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568261 tn?1250270162

trying to understand cbc for son

Hi,

I am just trying to get a handle on why the cbc for my son is not normal.  8 mos. ago he had a cbc because he was so tire all the time and just not feeling good.  He asked to go to doc.  The results were low WBC really pretty low.  I didn't get too alarmed.  2 mos later I took him to doc, she ran liver panel and another cbc along with mono test.  She said not to be concerned because the lymphocytes did'nt look bad. He didn't show mono, but the WBC still low and even alittle lower than before.  She said to repeat cbc in 6 months.   It has now been 6 mos.  He has an appt tomorrow but I got the blood test back today for the CBC.  Today WBC , RBC, Hgb, MCHC are all flagged low.  Oddly  there is a Eos% flagged high=>10.300(range 1.000-5.000),  I just want to make sure he gets the right testing if more testing is needed.  We live in a very small rural area.   He is 18 and seemingly healthly except for being really tired.  He has one sibling who has many allergies to foods(wheat) but he hasn't seemed to have these allergies.

Please help me if you can.
18 Responses
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568261 tn?1250270162
OK...still searching.  Have 2nd appt with nephrologist.  Pre blood tests.  High protien in urine.  High creatine spot urine. >300  I think that is bad not sure.  WBC low not High
so still looking...oh and on blood test this time it is flagged carbon dioxide=32 high..range 22-29 mEq/l   what ever that means...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Was his WBC 3500-3700 or was it 35000-37000. If the latter is correct, then his WBC is HIGH. Drinking the mocha frapp 40 mins prior to test should have made the blood sugar elevated, at least in most cases. I tend to agree with Dnmh...see another doctor. Heck, start from scratch. Ask them to start as if he were a new patient. What they are saying and results you are being given, just do not quite all go together. As I have said before, go with your gut feeling. Mine says to see another doctor and do it now. Chance3s are that everything os ok, but if it isn't, you do not want to waste precious time. Also are they giving you copies if his lab work results. Ask them to. Contines with prayers for your son and your family.

Blessings,
Madlyn
Helpful - 0
623944 tn?1244035490
Can you take him to an endocrinologist? Or find a new doctor? Did they do an ultrasound on his kidney? What made them "think" he had a tumor on his kidney? I am so very sorry you have to go through all this! It's hard enough when it's us, but when it involves our kids, it's torture!

Since he had beverages before his glucose test, I'm guessing it wasn't a 2 or 3 hour test? The frappaccino could have caused a big fluctuation so I understand the nurse not being too concerned. To really get an understanding of sugar levels, they should have done at the very least a 2 hour fasting glucose.

I hope to see you post updates. We're (I'm) here if you need to vent!
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568261 tn?1250270162
UPDATE:   welll yesterday appt at oncologist.  He said his wbc came from 35000 to 37000 which is still low but better.  He said his kidney seems to be fine.  He wants to see him in 6 months.  He has gained 11 lbs.      We then got home (2 hours later) and had a message from the nurse(seems they always do this)   she said his sugar was very low and wanted me to call.  I called and she said the low s/b 64 his was 54...I said should I watch it she said no.  He had a glass of milk 1 1/2 hours prior to blood test and a mocha frapp 40 minutes before test.  What the heck is going on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I am not a doctor but .....his wbc is low, they first saw a something on his kidney, he was losing weight, he had very high protien in his urine........I would think that a Low blood sugar may also indicate a problem connected there.......could it be that he has diabetes and he has had a chronic kidney infection that has reduced the wbc???   I am pretty worn out from this. not to mention frustrated.   this will probly be my last post.

good luck to all
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the update. I have been thinking and PRAYING for you all. Prayer DOES work and GOD answers prayers. Will await the update after appt on 1/21. Blessings to you all.  Madlyn.
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568261 tn?1250270162
Hey everyone I am just checking back and also to say my son has his last(hopefully) appt on tuesday 1/20.   We have been on a roller coaster for sure.   They have ruled out luekiemia i believe and thought he had a tumor on his kidney and now have ruled that out too.   We are retesting his WBC and other counts and believe he is better or healed.  He has gained weight and his appetite is better and he isn't as tired.  I am very greatful to God and thanks for your support and prayers.  We will add some notes here on Wed 1/21
codys mom...;)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
As I said previously, trust your motherly instinct and your gut feelings. If you do not feel comfortable with what you have been told and he still having symptoms, go back or go to another. I kept going when my son relapsed each time. Doctors finally agreed to do Bx first 2 relapses. Each time I told them I would "eat crow" and apoligize if I was wrong but they WERE going to do something. Do not get me wrong, I did not want anything to be wrong. I had a feeling or higher sense. His cancer was very aggressive and if it was back it had to tx agressive. Towards the end, I gained respect of MD's and was even told  By SW they had discussed a pt and his mom's actions...thought and said "what if she is right,,Remember ****." I am so glgad everything showed well at visit, but if symptoms return, trust you instincts and gut feelings.  Blessings.  Madlyn
Helpful - 0
568261 tn?1250270162
carisa,

no they haven't determined anything about his wbc.   We go back again Jan. 20th.  If his wbc is back up i am sure the oncologist wont see him again for 6 months.  he has another appt at the kidney doc in feb. but I am not taking him back there. due to the fact they have never looked at his ultra sound or called me.    The oncologist i feel is pretty good he really checked alot of things out, I still am uneasy that they didn't find a reason.  He also was not feeling good yesterday,beleive me, he doesn't ever say that unless he feels really bad...he had cold chills and acid reflux, indigestion type stuff.  he said he felt bad all over, I took his temp but no temp.  
I am not sure what to do yet,  I may wait until the Jan appt to figure it out.
tracy
Helpful - 0
568261 tn?1250270162
I was just wondering if you found a reason for your low wbc???
thanks
tracy
Helpful - 0
568261 tn?1250270162
Well we had the  catscan with contrast on Monday.  Finally tuesday they called (after I called 4 times) and the nurse said they could not see anything on the catscan...his bladder, kidneys and colon looked clear.  Thank God!!!

We are going back to the oncologist in January to recheck his bloodwork again.  I am still a little worried ....why would he have low white blood cells and high protiens in his urine??!!!   I am glad they didn't see anything and what ever was there is gone but still a little aprehensive.   Thanks so much for your prayers and post.
Codys mom
tracy
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Avatar universal
PLEASE KEEP POSTED ON HOW YOU AND YOUR SON ARE DOING.

MADLYN
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Avatar universal
I am not sure how I came upon this forum. Maybe I was led here. I see by reading your son has seen many MD's. and still no definite diagnosis. What I sy to you I say to all parents in this situation. Go with your gut feelings. We never want to believe anything is wrong. When the doc says things probably ok or are ok, we want to hold on to that for assurance. If your gut feeling tells you different---go with your gut feeling. The docs may say you just looking for something. Yes, in my case I was. I was looking for the cause of the symptoms I saw. All my son's labs were normal. Bone marrow aspirate was normal. He has enlarged lymph nodes for no reason they could tell me. 2 weeks on po antibiotics and 1 week in hospital on IV antibiotics then node biopsy-still could not tell the reason. Biopsy had atypical cells Bone marrow aspirate done at childrens hosp. and was normal. I am so thankful we insisted to go there. At the time aspirate was done, a biopsy of marrow was also done. Yes, it was painful for my son.  But without it, we would have neverknown he had T-cell Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Classified same sa t-cell ALL since in all four regions of body. From June '89 to July '89 it was Stage 4 ALL.Had I accepted their original info: do not worry we will follow up in 3 months, I hate to say this but he would not have been alive in 3 mos. He had t-cell an aggressice form of ALL or NHL. He fought for 9 years. I am so glad I listened to my guts. Not all cases are like this, I tell parents if you feel in your gut and agree with MD, fine. If you don;t ask for another opinion . If offends MD, then you know you are doing right.  Prayers are with you and your family.   Madlyn
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568261 tn?1250270162
OK....I am getting no help here.

the oncologist said we would wait 6 mos then he got the copy of ultra sound ...no thanks to the kidney doc..i didn't get any report.   He was very very concerned and his whole attitude changed and the report says he has hydronephrosis.  so we are looking for a blockage on monday with a cat scan.  I am not sure what it is.  I am so concerned and upset.   the blood work yesterday showed low wbc again. and high lymphocytes and other high cytes....ugh...help  Please pray for me and my son


think i am done posting
Helpful - 0
568261 tn?1250270162
sooooo...
24 hr urine test protein 197 (range 30-150)
nephrologist said....  oh that is high.  and urine you gave today is also high in protein
you seem healthy...your bp is good.
no reason for it.
come see me in 3 months. we do another test
I asked for a ultra sound of his kidneys. he agreed.

so what ever...we go back to oncologist on monday to hear of the other blood test he did. i don't know why he cant call us with those.

seems we are no where but no answer but not suppose to worry.

If any one is out there let me know.  I also posted in Kidney disorders.
Helpful - 0
568261 tn?1250270162
his too floats ..2.5--3.7   they just think maybe its a virus. but since the counts returned to normal they aren't sure.   did you ever get any kind of diagnosi?  did you have any other things wrong?  I am glad he didn't have to do the biopsy.  I didn't tell him much about what they might be looking for ..didn't want him to worry.
tracy
Helpful - 0
183933 tn?1290216962
Hi there,
Sorry your son is having problems. I was just curious how low his WBC is? Mine has been low also for a few years. Mine is usually in the 2.5-3.7 range. I also have had blood smears and a bone marrow biopsy that came back normal. Hopefully his will too.
Carisa
Helpful - 0
568261 tn?1250270162
just an update....
we had the appt with the oncologist/hematologist yesterday.  Before going our church did have special prayer for my son.  

His wbc, rbc and hmg were all in normal range...they have been low for a year.  He is still doing more smears on his blood to check all he can.  He gave him a very very good physical exam checking all lymphnodes, spleen, etc.  His does have some slight swelling in one lymph under arm..but doc didn't seemed too concerned.  We do go back in 2 weeks. Then 3 mos to check again.   But when we arrived home..they called and said his protein was high in urine and needs to be seen by a kidney doc. and we are doing a 24 hr urine collection.   sooo...I am wondering if eating his sugary breakfast and softdrinks would have made this protien in the urine for that test.  

I am glad that all the counts came up and thankful. Just wondering what else might be going on.

Thanks for any comments
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The low RBC, HBC,HGB, MCHC could indicate anemia, hence the tiredness.  The severity would depend on what the numbers are for those.  A dr. should monitor this to alleviate anemia, could be from several causes, only a Dr. would know.

Eosinophil granulocytes, usually called eosinophils (or, less commonly, acidophils), are white blood cells that are one of the Immune System components responsible for combating infection and parasites in vertebrates. They also control mechanisms associated with allergy and asthma. They are granulocytes that develop during Hematopoiesis in the bone marrow before migrating into blood.

These cells are eosinophilic or 'acid-loving': Normally transparent, they appear brick-red when stained with eosin, a dye, using the Romanowsky method. The staining is concentrated in small granules within the cellular cytoplasm, which contain many chemical mediators, such as histamine and proteins such as eosinophil peroxidase, RNase, DNases, lipase, plasminogen, and Major Basic Protein. These mediators are released by a process called degranulation following activation of the eosinophil, and are toxic to both parasite and host tissues.

In normal individuals eosinophils make up about 1-6% of white blood cells, and are about 12-17 micrometers in size.[1] They are found in the medulla and the junction between the cortex and medulla of the thymus, and, in the lower gastrointestinal tract, ovary, uterus, spleen, and lymph nodes, but not in the lung, skin, esophagus, or some other internal organs under normal conditions. The presence of eosinophils in these latter organs is associated with disease. Eosinophils persist in the circulation for 8-12 hours, and can survive in tissue for an additional 8-12 days in the absence of stimulation.[2] (from wikipedia.com)

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