Could Use Some Good Wishes - Lupus Test Today-2nd Update #46

[disneynutt1225]

That's great news! At least you now know what it ISN'T! Hopefully you'll find out what it is soon. Best of luck!

 

[j's m]

Glad to hear the results were good. Here's hoping they can figure out what it is, now that they eliminated something.

 

[Poohnatic]

Okay, just got a call. The results are in and they are "good." I think that's good news!! But I still don't have a cause for my weird maladies.
Thanks for all the good wishes.

Christine, are you sure we aren't twins separated at birth? I went through the same tests-I have 5 markers for lupus, but came up negative. They call me the '2% girl' because I always seem to get the things that only affect 2% of the population.

Glad it's good news, but I offer you that they can't figure out all the weird stuff.

Suzanne

 

[Christine]

Christine, are you sure we aren't twins separated at birth? I went through the same tests-I have 5 markers for lupus, but came up negative. They call me the '2% girl' because I always seem to get the things that only affect 2% of the population.

Glad it's good news, but I offer you that they can't figure out all the weird stuff.

Suzanne

Yeah, I think I'm the other 2%. Do you know how statistically "odd" it was for me to get thyroid cancer? I actually don't have a lot of the lupus symptoms--maybe 2, but they are the more mild ones and even those symptoms are not "classic." The other thing I could have is--get this--Poilkiaderma of Civatte. Fortunately that his harmless but what a mouthful. And, of course, my symptoms aren't classic for that either.

 

[luvwinnie]

No, I finally gave up. I got no call back today. I tell ya!! The medical community--they are something else. Two days ago, I called my gastroenterologist's office to get a refill on my GERD medication. I told the the phone person my name, phone number, refill that I needed, and my home address. Just got the prescription in the mail today. It was addressed to me, it was EXACTLY what I asked for, but the prescription was made out to Elroy Niebman.

Elroy must have yours then!!!!

Def. get a copy. Phys asst once told me all was fine on my bloodwork. I got the copy and saw that was NOT TRUE. My CRP (inflammation indicator) was WAY UP!

 

[Christine]

Well, I just got back from picking up my test results. I'm glad I did, although it is a hypochondriacs worst nightmare. So here are my "good" results.

Complete Blood Count - Overall values are within normal range; however, RBCs are low (3.99 where the normal values are 4.2-5.4). Hematocrit is low. It is 34.2 and the normal range is 37.0-47.0).

My granulocytes (or neutrophils) are still slightly elevated (they have been so for the past year at least). No one really thinks this is a big deal. My co-worker told me not to worry. When he used to give blood, he would get turned away here and there because his hematocrit was "off". I've brought up the neutrophil issue with 2 separate doctors before and they think it is "no big deal."

Okay so why do they even have these tests?????

For the rest of the tests: All was within normal.

My ANA scrren was negative. The SSA was 12 on a scale of 0-99 and my SSB was 9 on scale from 0-99.

Not sure what this all means.

Of course, my head is telling me I have leukemia!!

 

[luvwinnie]

I think in Leuk your WBCs go SKY HIGH. I'll check.

Isn't low RBC anemia? Are you going to go over it all with the dr?

 

[Blondie]

Glad your ANA screen was negative.

Sometimes I think these tests do more harm than good. Without proper explanation, it can leave us to wonder all sorts of things!

I found this for you:

Myelosuppression is an overall suppression of the blood cells -- red blood cells, platelets, and white cells, such as neutrophils and lymphocytes - that are produced in the bone marrow. Myelosuppression is a common side effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It can also indicate that lymphoma is present in the bone marrow.

There are three different types of cells that are produced in the bone marrow: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Anemia (low red blood cells) - causes fatigue
Cytopenia - describes a deficiency in some cellular elements in the blood.
Neutropenia (low white cells) - susceptibility to infection
Thrombocytopaenia (low platelets) - susceptibility to bleeding

 

[Christine]

I think in Leuk your WBCs go SKY HIGH. I'll check.

Isn't low RBC anemia? Are you going to go over it all with the dr?

Nope.

Remember the doctor (the dermatologist) called me and told me that it was "all good." The best I can do is hang on these results and show them to my PCP or my endocrinologist on my next visit. I did this before with the elevated neutrophils and I was told by BOTH doctors that these "blips" are normal--even if they are constant. Honestly, I know that if I call my doctors with this, they are going to just shrug. Heck, maybe it all is "okay." I'm tired of trying to figure it all out.

My endocrinologist did tell me that neutrophils can be slightly elevated due to having anxiety (he knows I have an anxiety disorder). He alluded to the fact that my anxiety situation may be causing that little elevation.

 

[Christine]

Glad your ANA screen was negative.

Sometimes I think these tests do more harm than good. Without proper explanation, it can leave us to wonder all sorts of things!

I found this for you:

Myelosuppression is an overall suppression of the blood cells -- red blood cells, platelets, and white cells, such as neutrophils and lymphocytes - that are produced in the bone marrow. Myelosuppression is a common side effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It can also indicate that lymphoma is present in the bone marrow.

There are three different types of cells that are produced in the bone marrow: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Anemia (low red blood cells) - causes fatigue
Cytopenia - describes a deficiency in some cellular elements in the blood.
Neutropenia (low white cells) - susceptibility to infection
Thrombocytopaenia (low platelets) - susceptibility to bleeding

Thanks. Back in January and February, my RBCs and Hematocrit were VERY normal so I don't know what could make the change. I was very stressed and fatigued when I had the blood drawn so maybe it's just some sort of anemia thing, although this would be new for me (not the fatigue but the anemia).