White blood count

Since I have been doing blood tests starting last October for hypothyroidism my wbc seems to keep dropping which even has my gp concerned. It went from 3.2 which is below normal to now 2.5. You would think with those results that I would be unable to fight off infections but I rarely get colds or feel sick.

[Clutter]

Ayorkor,

Examples of causes of low WBC are listed in labtestsonline.org/understa...

[Hidden]

No What is that. Only melds I have been taking is the Levo at 25. Just increased to 50 every other day.

[radd]

Ayorkor,

Do you have Hashimotos ? ? ..

[Hidden in reply to radd]

Would the only way to know that is to be tested for thyroid antibodies ? I have not.

[radd in reply to Hidden]

Ayorkor,

Yes. TPOAb & TGAb.

WBC often increase and then lower (much like cortisol ! ..) ..as the immune system becomes worn out, dealing with the auto immune disease.

There are reports of immune responses not even being recordable (as are so low) due to exhaustion (so no thyroid antibodies ! ? ! ? even though they have caused it .. ) .. incredible...

[bookish in reply to radd]

Sorry to comment on such an old post but could you please give me any more detail or point me in the right direction? Really interesting as hadn't heard this before. My WBC were low, recovered a bit, then low and still decreasing, only producing low antibodies to anything yet certain that autoimmune process at play. No-one prepared to discuss possibility....I'm exhausted, never mind my immune response! Would be very grateful for any info, cheers.

[Hidden in reply to bookish]

Are you treating hypo or hyper at this point? Ever since I was diagnosed which was about 3 years ago , I have gotten copies of all my medical records and there are many because 2 of my doctors died and then my insurance plans kept changing on top of that. I ask too many questions and the primary physician can’t handle it so I then get pawned off to the specialists. So I have seen a hematologist and an endocrinologist as well. Now I have endometrial cancer which in their minds requires chemo so now I have a whole team looking at my blood cell counts. Mine too has gone up and down over the years. I was getting to the point of just ignoring it because I usually feel pretty good. As I recall , before I was treated for my hypothyroid I had a lot of days that I felt tired. I am kind of a strange case because other than that I didn’t have most of the symptoms that most people have with hypothyroidism. It’s possible that I go back and forth between the two. After my hysterectomy 3 weeks ago I noticed my white blood cells were higher than I have ever seen so they are still in there fighting for me ,I guess! I have been eating really healthy and exercising for the past year so I am sure that doesn’t hurt.

[bookish in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply and sorry to hear about the endometrial cancer. Seems to be linked to oestrogen dominance and autoimmunity and occurs often in people with thyroid issues. Presumably you have Hashimoto's, so no doubt you are already gluten free etc. I hope all continues to improve since hysterectomy.

I have symptoms of hypo and a long family history of both on both sides. Not being treated as tests 'normal' so working on all the usual stuff - vit D, B12, ferritin, folate, gut, liver, oestrogen, blood sugar... and awaiting referrals re other autoimmune conditions in the hope that someone will tie it all together eventually. Very best wishes

[greygoose]

You're on such a low dose of levo that it's possible your temperature is too low for the cold virus to take hold, and that's why you don't get colds. Do you take your temperature?

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

No I don't even though it always seems to be normal when I'm at the GP. What are the ranges of temperature that indicate a problem? Thanks in advance!

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

Sorry, can't help you there. But, what do you call normal at the doctor's? Surely if you have your temperature taken at the doctor's, it's because you have a fever or something? What doctors don't realise is, that hypos have low temperatures most of the time, so when they have a fever, it appears 'normal', but it's high for them.

[bluebug]

If your GP is worried about your WBC s/he should be phoning up and talking to a haematologist at one of your local hospitals to see if you need a referral.

If the haematologist says you don't need to see them, then the GP should refer you to an endo

All specialist hospital departments expect GPs to do that if they are not sure about whether to refer a patient.

Next time you see your GP ask them if they have done that. If they say they haven't ask them why not as simply being "worried" isn't good enough.

Apart from screwing around with your health if it is something serious the GP can end up being disciplined.

Having a low WBC doesn't mean you won't be able fight of infections it actually depends on how low it is and whether you have sufficient vitamin and mineral levels. However the cause needs to be identified to confirm it is not sinister, then it needs to be recorded on your medical notes in case you have any other conditions where knowing the level of your WBC is crucial to your treatment.