Quick question about WBC count.

[wantanswers2day]

Just a quick question.  I had a routine physical a few weeks back. Had all the normal blood work done.  Well I have a less than normal WBC count I guess.  Is a level of 3.8 even a concern? He wants me to re-test in a couple weeks.  I have lost 26 lbs in the last six months without trying...no diet or exercise...just not as big of an appetite as before.  I havn't been this size/weight since highschool.  (which Im quite pleased with actually!...)  I know back in July I was in the ER for abdominal pain (I have uterine fibroids...lots of them) and they tested my count then and it was normal...7 something.  The only other thing to mention is how tired I am all the time. Granted I have three little kiddo's to take care of (17 mo, 4 and 7).  But it's the kind of tired that I felt in my first trimester of all pregnancy's (which I KNOW for a fact that isn't the cause this time).  Have to nap during the day etc..  Oh, and we thought maybe I could be anemic from the extra bleeding from the fibroids...but that part of the blood test was normal..go figure, since that would of easily explained everything.  

Anyway, whenever I type in white blood cells...words like leukemia come up so that's why Im posting here...I could be totally off base though...

Any thoughts?

[Clairyb]

Hello these threads are so soothing as sometimes you feel like you're on your own with this. Before my daughter was born I went through alot of physical and mental stress for about 3 months priar to being severally ill I had felt 'virusy' after had been for a long walk or suchlike. It was as if this thing was taking hold of me and eventually it got its grip and I was very ill for weeks if nor months.When I had started feeling the symptoms lesson my skin on the inside of my arm wrinkled up like crepe paper. I am currently having what seems like my thousands relapse. This is because I went camping with my family and now I'm day 2 of feeling virusy and ill. The last one about 2 months ago was a lot worse. Luckily at tge point of giving up I have found a doctor who seems to want to help. But like many of you have had all of the blood tests under the sun and nothing. I had even been told by a doctor when i mentioned adrenal fatigue that this was a new trendy fashionable illness to have!I'm determined to go to doctors everytime i am ill and hopefully one day I'll get a diagnosis before I lose my job! My sister has MS but I have had an MRI and nothing showed. Any pointers or further advice is welcome x

[Ken_PA]

Hi, Clairyb. What you describe sounds like what is called "exercise intolerance" or "exertion intolerance".

In fact, there is an effort to rename Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to "Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease" (SEID).

Does the following seem to fit you?
http://www.medicinenet.com/chronic_fatigue_syndrome/page4.htm

[suzzie61]

Hi:  I can understand your concern, but it could be something other than a Leukemia.  I do have Leukemia, and they found mine due to a very  high WBC.  I was very tired and achy all the time, but only through a routine blood test did they find it.  I am also anemic, and therefore I have a low RBC.  Let your doctor retest you, or run whatever other tests he may want.  It could be something really simple.  I have a tendency to worry too much, and then it usually turns out okay.
I was diagnosed with Leukemia in 1998, and have been in remission for over 7 years now.
With my medication my WBC runs in the low 3's.  I do not think yours is Leukemia, but I am not a doctor.  Just trying to get you to relax until you see what the problem is.
Post and let us know after you find out what is causing your problems.
God Bless You
Suzzie

[not2oldyet]

Hi,
My son has had the same problem for 1 year now.  We have been thru numerous tests and many other scans.   It could be something like mono.  Dont let your mind get away with you...it is easy to do tho, I know.

Just keep a check on it the way the docs want you to but if you are not comfortable with them dismissing you go to another doc....you know how your body feels.

We have one more appt next week for my son.  I think now they are gonna chock it up to congenital low wbc..meaning he was just born with a low count.  He now is feeling better and has actually gain a few  more pounds.

good luck
tracy cody's mom  

[Dnmh]

Hi and welcome to the community! According to the Mayo Clinic "A low white blood cell count in adults is generally defined as fewer than 3,500 white blood cells per microliter of blood." So your's being at 3.8, while on the low end, isn't that low. Allergic reactions and Vitamin deficiencies can cause this, as well as other conditions. Retesting in a couple weeks is normal because they are just a little low and your doc will be able to determine better with a second set of labs if it's caused by infection or allergy and can go from there.
Did all the other labs come back normal?