Low White Blood Cells/Neutrophils with B12D? Understanding my blood tests.

[lownskater52]

Hey everybody,

Thanks again for all of the support recently. I have a few more questions about anemia, white blood cells, and recovery. So I have attached my original results from my first blood test 3.5 months ago. Homocysteine through the roof. Low RBCs, HGB and HCT. And of course low b12. Iron and folate were (and have been perfectly fine). Strangely, my MCV and MCH were in the normal range. My doctors and I concluded it was due to b12 and I've been heavily supplementing b12 through injections, orally and sublingually for the last 3.5 months.

My white blood cells were also low with neutrophils being the lowest. I just saw some info about b12d lowering your WBC and neutrophil levels as well. ( youtu.be/Z8WmHK_QDtw(Not working as expected?) ). I thought this was interesting and also proved the point that I was indeed b12 deficient.

I've been complaining about my persistent anemia even after 3.5 months of bi weekly injections and daily oral supplements. My last blood test (1 month ago, so 2.5 months in) had my HoCy: 6.1; RBCs: 4.01; HGB: 12.7; HCT: 37.8. Homocysteine plummeted. Slight improvement in my RBCs, no change in HGB, and mediocre improvement in HCT. All of that pretty disappointing to me and question if what I'm doing is right and if b12 was actually the issue.

But tonight I looked back at my WBC and neutrophils from my last test and they lve increased pretty dramatically. WBC: 3.8 and Neutro: 1626. How should I interpret this? Is my body putting all its effort and b12 resources into WBC creation instead of RBCs until its corrected first? Am I way off? Why would my anemia not be resolved yet if iron and folate are and have been great? My doctor thinks is may be from too frequent and too many blood tests (iatrogenic anemia) as I was getting a blood test every week or 2. But idk. I'm getting another blood test next week as it's been well over a month and will be sure to update this post.

Thanks again everyone

[lownskater52]

Just looked it up and anemia with normal blood cell size (MCV/MCH) is normocytic anemia. Guess that's what I had. Dont know why

[lownskater52 in reply to lownskater52]

Cancel that. Just read the Mayo Clinic. medical report referenced below it is possible to have normocytic anemia (normal MCV/MCH) with b12 deficiency. google.com/url?sa=t&source=...

"Nutritional Anemias.—In patients with normocytic

anemia, both iron and vitamin B12/folate deficiencies are possible causes despite their usual association with micro-

cytic and macrocytic anemias, respectively. Therefore, the

initial investigation of normocytic anemia should include determination of both serum ferritin and serum vitamin B12/folate levels (see “Microcytic Anemia” and “Macrocytic Anemia” for further information regarding the evaluation of nutritional anemias)."

[Nackapan in reply to lownskater52]

Just seen your post "forget that " I'd already sent reply. Perhaos I can learn from what you've found out

[Nackapan in reply to lownskater52]

Please help with that explanation of low ferritin but normal hb with b12 levels. I can't read it all (eyes)

[Nackapan]

I've had very similar blood changes . Most settled after not having a blood test for 4 months

I went by the previrus one ti know what I needed vitamins and minerals wise. The only tbing is needed in fact more iron to get my ferritin raised.

It's a mystery. I'm on 2 weekly b12 injections at present. Been told to stop using ibrufren for pain relief incase of small internal bleeds.

I needed a loding dose of vit D which worked as level not too high at 73. Folate even though only took 400mcg a day went above top of the range. So yes some things seem to adsorb easier than others. I am aware you are not supposed to need extra iron after initially aneamia being treated. (I dudnt have it even at the start) but my blood test as does your say we need iron at present. All I can deduce is repair work or body out of kilter with lots of b12 . Which we need!! I'm not medical but if your doctor agrees I would wait longer now before next blood test . Some things won't be repeated until 3 Months anyhow. Trouble is when we ill we want answers . I've so many unanswered too. All I can say is my bloods have settled enormously in 6-8 months. Doctors never really that concerned . Didn't even call me when b12 was 106 though! !