This is my first post here and really can use everyone’s comfort. Last week I was severely sick with strep throat and my body did not react very well to antibiotics. I wound up in the hospital from fever and dehydration everyday when sick where I was needed an IV.
My blood was drawn and labs were done every visit last week. My neutrophils and lymphocytes fluctuated drastically and I’m extremely terrified. I am afraid that something may be seriously wrong with me God forbid. Although I do feel better from strep, I am having general fatigue, weakness, and a low grade fever still a week after antibiotics. I am schedule a doctors appointment tomorrow but wanted your feedback. I believe I could possibly have a virus or mono (have not interacted with anyone but my symptoms point to it) that is causing these symptoms. What are all your thoughts?
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Allstarpg
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You have posted in a community supporting those with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL), where we track the progression of our disease by monitoring our blood test results. From your WBC results, I doubt that you have CLL. You have become unnecessarily worried in my non-medically trained opinion, but considerable personal knowledge about blood test results, because you are looking at changes in percentages of your neutrophils and lymphocytes.
You have just had a bacterial infection, where you relied on the sacrifice of neutrophils to kill the bacteria. Hence absolute neutrophil numbers fall, as does the total WBC. When you examine percentages, if the absolute number of neutrophils go down, the percentage of neutrophils must also go down. That means the percentage of other white blood cells must go up, even if their absolute count doesn't change!
When you look at your absolute counts - and you don't fight illnesses with percentages, your counts are fine! You are recovering from a bad infection and that's going to cause variations in your counts until you fully recover. I've taken the time to analyse your absolute counts per the attached and provided I've not made a mistake, your low lymphocyte count in your first test is the only result outside the reference ranges. I doubt your doctor will be concerned and just say you need some more time to recover.
Neil
Absolute Lymphocyte and Neutrophil counts - multiply the percentage by the WBC.
Like AussieNeil said - you have a bacterial infection - and it would appear you are improving. Such an infection will play havoc with your blood numbers - Neuts can go up hugely - then take a dive. The important thing is that you are recovering. This will take time.
Strep infection is one infection to respect.
Speak to your Dr about the numbers - seems to me you need encouragement.
This Forum is for CLL folk - while we know about blood numbers - I agree with AussieNeil - nothing from what you have shared would suggest you have that!
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