately, that's very difficult when the person is weakened by their medical problems.
To me, it seems really unwise and wasteful (and stupid) for a GP to send a patient to a rheumatologist before ordering a simple ANA test for lupus. You check the pattern, and the titre (level) and by doing so you might rule out lupus. But why pay for a specialist *visit* before having the ANA test done? (It's around $50 online.) The first thing the specialist would likely want anyway is the ANA test.
It seems very possible that STRESS is causing the recent flareup of your symptoms, which may be mostly all due to lupus... and that includes the hair loss and probably the insomnia and joint pains, and even the gall bladder problem and the slow healing from the surgery. But you don't have sensitivity to sunlight?
The defective heart valve might be causing the dizziness and other problems due to low blood flow, even in the legs. Were the seizures confirmed by an EEG? If not, maybe they can't be identified with certainty as actual seizures. Maybe ischemia in the brain (from the cardiac insufficiency) was the underlying problem. Your heart valve might have been scarred in the first place by the lupus, since autoimmunity can do that. Or maybe lupus damaged some nerves and created the seizures directly. Lupus can also damage blood vessels and so create circulation problems directly.
The scarred liver can cause the low ALT test, which might mean that the liver has been attacked by lupus autoimmunity for a long time.
Insomnia might be helped by generic benadryl, which also helps calm an overactive immune system. But some people get too wiped out by Benadryl/diphenhydramine.
Finally, that leaves your apparent immune activation... which might be caused by leaky gut, which can be made worse by NSAIDS such as ibuprofen. Maybe experimenting with food restrictions can help there.
I'd suppose that the best thing right now is to forget about blood cancers, forget about CFS, and concentrate on lupus, because of the typical rash and other symptoms and also because of family history.
There is apparently no cure but the good news is that it can be managed by immune suppression using inexpensive drugs. There are even ways to avoid the side effects of drugs like prednisone. Don't hesitate to as if you ever get prednisone prescribed.
To me, it seems really unwise and wasteful (and stupid) for a GP to send a patient to a rheumatologist before ordering a simple ANA test for lupus. You check the pattern, and the titre (level) and by doing so you might rule out lupus. But why pay for a specialist *visit* before having the ANA test done? (It's around $50 online.) The first thing the specialist would likely want anyway is the ANA test.
It seems very possible that STRESS is causing the recent flareup of your symptoms, which may be mostly all due to lupus... and that includes the hair loss and probably the insomnia and joint pains, and even the gall bladder problem and the slow healing from the surgery. But you don't have sensitivity to sunlight?
The defective heart valve might be causing the dizziness and other problems due to low blood flow, even in the legs. Were the seizures confirmed by an EEG? If not, maybe they can't be identified with certainty as actual seizures. Maybe ischemia in the brain (from the cardiac insufficiency) was the underlying problem. Your heart valve might have been scarred in the first place by the lupus, since autoimmunity can do that. Or maybe lupus damaged some nerves and created the seizures directly. Lupus can also damage blood vessels and so create circulation problems directly.
The scarred liver can cause the low ALT test, which might mean that the liver has been attacked by lupus autoimmunity for a long time.
Insomnia might be helped by generic benadryl, which also helps calm an overactive immune system. But some people get too wiped out by Benadryl/diphenhydramine.
Finally, that leaves your apparent immune activation... which might be caused by leaky gut, which can be made worse by NSAIDS such as ibuprofen. Maybe experimenting with food restrictions can help there.
I'd suppose that the best thing right now is to forget about blood cancers, forget about CFS, and concentrate on lupus, because of the typical rash and other symptoms and also because of family history.
There is apparently no cure but the good news is that it can be managed by immune suppression using inexpensive drugs. There are even ways to avoid the side effects of drugs like prednisone. Don't hesitate to as if you ever get prednisone prescribed.
Last year, I went to my dr with concern of chronic knee pain with some pain/aches in wrist and ankles. After the xrays were fine I asked for a complete blood panel to check for lupus, arthritis or whatever, but ANA was neg. Nothing was flagged on those labs, but i felt fine within that week and day i did the blood work so wasnt sure if thats why nothing came up.
Her story sounds very much like mine.....
I never sleep!! The bottom of my feet itch bad at night, night sweats and I have RLS so bad I could seriously chop my legs off!! They did tell me something about a circulatory problem maybe, since my body stays with chills and my feet and knees turn colors.
The surgeon who did my gallbladder surgery said i had scar tissue on my liver also. So, that worries me without even knowing why its there.
Her story sounds very much like mine.....
I never sleep!! The bottom of my feet itch bad at night, night sweats and I have RLS so bad I could seriously chop my legs off!! They did tell me something about a circulatory problem maybe, since my body stays with chills and my feet and knees turn colors.
The surgeon who did my gallbladder surgery said i had scar tissue on my liver also. So, that worries me without even knowing why its there.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I just saw your mention of the butterfly rash. That could mean you have lupus PLUS something else that is causing the elevated WBC. Plus, the heart valve condition.
It's possible to waste a lot of money on tests, but maybe an ANA is called for here. You can order it yourself online (unless your state is different). Offhand, I don't remember which type is best, but you do want it with the titre measured.
Have you ever looked at something like this:
http://www.walkinlab.com/catalogsearch/result/?order=relevance&dir=desc&q=ANA&btnSearchSubmit=
(I've been rushing here because there is a bad thunderstorm moving in.)
.
It's possible to waste a lot of money on tests, but maybe an ANA is called for here. You can order it yourself online (unless your state is different). Offhand, I don't remember which type is best, but you do want it with the titre measured.
Have you ever looked at something like this:
http://www.walkinlab.com/catalogsearch/result/?order=relevance&dir=desc&q=ANA&btnSearchSubmit=
(I've been rushing here because there is a bad thunderstorm moving in.)
.
COMMUNITY LEADER
No, no, you didn't do anything wrong. It's just that info on medical conditions should stay private and not be able to be associated with an identity.
First of all, a WBC goes high during infection as more immune cells are made to fight the infection. That is far more common than having a blood cancer. But your numbers are not super high, so a doc might not get too concerned. Still, if anyone tells you that it's all in your head, then THEY are the crazy one, not you.
Your story indicates that you have a very reactive immune system. The severe sensitivity reaction to the chemical, the family history of autoimmunity... then add the tiredness and Orthostatic Intolerance and many other of your symptoms and it's looking like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - which itself is not really understood. (And people with CFS are often told, "it's all in your head".)
Add in the possible medical mistake which could have worsened your condition.
Please read this thread from not long ago, and see if it sounds like you:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Leukemia--Lymphoma-/Seeking-a-little-peace-of-mind/show/1963662
Since you might be having some cognitive difficulties from all of this (which is common in CFS), it would help to have your husband read everything, too.
First of all, a WBC goes high during infection as more immune cells are made to fight the infection. That is far more common than having a blood cancer. But your numbers are not super high, so a doc might not get too concerned. Still, if anyone tells you that it's all in your head, then THEY are the crazy one, not you.
Your story indicates that you have a very reactive immune system. The severe sensitivity reaction to the chemical, the family history of autoimmunity... then add the tiredness and Orthostatic Intolerance and many other of your symptoms and it's looking like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - which itself is not really understood. (And people with CFS are often told, "it's all in your head".)
Add in the possible medical mistake which could have worsened your condition.
Please read this thread from not long ago, and see if it sounds like you:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Leukemia--Lymphoma-/Seeking-a-little-peace-of-mind/show/1963662
Since you might be having some cognitive difficulties from all of this (which is common in CFS), it would help to have your husband read everything, too.
well, honestly...i know something is wrong and with my WBC high, im just trying to figure this out.
I hope I didnt do anything wrong on here...i deleted photo and name.
I dont understand, medical malpractice attorney?
What did you get from the story and should i delete it now that you have read it?
I hope I didnt do anything wrong on here...i deleted photo and name.
I dont understand, medical malpractice attorney?
What did you get from the story and should i delete it now that you have read it?
COMMUNITY LEADER
You're not worried about leukemia, are you? From your journal, I think you can forget that.
Since this is a medical site, I'd strongly suggest immediately deleting your photo and your name. Have you ever talked to a medical malpractice attorney?
Since this is a medical site, I'd strongly suggest immediately deleting your photo and your name. Have you ever talked to a medical malpractice attorney?
I would say firm, but idk because the tissue moves on top of it.
I probably shouldnt google everything, bc it makes me nervous. At this point, im just concerned as why my WBC is high.
I probably shouldnt google everything, bc it makes me nervous. At this point, im just concerned as why my WBC is high.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Yes, your Journal holds the answer... just reading it now, but it might take 2 read throughs.
COMMUNITY LEADER
okay, it's important that it's now smaller, because a cancerous bump is not likely to just shrink a lot for no reason. So that should set your mind at ease.
Also, it's kind of difficult for a person to know the difference between a bump being movable or not, without anything to compare to. But I think you can assume that the bump is not cancerous. Keep an eye on it now and again, but there is no need to obsess and check it many times every day :)
That said, is it hard or soft or firm? (again, difficult for you to answer without anything to compare with, but being rock hard would be something no one could miss.)
Also, it's kind of difficult for a person to know the difference between a bump being movable or not, without anything to compare to. But I think you can assume that the bump is not cancerous. Keep an eye on it now and again, but there is no need to obsess and check it many times every day :)
That said, is it hard or soft or firm? (again, difficult for you to answer without anything to compare with, but being rock hard would be something no one could miss.)
It has been bigger than that before. The skin on top of it moves when i touch it, but i dont think the bump is moving. I have forgotten it was there until yesterday when i started researching and i remembered about it. But its def smaller right now
COMMUNITY LEADER
Okay, as that bump is below 1", it's possible to be a "reactive" lymph, which means when a node gets larger because the immune cells inside it multiply a lot to fight an infection. A node that is tender or painful is rarely cancerous.
Next, you need to post back about whether the bump is movable or not. If not freely movable, that means it seems attached to the tissue underneath.
Next, you need to post back about whether the bump is movable or not. If not freely movable, that means it seems attached to the tissue underneath.
If you take a look at my Journal, I added my story. It may help give you a bigger picture of things.
The bump has never been checked out. It's small, bout the size of the tip of my ring finger. It use to be tender, but hasn't been recently.
I don't leave my house much bc I never have the energy to go anywheres. No one else at home is sick.
I've always had hair loss, but it's gotten worse last few weeks. I didn't have any ulcers at the time of ER visit. I went there bc I could barely talk, like I couldn't come out with my words so I was terrified.
My thyroid were checked last year and we're fine. No skin rashes and normal temp.
No one has sprayed for pesticides here in months and I don't think we have mold but I don't know how to tell.
Heavy metals...what would.that consist of?
I don't leave my house much bc I never have the energy to go anywheres. No one else at home is sick.
I've always had hair loss, but it's gotten worse last few weeks. I didn't have any ulcers at the time of ER visit. I went there bc I could barely talk, like I couldn't come out with my words so I was terrified.
My thyroid were checked last year and we're fine. No skin rashes and normal temp.
No one has sprayed for pesticides here in months and I don't think we have mold but I don't know how to tell.
Heavy metals...what would.that consist of?
COMMUNITY LEADER
You also need to think carefully if there might be any toxin or poison where you are at regularly, such as work or home. Pesticides, molds, heavy metals, etc. Other people exposed to the same cause would be expected to get the same symptoms, so think especially of any place that you might go to where others don't.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi, has anyone ever measured the size of the bump on the back of your neck? (If not, get someone to do it for you soon, as accurately as possible.) Has it grown? Is it tender?
Did you have visible hair loss, and/or "ulcers in mouth, sores in ears, bumps on scalp" when the ER doc checked you out?
Btw, an ER is not a good place at all to be diagnosed with unusual conditions. Their most valuable experience is in saving people from imminent death, and so they tend to downplay milder symptoms with unknown causes.
The hair loss really stands out to me... have you been checked for hypothyroidism? Is your temperature low? Brittle nails? Low pulse rate?
Or is the hair loss possibly caused by some scalp infection?
Eczema? Have you checked out pictures of that?
Any skin rashes?
Did you have visible hair loss, and/or "ulcers in mouth, sores in ears, bumps on scalp" when the ER doc checked you out?
Btw, an ER is not a good place at all to be diagnosed with unusual conditions. Their most valuable experience is in saving people from imminent death, and so they tend to downplay milder symptoms with unknown causes.
The hair loss really stands out to me... have you been checked for hypothyroidism? Is your temperature low? Brittle nails? Low pulse rate?
Or is the hair loss possibly caused by some scalp infection?
Eczema? Have you checked out pictures of that?
Any skin rashes?
Thank you so much for responding!
I've been having issues with joint/muscle pain,dizziness for years now,but just put it off. Haven't been swimming anywhere or around anyone sick.
No diff foods and no fever. ER Dr said I wasn't dehydrated and didn't have any diseases. He said my labs looked fine and didn't give me any antibiotics.
I do have a lump under my skin on neck on the bottom of hairline that's been there for years and I keep having pain at tip of stomach.
I've been having issues with joint/muscle pain,dizziness for years now,but just put it off. Haven't been swimming anywhere or around anyone sick.
No diff foods and no fever. ER Dr said I wasn't dehydrated and didn't have any diseases. He said my labs looked fine and didn't give me any antibiotics.
I do have a lump under my skin on neck on the bottom of hairline that's been there for years and I keep having pain at tip of stomach.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi, I'd think that the first step is to determine if you've gotten some systemic infection. Were you in any unusual places right before this began, or around any sick people or animals? Any bug bites then? Exotic food? Any possibility of contaminated water?
With neutrophils high, that would tend toward bacteria or fungus, not virus. Or maybe a parasite. Any fever? No doc prescribed an antibiotic, just to see if that helps?
Any white patches in the mouth?
Dizziness can happen during an infection, because immune chemicals overly dilate the arteries. Also make sure you're not dehydrated.
Other immune chemicals can affect your memory and thinking abilities, give joint pain, etc.
Were you swimming anywhere?
With neutrophils high, that would tend toward bacteria or fungus, not virus. Or maybe a parasite. Any fever? No doc prescribed an antibiotic, just to see if that helps?
Any white patches in the mouth?
Dizziness can happen during an infection, because immune chemicals overly dilate the arteries. Also make sure you're not dehydrated.
Other immune chemicals can affect your memory and thinking abilities, give joint pain, etc.
Were you swimming anywhere?
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