WBC Count in Normal Range (finally)

[Jayhawker]

okey, I’ve been battling extremely low WBC count since early last February. (I’m 9 months post transplant tomorrow…) I’ve been receiving Neupogen injections but they haven’t worked as well for me as is typical. But they’ve been all we could do so I’ve injected either 2 or 3 times a week. My last injection was July 29, 2023. (Today is Aug 16, 2023.)

Last week my WBC count was 3.95 (normal 4.0 to 11.0). I was thrilled. That was the best my data had been since late January. And it was without the help of Neupogen.

Today my WBC count is 4.48!!! Finally it’s back in the normal range! And without Neupogen! I couldn’t be more thrilled!

I don’t have my CMV data back yet. It had elevated from <35 to 84 last week. I’m hoping that I now have sufficient WBCs for my body to fight CMV as soon as it begins to flare up. After all, my body should now recognize it since I’ve had one CMV flare up where my CMV went from not detected to 8350 in 2 weeks.

Well, I’ll see what my CMV data looks like as soon as those labs come in. I see my nephrologist next Tuesday so won’t call if the labs are a little concerning. We can talk about them on Tuesday.

But right now I’m thrilled with my WBC Count data!!!!!

Jayhawker

[Darlenia]

I'm rejoicing with you! It can be a long drawn out process to get everything sorted out and straightened out...and then it happens! You're there! Sending you high 5s! Praying that it stays this way forever.

[Jayhawker in reply to Darlenia]

This has definitely been a process! Hoping my WBC count comes in pretty decent tomorrow. Frankly anything under 1340 with WBC count would be good news. It would indicate that my WBCs are battling this recurrence of CMV. But I’m hoping for better data than that with my CMV!

My nephrologist told me last week that unless I’m symptomatic, she won’t treat CMV until the viral load is 4000 or higher, I had very few symptoms the first time. I think most have fewer symptoms with recurrent CMV. If that’s true, I’d expect virtually no symptoms this time. Plus, with a reasonable amount of WBCs, I am really hoping my body will be able to effectively fight CMV if I’ve got a recurrence underway,

Jayhawker

[Jamok]

Yay!! This is awesome news! So happy for you!

[drmind]

So very happy for you. Thanks for sharing the good news.

[SN23]

Very happy for you🙏Thanks for sharing.

[Hidden]

Congratulations, Jayhawker! I am glad to read that your numbers have improved.☺

[RhenDutchess123]

So glad to hear this !!!!

[LavenderRabbit]

Happy for you!

[Jayhawker]

However, just got my CMV data today. It elevated from 84 last week to 501 this week. Soooo,I’m back on Valcyte. I was only off Valcyte for a month. Ugh..,

Jayhawker

[Darlenia in reply to Jayhawker]

Bummer!!! My hubby was just diagnosed with Shingles. It seems like when one really feels good about things, something pops up out of nowhere.

[Jayhawker in reply to Darlenia]

Well, I guess there is some good news. My first CMV flare-up had data that went from not detected to 8350 in two weeks. This time my data went from <35 to 501 in two weeks. That’s certainly much less. I’m hoping this means my body is now recognizing CMV and responding to it with my higher WBC count. I’ll ask the nephrologist about this when I see her on Tuesday. Regardless, this is a notably smaller increase in viral load over the same timeframe as last time.

I had to have shingles vaccinations pre-transplant. Did your hubby? Although, I realize the vaccines don’t mean you have no chance of getting shingles; they just greatly decrease chances of getting it. Hope he’s nit feeling too poorly with it. I’ve heard how horrid it can be.

Jayhawker

[Darlenia in reply to Jayhawker]

I really hope your cycles of CMV flares go away as your body adjusts and figures it out. I think hubby had the old shingles version, but not the newer version. He was scheduled for the newer version, but the center wanted him to hold off until his immunosuppressants were lowered...and then it it got pushed to the back with covid vaccines and antibody treatments taking over. He's going to get it as soon as he recovers...this virus can pop up again. I need a spreadsheet of all the vaccines out there, which ones he/we took, how long they last, which ones were replaced or updated, etc. It's been a wakeup call.

[Camppy3]

Great to hear!