Hi all

[Alan55]

Having dropped my prednisolone from 30mg to 20mg over the last 2 weeks I had a blood test on Tuesday. My gp phoned me this morning ,told me that my white blood count had gone up again. I am still a month away from seeing specialists. Any ideas? Thanks,Alan

[misty14]

Hi Alan

What did your GP say about your white cell count being high again?. Looks like it could be the illness and not an infection. If GP isn't sure then she should be asking your Rheumy. Do they want you to reduce further?. Have you noticed a difference in your symptoms?. I so agree with you that it's hard waiting for specialist appointments when we're ill and need their help! I've found it hard over the years and then you find half the year has gone while you've been waiting! Good luck for July.

[Alan55 in reply to misty14]

Thanks misty going to try dropping to 17.5 on Monday ,it is hard and hurts but would like to be as low as possible when I see people in July. Thanks ,Alan

[misty14 in reply to Alan55]

Hi Alan

Good luck for the reduction, glad your GP is monitoring it. I'm collecting appointments for July!. Take Care

[kimc]

Hi Alan, I was on Prednisone 20 mg for a week, then 10 mg and now 5 mg. Next week, I'm going to have a blood test and result will send to my doctor before my appointment in 10 days. Hopefully, my white blood count would be up there too.

Prednisone is a kind of medicine we can't just stop certainly because of bad sign affects, that's why it needs to reducing slowly. In my case, doctor told me take 5 mg until seeing her. But, as the pattern, I maybe take 5 mg every other day until see my doctor.

But, the best for you is to contact your doctor because every body's immune system is different.

Let me know what your doctor says. I will let you know, what my doctor says in 10 days. Good luck.

[Alan55 in reply to kimc]

Thanks kimc going to try dropping again on Monday but symptoms seem to recur ,dr is going to monitor my blood as I drop so more needles ,I hope u get on ok when you see your dr ,thanks,Alan

[Hidden]

Hi Alan, when your dr says white blood count gone up again, I take it, you mean too high, rather than low to normal. Too high is indicative of several things, and auto immune problems are just one cause. You think that too many white cells would mean, more power to fight infection. It actually doesn't work like that. Infection, inflammation, are another couple of causes.

Am misunderstanding your aim to see rheumy on as low a dose,(pred), as possible. Is it because you want to be well by then, or is it because you want them to see how bad you are without high doses. Despite not wanting to suffer at all, it is best that rheumy sees you ill, then they are likely to treat you quicker. I hope they do, Alan, and I hope the treatment plan works for you.

[Alan55 in reply to Hidden]

Hi 6161 dr says my white cell count has gone up but she spoke to blood specialist and he said to monitor it. I want to drop steroids as low as I can manage because they are causing other problems. My dr seems to think that the endocrinologist will find what is wrong as seem to have a lot of glandular problems as well as joint and muscle, I hope he does .many thanks for your reply,Alan

[Hidden]

HI there... I am off prednisone now but was on it for 3yrs at various doses. It wasnt until I was tapering off and got to 3mg before my white cells came down. My endo and rheumy both said it was the prednisone and they were right, the WCC is fine now. (I came off the pred for other complications.)

[Alan55 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Netbuddy are you on different meds now? Waiting to see what meds are going to be used to keep my immune system suppressed so I can stop the pred. Thanks,Alan

[Hidden in reply to Alan55]

Hi Alan, I actually have Rheumatoid Arthritis but my daughter has Lupus which is why I come here. I'm on Methotrexate injections and Leflunomide plus usually the anti-inflammatory Mobic except when Im to have surgery.

But steroids are steroids and they can have the same side effects in someone with RA as someone with Lupus so thats why I mentioned that in those who it gives leucocytosis to, the WCC may not decrease to normal until quite a low dose.

[Alan55 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for that Netbuddy hoping these appointments will get me some answers .have dropped my pred dose down to 17.5mg trying to get as low as possible.hoping reducing will bring count down .Alan